IMWA: Handshape Construction and Sequencing Rules

[Daniel Noelpp]

> May we suggest not using numbers? Current computers have no problems
> whatsoever to use your categories, it's a lot easier to program and
> most
> importantly: when new symbols are added they don't have strange
> numbers: they
> just belong in their category!

I agree. But we should think for the future. Every symbol of
SignWriting will have a representation in Unicode. And Unicode
characters just are numbers. So, what I am trying to tell you? Even if
you use names ultimately you will have to work with numbers again.

> ...
>
> A last issue there is the rotation degree: it would be very good if
> that were
> specified in degrees instead of just arbritary numbers without any
> significance: eg the current symbols involving shoulders, like number
> 243 and
> 244 have at number 1 symbols which are rotated 15 degrees, a regular
> hand has
> at number 1 a rotation of 45 degrees. When you specify the rotation as
> degrees it will also be very easy and straightforward to add new
> rotations in
> the future, as they just fit in. (This is about the same solution as we
> suggest for the symbol numbers)

I don't agree. A rotation of 45 degrees is not something you measure
with "degree". It is just oblique. Why? I think it is the human
perception of the steepness. Take a slope you are skiing down. Tell me
how steep the slope is? You don't tell me it is 35 degrees. You tell me
it is rather steep but manageable. SignWriting is not exact science.

In a summary the rotation numbers aren't something you express exactly
with degrees. It is vertical, oblique to the right, to the left,
horizontal to the right, to the left, etc.

> These are just a couple suggestions but it would help future projects
> so much
> because rendering signs is so much easier then, it could save us lots
> of
> time.
>
> Greetings from Belgium
> Bart & Steven

It was nice to meet you in Lisbon. Sadly we  didn't have the time to
talk with each other.

Cordially,
Daniel