ISWA Thumb Standardization?

[Stuart Thiessen]

One other possible inconsistency ... There is also the one odd  
instance like the handshape for the ASL "A" which has the thumb "out"  
but it really means the thumb flush to the side of the hand. That is  
another inconsistency that occurs with the thumb in the "relaxed"  
position.

I personally think it is a good idea to keep symbols having a  
consistent meaning because it makes it easier to learn the system.  
Once you see a finger symbol used in one place, you can assume it has  
the same meaning on other handshapes. Now is a good time to make those  
types of consistency changes with the publication of the ISWA. I know  
it means a lot of work on this side of things, but I think it would  
mean less work on the other side of things.

If the straight line means thumb out to the side, then maybe the thumb  
as it is in the ASL "A" handshape can be used to say thumb flush to  
the side of the fist?

Just my thought.

Thanks,

Stuart

On 17 Nov 2007, at 16:02 , Valerie Sutton wrote:

> SignWriting List
> November 17, 2007
>
> Dear SW List members -
>
> This coming week is a holiday week here in the US...we celebrate  
> Thanksgiving Day, on November 22nd. It is a big feast where we all  
> eat way too much....but say "thank you" for all our blessings...
>
> And truly, I feel blessed to have so many friends to work with, on  
> the SignWriting List...so a big THANK YOU to all of you ;-)
>
> So I am going to take the next week to try to finish the handshapes  
> in the ISWA...but I have one question for you...
>
> When fingers or thumbs are at an angle, they are written with a  
> diagonal line that matches the way it looks in real life... (see  
> attached)
>
> And if the thumb is stretched very hard to the side, it is  
> oftentimes written with a straight line to the side...
>
> People vary with their styles of signing, and also some hands cannot  
> stretch their thumbs completely side anyway...
>
> Over the years, the symbols that have a thumb to the side have been  
> inconsistent..sometimes the line is at an angle showing a more  
> relaxed thumb to the side, and other times we write it straight  
> side, like in the L hand...this never bothered me personally. But it  
> has bothered some other people and they have told me...
>
> When the thumb is touching another finger, it has to be at an angle  
> to reach that other finger, but when the thumb is totally by itself  
> to the side, it could be either straight or at an angle and it will  
> be read ok...
>
> So my question is...do you want me to make all the thumbs to the  
> side like the L Handshape? That would mean that the 3 Handshape  
> would have a straight line to the side rather than the relaxed angle  
> it has right now...
>
> I don't care myself, and if we leave it as it is, it is correct and  
> readable I feel...
>
> On the other hand, it can't hurt to have them consistent with the L  
> handshape...
>
> If we decide to make this change to be consistent, it may take me  
> some time to go in and change all the handshapes with the relaxed  
> thumbs, but at least if you can tell me your opinions now, I will  
> know what kind of work is before me ;-)
>
> Look at this chart...what is your opinion? Should the 3 Hand have a  
> thumb line like the L hand?
>
> Val ;-)
>
>
> <thumbs.png>
>
>
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