SW-HamNoSys

[Dan Parvaz]

Interesting question, Gerard. The question behind that is whether each 
parameter of a sign can be represented in one and only one way. Taking 
handshapes again (because they're easy to talk about), does a given handshape 
(say, ILY) have a unique HamNoSys form, or can it be written in a number of 
different ways (horns + thumb, 5 - ring and pinky, fist + thumb, index, pinky, 
etc.). Then the choice may say something about the sign it's used in, or how the 
writer/signer construes the handshape, or the phonology of the signed language 
involved (parallel with IPA for spoken language: is it an /s/, or a devoiced /z/? 
Depends).

So HNS experts out there... which is it? Unique representation, or a number of 
choices?

Cheers,

-Dan.