SVG and Unicode

[Stuart Thiessen]

Right!  I actually typed my response before I saw yours. :)

Stuart

On May 1, 2007, at 11:00, Valerie Sutton wrote:

> 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
>>>
>>
>>
>
>