SVG and Unicode

[Stuart Thiessen]

I would suggest that the basic symbols for the Movement Writing  
System be included in one file. Then specialized adaptations that  
would be very specific in their application be provided in a separate  
file. I would almost lean toward the idea of reserving a space in the  
PUA (Private Use Area) where specialized symbols for movement writing  
applications could be referenced. The base symbols would be a  
permanent part of Unicode because it is used to write sign languages.  
However, specialized adaptations of Movement Writing which are not  
linguistic in nature could be referenced from the PUA and then a  
specific font could be used to retrieve those specialized symbols.

The reason I suggest that is because it is my understanding that  
Unicode's intent is to store the writing systems for languages, not  
necessarily any kind of transcription. I could be wrong.  I will find  
out more when I discuss this project more with my contacts.

Thanks,

Stuart

On May 1, 2007, at 10:28, Steve Slevinski wrote:

> Agreed Stuart, see comments below.
>
> Stuart Thiessen wrote:
>>> Unicode and SVG
>>> -----------------------
>>> Once each symbol has a unique number, we can create font files  
>>> for SignWriting.  We may be able to have a single font file, or  
>>> we may need multiple font files.  Since we'll already have the  
>>> SVGs completed, we can use the SVG style fonts.  This whole  
>>> process will be repackaging.  There should be automated tools  
>>> that can help.  Maybe even font experts..
>>
>>
>> I believe that it should be no problem to contain all the symbols  
>> in one font file. After all, they have font files with nearly  
>> every writing system included that are several megabytes in size.  
>> It may be that our font file has very minimal support for spoken  
>> languages and only contains movement writing symbols.
>>
> Agreed.  However, extension packs need a place in the final  
> solution.  Val wrote an entire symbology for wood chopping using an  
> ax.  The standard prop system was inadequate.  The axes are a part  
> of neither the standard IMWA symbol set nor the SignWriting  
> alphabet.  Just because we can fit all of the symbols into one file  
> doesn't mean we should.
>
> Regards,
> -Steve
>