Some compounds are sequential, so that one morpheme follows another. The form of the signs in a compound changes, though, so compounds are different from the two separate monomorphemic signs. The two signs in the compound are shortened so that the compound takes no longer to sign than a non-compounded sign. Using the example PARENTS, we can see this can happen in some of the following ways:
- The first hold of the first sign is often lost
- The handshape of the first sign can change to match the handshape of the second sign. In PARENTS, the first sign MOTHER, uses the correct location but has the handshape used in FATHER
- Any repetition in the second morpheme is often lost. In PARENTS, the repetition in the first morpheme is also lost
- Any base hand of the second sign is present during the first sign. So, in PARENTS, the base hand of FATHER is held during the morpheme MOTHER
- The location of the first sign might be nearer the location of the second sign.
There is a smoother, faster transition between the two signs than there is normally between two signs.
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