Symbols quotation marks and long pause

Wed Feb 15 20:33:42 UTC 2012

Interesting question. Of course, if you are writing what you would be signing, writing 'quotation sign' rather that quotation marks would be correct. But as a more literate style of writing in sign languages, for articles etc., the quotation marks may be needed. Say I wanted to quote from soemthing already posted in another posting - this would not be like presenting in actual signing, but might be examples of how SignWriting might be spelled or written - then the quotation marks would be better. And then I observe that as the punctuation symbols are always in the middle lane, the quotation marks might be in the left lane (start) and the right lane (end), or that another convention like 'all quotes are in the right lane' or something like that, might develop. Exiting perspectives ...

Ingvild 

Date: Wed, 15 Feb 2012 08:39:57 -0800
From: sutton at SIGNWRITING.ORG
Subject: Re: Symbols quotation marks and long pause
To: SW-L at LISTSERV.VALENCIACOLLEGE.EDU

SignWriting ListFebruary 15, 2012
Hello Madson and everyone -
Thank you for posting this question to the SignWriting List, Madson...
The quotation marks are used sometimes. It depends on the writer, and the style of your document. For example, the quotation marks are easier to read when writing signs horizontally. They are symbols that were designed for horizontal SignWriting and were used years ago in the SignWriter DOS program.
Quoting what another person signs, inside a document, can be written without the Quotation Marks…some writers write the actual sign for "quote" at the beginning of the quoted phrase, and then place a Pause symbol (Comma) at the end of the quoted phrase - If you are writing the way one signs a quoted phrase, that would be the most accurate way to write a quote. In that case, the Quotation Marks are not necessary.
So to answer your question…yes…the Quotation Marks can be used, but are rarely used. That is why I took them out of the International SignWriting Alphabet 2010, but, you can construct them if you want to use them, by finding some diagonal lines in the ISWA and building them yourself…They are still good symbols that can be used.
The Long Pause can also be constructed and can be as long as you want to make it. Make the space between the two lines larger or smaller depending on the length of the pause. The Long Pause is usually used when writing sign language theatre or sign language songs, when pausing can be different lengths related to the timing in music.
Meanwhile, the standard Comma or Pause symbol in SignWriting, with a small amount of space between the two lines, which is pre-constructed for you, is the symbol most people use for writing sentences…
Attached is a screen capture of building a Long Pause in SignPuddle Online, using SignMaker …see attached…

Val ;-)
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On Feb 15, 2012, at 1:35 AM, Madson Barreto wrote:Hello!
In older textbooks written signs found two symbols that are not in SignPuddle:
- quotation marks- Long pause
They have not yet used in SignWriting?
Regards.
Madson Barreto

-------

Val ;-)

Valerie Sutton
SignWriting List moderator
sutton at signwriting.org

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