SVG and Unicode

[Valerie Sutton]

But that is my very point, Stuart...why include the non-linguistic  
skateboarding and dance and axe writing symbols at all in Unicode?  
why would be want that? Why not just create a Unicode for the  
International SignWriting Alphabet (ISWA) that is specific to writing  
languages...?

Val ;-)



On May 1, 2007, at 8:50 AM, Stuart Thiessen wrote:

> 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
>>
>
>