Sign Names in SignWriting ;-)

[Valerie Sutton]

SignWriting List
April 30, 2007

Stuart Thiessen wrote:
> I noticed one thing related to my name sign. I typically put the  
> contact symbols above the fist rather than under it. Is that  
> incorrect or just a style difference?

Hi Stuart!
This is a good question...it is fine to do either way...whether the  
contact stars are above or below still gives the correct information  
for the reader...

But I am interested by this, because for reasons unknown to me, a  
standard started to develop with Lucinda and other writers like  
myself...we wrote the two stars underneath except for signs that are  
directly on top of the head...and I became used to that...

And I am not sure if this is something that will become a standard or  
not...time will tell...

If you go to the ASL Dictionary in SignPuddle and search for name- 
sign, you will see a screen like this:

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and then if you choose name-sign-S, you will see a bunch of common  
signs that are used for different S-names...not all are there, but  
some at least...I hope in time to build a real database like this for  
ways to write different name-signs and over time we will see which  
way people choose to write it...the two S-related name signs shown  
below:

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....shows you the way I would write two name signs...notice the stars  
under the hands...

You can add your writing style to that section in the dictionary  
too...and then we can open it for more discussion by pointing people  
to it online...  Val ;-)