ASL words have five parameters that are handshape, location, movement, palm orientation, and facial expression.
Handshape: There are 45 different handshapes in ASL.
Location: The location (where on the body) of each sign can change, and add grammatical information.
Movement: The direction that the sign moves (away from the body, towards the body) carry specific information. Repetition of movement can have grammatical information.
Palm Orientation: Each handshape can change orientation; the palm can face out, down, up, sided, etc
Facial Expression: Many signs in ASL require a non-manual signal in order to be produced correctly. Others simply require the emotive facial expression to match the meaning the signer is trying to convey.