The phonological characteristics of compounds are assimilation, metathesis (movement reversal), modification of handedness and weak hand spread.

In assimilation, phonemic features of one sign adapt to phonemic features of the preceding or following sign. One of the elements of a compound may, for instance, modify its location so that it is closer to the location of the other element, or the selected fingers of one element may take over the specifications of the other. See PHONOLOGY 3.1.1 for a more extensive description and examples.

In some compounds, metathesis can be observed. This means that the direction of the movement of one of the signs is reversed. For example, in the compound post^lamp ‘lamp post’ the movement of the sign post goes upwards, while it goes downwards in the  citation form of post. See also PHONOLOGY 3.1.7.

A third change may affect the handedness of a sign: when a one-handed sign combines with a two-handed sign, the first sign may become two-handed or the second sign may become one-handed (see PHONOLOGY 3.3.2).

A fourth characteristic is weak hand spread, which means that the weak hand may still or already be present in the signing space while a one-handed component of the compound is signed (see PHONOLOGY 3.3.2). An example is seen in the compound internet^page ‘webpage’ (Video a.): the first sign internet is two-handed, and the non-dominant hand is held while the dominant hand signs the second item page.