SignWriting - Revision history

imported>Ltbdl: undid revision 1355079705 by Luxpoiesis (talk): ?

2026-05-20T02:47:23Z

undid revision 1355079705 by Luxpoiesis (talk): ?

← Previous revision		Revision as of 02:47, 20 May 2026
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	\| name = SignWriting		\| name = SignWriting
	\| type = [[Iconicity\|Iconic]] [[featural script]]		\| type = [[Iconicity\|Iconic]] [[featural script]]
	\| languages = [[~~American~~ Sign ~~Language]], [[Danish Sign Language]] and other [[sign~~ language]]s		\| languages = [[Sign language]]s
	\| time = 1974–present		\| time = 1974–present
	\| sample = SignWriting-render.svg		\| sample = SignWriting-render.svg
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	\| unicode = [https://unicode.org/charts/PDF/U1D800.pdf U+1D800–U+1DAAF]		\| unicode = [https://unicode.org/charts/PDF/U1D800.pdf U+1D800–U+1DAAF]
	\| note = none		\| note = none
	\| direction = ~~horizontal~~ (left-to-right) or ~~vertical~~ (top-to-bottom)		\| direction = vertical (top-to-bottom, left-to-right) or horizontal (left-to-right, top-to-bottom)
	\| footnotes =		\| footnotes =
	}}		}}

	'''Sutton SignWriting''', or simply '''SignWriting,''' is a [[writing system]] for [[Sign language\|sign languages]]. It can be used to write any sign language~~, including [[American Sign Language]], [[Brazilian Sign Language]], [[Tunisian Sign Language]], and many others~~.<ref name=":0"~~>{{cite journal \|last1=Slevinski \|first1=Steve \|date=October 2025 \|title=Formal SignWriting \|url=https:~~/~~/datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-slevinski-formal-signwriting \|journal= \|language=en \|access-date=October 18, 2025 \|website=tools.ietf.org}}</ref~~>		'''Sutton SignWriting''', or simply '''SignWriting,''' is a [[writing system]] for [[Sign language\|sign languages]]. It can be used to write any sign language.<ref name=":6" />

	SignWriting is the only international writing system for sign languages.<ref>{{Cite journal \|last=Kato \|first=Mihoko \|date=2008 \|title=A Study of Notation and Sign Writing Systems for the Deaf \|url=https://www.sciltp.com/journals/ics/articles/2008244008 \|journal=Intercultural Communication Studies \|volume=17 \|issue=4 \|pages=97–114 \|via=Scilight}}</ref> It has been used to publish young adult fiction,<ref>{{Cite book \|last=Almeida \|first=Rubens Ramos de \|title=Telasco e sua turma em: A Lenda Da Manguda - Recontada em libras (linguagem de escrita Sutton Signwriting) \|publisher=Viegas Editora \|year=2023 \|id={{ASIN\|6585399145\|country=br}} \|publication-date=November 9, 2023 \|language=Pt-BR}}</ref> translate the Bible,<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Romero \|first=Nancy \|title=ASL GOSPEL: Gospels and Selected Scriptures Written in American Sign Language (ASL) \|url=https://www.aslgospel.org \|access-date=July 5, 2025 \|website=ASL Gospel}}</ref> caption YouTube videos,<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Brito \|first=Ronnie Fagundes de \|date=June 6, 2012 \|title=Previsão do tempo com SW Signwriting \|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvtdzaOVj-I \|access-date=July 8, 2025 \|website=YouTube}}</ref> and study sign language literacy.<ref>{{Cite thesis \|last=Stumpf \|first=Marianne Rossi \|title=The learning process of sign language writing through the SignWriting system: sign languages on paper and in the computer \|date=2005 \|access-date=July 8, 2025 \|degree=PhD \|publisher=Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul \|hdl=10183/5429 \|url=http://hdl.handle.net/10183/5429}}</ref>		SignWriting is the only international writing system for sign languages.<ref>{{Cite journal \|last=Kato \|first=Mihoko \|date=2008 \|title=A Study of Notation and Sign Writing Systems for the Deaf \|url=https://www.sciltp.com/journals/ics/articles/2008244008 \|journal=Intercultural Communication Studies \|volume=17 \|issue=4 \|pages=97–114 \|via=Scilight}}</ref> It has been used to publish young adult fiction,<ref>{{Cite book \|last=Almeida \|first=Rubens Ramos de \|title=Telasco e sua turma em: A Lenda Da Manguda - Recontada em libras (linguagem de escrita Sutton Signwriting) \|publisher=Viegas Editora \|year=2023 \|id={{ASIN\|6585399145\|country=br}} \|publication-date=November 9, 2023 \|language=Pt-BR}}</ref> translate the Bible,<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Romero \|first=Nancy \|title=ASL GOSPEL: Gospels and Selected Scriptures Written in American Sign Language (ASL) \|url=https://www.aslgospel.org \|access-date=July 5, 2025 \|website=ASL Gospel}}</ref> caption YouTube videos,<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Brito \|first=Ronnie Fagundes de \|date=June 6, 2012 \|title=Previsão do tempo com SW Signwriting \|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvtdzaOVj-I \|access-date=July 8, 2025 \|website=YouTube}}</ref> and study sign language literacy.<ref>{{Cite thesis \|last=Stumpf \|first=Marianne Rossi \|title=The learning process of sign language writing through the SignWriting system: sign languages on paper and in the computer \|date=2005 \|access-date=July 8, 2025 \|degree=PhD \|publisher=Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul \|hdl=10183/5429 \|url=http://hdl.handle.net/10183/5429}}</ref>
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	Sutton's experience transcribing Danish sign language inspired her to work with Deaf people worldwide, helping them to write their own sign languages. She named the new writing system “SignWriting”.<ref name=":12" />		Sutton's experience transcribing Danish sign language inspired her to work with Deaf people worldwide, helping them to write their own sign languages. She named the new writing system “SignWriting”.<ref name=":12" />

