SignWriting List
February 15, 2000

QUESTION 0034:
I find Rotation Symbols difficult.

ANSWER 0034:
Look at the signs in Examples 0034 below, illustrated by Steve Parkhurst. It is excerpted from the Parkhurst's new textbook recently published in Spain, entitled "SignoEscritura". The examples are signs from Spanish Sign Language (Madrid dialect, is my guess), on page 131 in their book.

It shows the four possible rotations with the double-stemmed axis.

But it also shows a very interesting sign to the far right...the sign for "CERRA UNA TARRINA".

I suspect that must mean "unscrewing the lid of a jar"?

The left hand is the "C" hand, which must be holding the jar.

The right hand is connected to an arm line, because it is such an unusual position for the arm to be in....so the forearm is up and down, parallel with the wall...that is why the rotation symbol has a
double stem....So where is the rotation movement coming from? The wrist, in the motion of the arrow....All of these illustrations have shown "Axial Movement", which is "rotation of the arm or the wrist":

EXAMPLES 0034

SignWriting List
February 17, 2000

QUESTION 0035:
Yesterday she asked me how to write down the following movement but I haven't a clue: beginning with the handshape as used for "teach" (right hand only), palm orientation up with the hand parallel to the floor, the thumb then rubs across all the fingers beginning with the pinkie, and ending with the index finger. The movement is repeated twice.

ANSWER 0035:

Please see Example 0035 below. It shows Finger Movement.

Number 1: Shows rubbing the finger tips in a circle. When there are no arrows near the Rub Symbol, then we assume that the rubbing motion goes in a circle.

Number 2: Shows rubbing the fingers in the direction of the arrows. The tiny arrows are "Finger Movement Arrows". Fingers use tiny arrows that do not have the "dark and light arrowheads for right and left"....they are always general arrows, and very tiny, placed close to the fingers that are doing the movement....they are almost always used in combination with the Rub Symbol (exception: some dances from Bali, India and the Far East, manipulate their fingers into astonishing positions, and the little arrows come in handy in such cases). (These little Finger Movement Arrows are in SignWriter 4.3...they are also used as Shoulder Movement Arrows.)

Number 3: The same movement, except that the arm itself moves from side to side at the same time as the Finger Movement. I show this example, not because it means anything ...only to show how different the Arm Movement Arrows look in comparison to the Finger Movement Arrows.

EXAMPLES 0035