SignWriting Documents in Vertical Columns...

[Valerie Sutton]

SignWriting List
June 16, 2004

Dear SW Listers:
SignWriting is read best in vertical columns. Deaf signers have
requested it. And there is a reason for it.  The facial circle and
shoulder lines are used as markers. They assist in providing
information on location. When a sign is done to the left or right of
center, you can see that, by using the facial circle as the center
marker. And when you read down in columns, you can see the hands over
to the right or left quite quickly. Unfortunately, when writing
horizontally, from left to right, some of the visual clarity and speed
in reading is lost...so vertical columns are preferable. Here is an
example from a newsletter written by Deaf signer Dave Gunsauls. Notice
how the hands shift from center to left to right...FIRST COLUMN: It
starts out in the center...Then he points to his left...and gives the
name of the Institute, Riverside California, keeping the fingerspelling
and signs over to the left side of center. The center is established by
the facial circles at the beginning of the column, and also by the
Punctuation Symbols, that remain in the center. SECOND COLUMN: He
graduated in 1981..all that is still over to the left of center since
it is still relating to the Riverside school...but then he went to NTID
in New York state, and that shifted over to the right...For those who
do not know a signed language, this information may seem irrelevant,
but in signed languages it is not irrelevant at all! it is important
grammatical information...and must be written...more on vertical
columns coming...


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