Do you want these handshapes in the IMWA?

[Ingvild Roald]

That's a lot of shapes, I understand your problem putting them all into
the IMWA.

In Norway, no. 5 is the 'official' way of doing the international X, but
as both thumb-under and thumb-over is seen as the same in this handshape,
where the index is the important one, I think we should stick to just
'fist' and crooked index. And the fact that we tend to use no. 10 for P
rather than the index on an O (we do not use the same handshape for P and
K, as in ASL) s also of minor consequence, they are not seen as different.
But for linguistic use, they may be wanted.

We also do have a weird one for use in physics and mathematics,
representing the greek letter phi: an O with the index crossing down in
front of the O (only seen with back of hand to the side, fingers down).
However, if we do get this little toolbox to tinker with, we could easily
write it. Sorting the SignBank with it would be a different matter, if it
is not included.

Ingvild, Norway


SignWriting List <SW-L at ADMIN.HUMBERC.ON.CA> skriver:
>SignWriting List
>May 9, 2004
>
>Dear SW List:
>There are an unending list of possible handshapes to add to the
>International Movement Writing Alphabet. I am writing to ask...Do any
>of you want any of these handshapes added? Can you think of signs in
>your languages that use these handshapes? if so, I am happy to add
>them.... (see attached)...
>
>They are:
>
>1. Index finger on a fist that has the thumb UNDER the other fingers in
>the fist.
>2. An X on a circle...not a tight closed fist...but an open one...
>3. Index finger sticking out of a claw handshape.
>4. Index finger with a Hinge base...
>5. X with a fist with the thumb under the other fingers
>6. Index finger on an E-hand
>7. X on an E-hand
>8. Index finger on a curlicue
>9. Index finger on a Cup hand
>10. Index finger on an Oval Hand