Hi Val and sw-list
friends,
I followed your
explanation about the “M” symbol. Well I agree and almost ever
write the M the way you showed to us.
There is another thing I
would like to mention. Regarding finger direction and your idea about "Finger Direction is Meaningful:”
I guess it may become a question of habit and style.
Personally I feel uncomfortable with these hand shapes
on the diagonal – and for me it is not easier to read – just in
contrary.
One reason may be that I concentrate on the palm
rather on the fingers ??? But I have to admit that there are signs that
obviously violate my intuitive style of spelling but nevertheless ... I
grew up with these signs written the given way and my brain got accustomed to
that and now I simply accept them as they are –
Look at the typical way we write the “What”-
sign -- it is easy to read and nothing seems wrong, but if you look at
your hands while performing the sign without any force they are much more
inward than outward. This is interesting.
Nevertheless it is fun to discuss spellings –
I am preparing some documents to get feedback from my
deaf students about horizontal versus vertical writing. You know that at school
I ask my students to write the translation directly beneath the signwriting
line. So it makes sense to write from left to write. But if it comes down just
to rad a story it may be a difference .. I am interested to get more insight
...
Stefan ;-)
Von:
Gesendet: Donnerstag, 2. Dezember
2010 03:50
An: [log in to unmask]
Betreff: Finger Direction is
Meaningful
December 1, 2010
Regarding finger direction -
Finger direction is meaningful - and there are times when it is useful
to write a handshape a little on the diagonal, so you can see the fingers
projecting down.
Sometimes signs can be flexible. They can be understood with the same
meaning, whether they are exactly projecting forward, or directed toward the
diagonal. In these cases, if the diagonal position is just as acceptable, and
the fingers look more like they are pointing in the proper direction, then the
symbol can be written on the diagonal or to the side and it is easier to read.
In the new book that Adam Frost and I are writing, we have a page at
the end of each chapter called "Finger Direction is Meaningful:
SignWriting Hand Symbols Manual
Here is a sample page: