Many of the most common ASL signs are polite phrases used in introductions and everyday encounters. "Hello" is signed by touching the index and middle fingers to the side of the forehead and moving them outward in a salute-like motion. "Thank you" begins with the fingertips touching the chin, then moves forward and down with the palm facing up toward the person being thanked. "Please" and "sorry" share the same circular hand motion over the chest; context and facial expression determine which meaning is intended.
"Yes" mimics a head nod using a fist that bobs at the wrist, while "No" brings the index and middle fingers together to tap against the thumb, similar to a mouth closing on the word "no." To ask "How are you?," the flat dominant hand crosses over the non-dominant hand at the wrists and reverses, and "I'm fine" touches the index finger of an open handshape to the chin before moving forward and slightly out. "My name is" combines a self-point with fingerspelling the actual name, and "Nice to meet you" sequences NICE, MEET, and YOU in order.
Time-based greetings follow similar patterns. "Good morning" places the dominant flat hand on the back of the non-dominant horizontal hand, while "good afternoon" pairs the sign for GOOD with a hand arcing under the non-dominant flat hand to represent the sun's path. "Good night" combines GOOD with a downward motion suggesting rest. "See you later" links SEE (fingers pointing at the eyes then moving outward) with LATER (an L handshape moving forward). "Excuse me" brushes the dominant fingertips across the non-dominant palm moving away from the body, while "again" or "repeat" taps a curved dominant hand lightly onto the stationary non-dominant hand.