3.1. Processes affecting the phonemic level

This section presents those phonological processes affecting the shape of the smallest phonological unit, the phoneme. In LIS, we find five classes of phonemes (also called phonological parameters): handshape, orientation, location, movement, and non-manual markers (PHONOLOGY 1). Each of them can be affected by phonological processes. Here we illustrate assimilation, coalescence, movement reduction and extension, weak hand drop, handshape drop, nativisation, and metathesis.