Many signs involve the same hand shapes and movements, but in different locations. Misunderstanding occurs when a sign is placed in an erroneous location. 'Aromatic' and 'Swimming' involve the same hand shape and movement, but in different locations.

Aromatic

Swimming

The way a feeling is expressed is a part of sign language, and appropriate expressions can help hearing-impaired persons understand what is being imparted more clearly. For example, the hand shape and movements for "pleased" and "elated" are the same, except that an exaggerated expression underlies the degree of happiness in 'elated'.

Pleased

Elated

Another example is 'exasperated' and 'angry'.

Exasperated

Angry

While the hand shapes for many vocabulary items look very much the same, they may mean very differently. For example, the hand shape for ‘Love' and 'Rest' are similar but the meaning being expressed is different.

Love

Rest

In order to convey an exact message in signing, attention must be paid to the direction of movement. For example, in "One Week" and "Silence", as in the following illustrations, the hand shape is the same but in different directions.

One Week

Silence

Another example is "I helped you" and "You helped me":

I helped you

You helped me

Pray attention to the orders of your signs in order to express the right meaning. For example, ‘shopping mall’ and ‘gossip’, the signs are similar but different in order. Facial expression is a must for signing.

Shopping mall

Gossip

Attention must be paid to the speed of movements so that they can be clearly and comfortably seen. It is just the same when hearing people speak. Speaking too fast risks being not clearly heard, while too slowly puts listeners to sleep.

Maintaining eye contact while signing is important as it indicates that the interlocutors are talking to each other. The degree a communication is being understood may also be discerned from one’s gaze and expressions.