There is a solution for the 10 handshape! ;-)

[Valerie Sutton]

SignWriting List
September 25, 2005

Hello Charles, Stuart, Ingvild and Everyone!
OK. Let us all relax and smile...

The 10 Handshape has been a problem for everyone. Both Charles and  
Stuart, who both know ASL, said that the new 10 Handshape looked  
great, when I showed the attached chart...everyone applauded the  
change when you look at the symbols without writing signs in ASL. And  
you all said you found the old symbol confusing, and I agree.

Applying the change to certain unique signs is another story,  
however. But there are definite solutions, so I want to ask everyone  
to smile and keep calm...I have already thought of solutions. Plus I  
need to take it slowly, because all these changes are a a lot of work  
for me and Steve.

Apparently this new version of the 10 Handshape works beautifully for  
Spanish Sign Language in Madrid, and German Sign Language in Germany,  
and they have their own textbooks that teach it this new way. And I  
am very happy for them. The German and Spanish textbooks are  
wonderful!! And I can see why they changed it. The change is more  
logical because it is consistent with the L handshape.

But the L handshape has an index finger too...which changes the way  
the symbol works. Thumbs, all by themselves, are different. I look  
forward to asking Steve and Stefan about how they apply the symbol. I  
bet they have solutions for us too!!

In the IMWA we have two other symbols that have some weird palm  
facings...and I placed their special cases as separate symbols in the  
IMWA for people to choose if they really want to write with those  
special cases...They are the Flat Hand and the X handshape...and now  
I believe the 10 handshape is another one...so I will add parts of  
the old 10 handshape that we seem to need, as a special case, to the  
IMWA, so we can still choose the old palm facing, if we must have it,  
in special cases...so no one will be deprived either way...That at  
least, is a solution I can add quickly so we can write signs in  
SignPuddle!

So smile everyone!  Val ;-)

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