Compound Signs are similar to Compound Words in English. They are signs that are a combination of two signs. At the same time, there is a key difference between ASL and English Compounds.

• English: sunglasses | hotdog

In English, the compound word keeps the original two words. The two words do not mix, drop, or add new letters to the combined word.

In American Sign Language, compound signs change the production of one or both signs. For example, in the compound sign: HOME^WORK, the sign HOME changes in its sign production by dropping the second half of the sign in favor of moving the hand forward to make the sign WORK (see below).