ISO 639-3 code for International Sign Language--a good idea? How to proceed?

[Rachel Rosenstock]

I think an ISO code for International Sign at this point might be 
appropriate (although there are not all that many publications on it 
;-). IS is definitely a lingua franca among some Deaf Community members 
in the international realm and while not as conventionalized or complex 
as natural sign languages, it is a sophisticated communication system in 
its own right.
If I understand the literature correctly, the term "Gestuno" seems to be 
used only for the collection of signs published by the WFD in the 1970s 
- it never evolved into anything and International Sign as it is used 
today has very little if anything to do with the original Gestuno 
vocabulary.
Signuno is a different beast altogether. I think it could also be dubbed 
'Signing Exact Esperanto' - following Esperanto grammar, invented signs, 
no spatial grammar, etc. I don't know if or how many users it has...
Greetings,
Rachel

Albert Bickford wrote:
> One of the most important functions of the ISO 639-3 standard is to 
> provide a consistent system for tagging publications with metadata, to 
> identify what language the publication is in or about.  This could be 
> used, for example, for indexing entries in a bibliography or an 
> archive.  As we've discussed the issue, it seems that there may well 
> be need for an ISO 639-3 code for International Sign (e.g. to indicate 
> what "language" Rosenstock's dissertation is about); I've written to 
> the ISO 639-3 registrar for advice on this.  Whether a separate code 
> is needed for Gestuno is less clear.  If there is only one publication 
> about it (the original 1500-word dictionary), and it is no longer used 
> as such, then possibly the code for International Sign could be 
> extended to include Gestuno.
>  
> Albert
>
>     ----- Original Message -----
>     *From:* GerardM <mailto:gerard.meijssen at gmail.com>
>     *To:* Albert Bickford <mailto:albert_bickford at sil.org> ; A list
>     for linguists interested in signed languages
>     <mailto:slling-l at majordomo.valenciacc.edu>
>     *Sent:* November 3, 2007 2:07 PM
>     *Subject:* Re: [SLLING-L] ISO 639-3 code for International Sign
>     Language--a good idea? How to proceed?
>
>     Hoi,
>     Reading the PDF I get the impression that International Sign
>     evolved out of Gestuno. I have the impression that Gestuno is not
>     used any more. When this is correct, there may be no need to ask
>     for a code for Gestuno. Do I have this right or is there more to
>     it ??
>     Thanks,
>         Gerard
>
>     On 11/3/07, *Albert Bickford* <albert_bickford at sil.org
>     <mailto:albert_bickford at sil.org>> wrote:
>
>         Someone privately pointed out to me that a summary of Rachel
>         Rosenstock's
>         thesis is available at
>         http://gri.gallaudet.edu/Publications/ragu_fall2005.pdf
>         <http://gri.gallaudet.edu/Publications/ragu_fall2005.pdf>. I
>         found this very
>         helpful in answering some of my questions, particularly the
>         relationship
>         between Gestuno and International Sign. (Although the WFD's
>         dictionary of
>         Gestuno served as the historical impetus for developing
>         International Sign,
>         there is very little Gestuno vocabulary still used in
>         International Sign.
>         Instead, International Sign tends to use highly-iconic vocabulary,
>         especially when the same sign is used in several different
>         sign languages
>         for a given concept.)
>
>         Albert
>
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