Syllable reduction concerns the reduction or deletion of a movement. For instance, when a sign with repeated movement is used in a compound, it may lose one or more of its movements. This reduction is often triggered by fast signing speed. An example is the sign vegetables^farmer ‘greengrocer’, which is a compound. The two parts of this sign are shown individually in Figure 2.67, and the plus-symbol indicates the repeated movement in vegetables:
a. vegetables b. farmer
Figure 2.67. The signs vegetables (a) and farmer (b), as signed in isolation.
In the compound greengrocer, however, the repeated movement of vegetables is reduced.