Non-manual elements can have different functions in signed utterances:

1)
First, non-manual elements such as particular facial expressions can be part of signs. The following examples will show this:

• The facial expression “furrowing the eyebrows, squinting the eyes, wrinkling the nose, as well as lowering slightly the corners of the mouth” frequently accompanies the sign SERIOUS.
• The sign “being unwilling to do something, but being supposed to do something” can include as non-manual component “puffed cheeks”. The configuration of the manual and non-manual components of the sign expresses that somebody “has to do something, although s/he is not really willing to do this.”
• The negation sign NOT-(YET) is always accompanied by a “blowing movement”, that is, the lips are pushed forward and air comes out of the mouth. (According to the particular context) the sign expresses “not” or “not yet”.

2)
Second, some non-manual elements can each accompany particular sets of signs. As shown by the following examples, these non-manual elements can be, for instance, specific mouth gestures or head movements among which each can co-occur with particular sets of signs.

Mouth gesture “puffed cheeks”

•  “It backs up (in a traffic jam) / There is a traffic jam” is expressed by signing “car” and “many-objects”. The latter is accompanied by puffed cheeks.
• In the example “many people come together / go there” also the second sign is accompanied by “puffed cheek”.

Mouth gesture “lips pushed forward”

• If the sign READ occurs in the utterance “reading a book” and is accompanied by the mouth gesture “lips pushed forward”, the signer expresses that “s/he is reading a book in a comfortable way.”
• If the signs “like” and “work” co-occur with the mouth gesture “lips pushed forward” (here together with continuously nodding movements), the signer expresses that “s/he really loves working.”

Mouth gesture “lips rounded and pushed forward”

•  “A very thin woman” is expressed by producing the sign “a thin vertical-orientated shape” which is accompanied by the mouth gesture “lips rounded and pushed forward.”
•  “I like the thin book / I like thin books” is expressed by producing the signs “like” and “book” which are followed by the sign “a thin horizontal-orientated shape”. The latter sign is accompanied by the mouth gesture “lips rounded and pushed forward.”

The following examples show specific movements of the head and upper part of the body, among which each can co-occur with particular sets of signs.

Pushing the head forward

• Pushing the head forward can accompany the sign “how are you”.
• “I hand YOU a bunch of flowers” can be expressed in the way that the sign for “handing somebody flowers” is accompanied by a forward movement of the head.

Pushing the head backward

• In the utterance “the boss turns to me and criticizes me” the sign for “criticizing me” is accompanied by pushing the head backward.
• In the example “some people criticize me, what I reject” the sign for rejecting is accompanied by a backward movement of the head.

3)
Third, some nonmanuals such as head nods or headshakes can co-occur with an entire utterance. In the following, the signs “I IX-go-there” are accompanied in each example by different nonmanuals resulting in a difference in meaning.

Head nodding

• If head nodding accompanies the utterance, the signer expresses: “Yes, I go there.”

Head shaking

• If headshakes accompany the utterance, the signer expresses: “No, I do not go there.”

Lowering the head together with producing additional nonmanuals which indicate a question

• If the chin is lowered and additional nonmanuals (indicating a question) are produced, the signer expresses: “Should I go there?”

Constantly performed body sways

• If constantly performed body sways accompany the utterance, the signer expresses: “I feel uncertain, whether I should go there.”