When writing a document in SW...

[James Shepard-Kegl, Esq.]

Valerie et al,

"Lanes", eh?  As in "topic markers" and "role shifting", I reckon.

There is a symbol for that, or at least, a symbol that I use for that (arrow
showing twist of the torso to the left or right, as applicable), as role
shifting is critical and must be conveyed.  In this way, I can write left to
right, although this would work vertically just as well.

Snag it works with SignWriter Java, which gives me the white background.

-- James

on 8/21/06 7:12 PM, Valerie Sutton at sutton at signwriting.org wrote:

> SignWriting List
> August 21, 2006
> 
> Hello Vanessa, James and Everyone!
> Thanks for the question, Vanessa and before I get into the way I
> personally prepare documents, I want to thank you, James for sharing
> your method. What software do you use? I assume SignWriter DOS or
> perhaps SignWriter Java, to write from left to right? And I guess
> Snag-It must be a Windows program that captures screen captures and
> turns them into documents? You certainly produce some wonderful
> documents so you method is successful!
> 
> Anyway, Vanessa, in my case, I use SignText because I prefer to write
> in vertical columns, because grammatically, vertical columns gives us
> the chance to write with Lanes. Lanes gives a clear way of showing
> the shifting of signs to the right side and to the left side of the
> body, which I called Spatial Comparisons years ago in our textbooks.
> Perhaps there is another linguistic term for that? I am not
> sure...anyway...I believe that Lanes are important in capturing that
> aspect of sign languages. SignText is the only software program I
> know that makes it possible to compose sentences directly in vertical
> columns using Lanes...
> 
> Here is the manual for SignText...
> 
> SignText Instruction Manual
> http://www.signwriting.org/archive/docs3/sw0244-SignText-Instruction.pdf
> 
> The SignText Manual needs a section in the end about creating full
> documents, but that is not written yet ;-)
> 
> There are two ways to mark paragraphs with vertical columns.
> Regarding the software to use to prepare the layout, there are
> several ones you can use too. It will take me several messages for me
> to show you all this, so look for the next messages.... ;-)
> 
> Want to compose a sentence in SignText, and send it to the List for
> us to read in SignWriting? Go to:
> 
> SignText Online
> http://signbank.org/signpuddle/signtext/signtext.html
> 
> Complete your sentence. Click on the Options Button at the top.
> Bookmark the sentence. Click on SignMail. Send the sentence to us on
> the List, using SignText email...
> 
> Look forward to reading your sentences!
> 
> Val ;-)
> 
> ----------
> 
> 
> James Shepard-Kegl, Esq. wrote:
>> Vanessa,
>> I write SW left to right, which makes paragraphing easy (an extra
>> space between paragraphs.)  I also use a "snag it" program to
>> transfer SW segments into a Word document, a technique that allows
>> for incorporation of illustrations, as desired.-- James
> 
> -------------
> 
> Vanessa Hodge wrote:
>> I have a couple of questions for all of you who have written in
>> SW.  I am a college student and have written one of my papers in
>> SW.  However, I am struggling to figure out a way to show
>> paragraphs beginning and ending.  I am trying to write it
>> vertically as I have some role shifting in the paper.  Also, what
>> is the best way you have found to put a large quantity of SW into a
>> document form?
>> Thank you!!  Vanessa Hodge
>