Hearie learning ASL
The strangest issue I have with sign is keeping notes.
I can write English "gloss" for signs, but I confuse the meaning of the sign it stands for, with the English word.
While English has some representation of sound when you write it, it's not always phonetic. So symbols for signs need not be visually descriptive as the Sign Writing system is to be readable. But the Sign Writing system is the equivalent to a phonetic version of English. That is you don't need to know the meaning of the sign to make the sign.
But making a written version of sign poses some interesting things.
In English, what is written is not always parallel with what is spoken.
Even the way I write now is not exactly how I would speak.
My words here do not have the rise and fall of tone as my voice would have, nor would a symbolic version of sign contain the "nuances" of actually signing.
I'm sorry if this is all very vague... just things to think about.
When language was first written many things changed. What could a written version of sign create?