	SignWriting has since been used to write the sign languages of 40 countries.<ref name=":0" /> However, it is not clear how widespread its use is in each country.		SignWriting has since been used to write the sign languages of 40 countries.<ref name=":6" /> However, it is not clear how widespread its use is in each country.

	Between 1986 and 1994 Sutton worked with a software developer to create ''SignWriter'', a [[word processor]] for SignWriting which runs on [[MS-DOS]] computers. SignWriter included an integrated sign dictionary, and support for multiple languages and countries.<ref>{{Cite book \|last1=Gleaves \|first1=Richard \|url= \|title=Proceedings of the LREC2004 Workshop on the Representation and Processing of Sign Languages: From SignWriting to Image Processing. Information techniques and their implications for teaching, documentation and communication \|last2=Sutton \|first2=Valerie \|publisher=ELRA \|year=2004 \|isbn=978-2-9517408-1-5 \|pages=7–12 \|language=English \|chapter=SignWriter \|chapter-url=https://www.sign-lang.uni-hamburg.de/lrec/pub/04003.html}}</ref>		Between 1986 and 1994 Sutton worked with a software developer to create ''SignWriter'', a [[word processor]] for SignWriting which runs on [[MS-DOS]] computers. SignWriter included an integrated sign dictionary, and support for multiple languages and countries.<ref>{{Cite book \|last1=Gleaves \|first1=Richard \|url= \|title=Proceedings of the LREC2004 Workshop on the Representation and Processing of Sign Languages: From SignWriting to Image Processing. Information techniques and their implications for teaching, documentation and communication \|last2=Sutton \|first2=Valerie \|publisher=ELRA \|year=2004 \|isbn=978-2-9517408-1-5 \|pages=7–12 \|language=English \|chapter=SignWriter \|chapter-url=https://www.sign-lang.uni-hamburg.de/lrec/pub/04003.html}}</ref>
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	SignWriting has a number of rules for writing the symbols in a sign. These rules ensure that common patterns of gestures get written consistently across signs.<ref name=":2" />		SignWriting has a number of rules for writing the symbols in a sign. These rules ensure that common patterns of gestures get written consistently across signs.<ref name=":2" />
	[[File:Sign box.png\|thumb\|85x85px\|Sign box]]		[[File:Sign box.png\|thumb\|85x85px\|Sign box]]
	Each written sign exists in a ''sign box'', which is an invisible box just large enough to contain all the symbols in the sign. Just as a word consists of a line of letters, a sign consists of a box of symbols.<ref name=":0" />		Each written sign exists in a ''sign box'', which is an invisible box just large enough to contain all the symbols in the sign. Just as a word consists of a line of letters, a sign consists of a box of symbols.<ref name=":0">{{cite journal \|last1=Slevinski \|first1=Steve \|date=October 2025 \|title=Formal SignWriting \|url=https://datatracker.ietf.org/doc/html/draft-slevinski-formal-signwriting \|journal= \|language=en \|access-date=October 18, 2025 \|website=tools.ietf.org}}</ref>

	The size of a sign box is variable, and depends on the size and placement of the symbols in the box. This size can change when symbols are added to, deleted from, or moved within a sign.<ref name=":0" />		The size of a sign box is variable, and depends on the size and placement of the symbols in the box. This size can change when symbols are added to, deleted from, or moved within a sign.<ref name=":0" />
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	== Writing direction ==		== Writing direction ==
	[[File:Jack and Jill.gif\|thumb\|287x287px\|SignWriting text written vertically in columns\|class=skin-invert-image]]While SignWriting symbols are written two-dimensionally within each sign, the signs themselves are written in lines, either horizontally ~~across the page~~ in rows, ~~or vertically down~~ the ~~page in~~ columns.<ref name=":0" />		[[File:Jack and Jill.gif\|thumb\|287x287px\|SignWriting text written vertically in columns\|class=skin-invert-image]]While SignWriting symbols are written two-dimensionally within each sign, the signs themselves are written in lines, either vertically in columns or horizontally in rows.<ref name=":6" />

			Vertical SignWriting is written top to bottom, with the columns written left to right. Horizontal SignWriting is written left to right, with the rows written top to bottom.<ref name=":6" />

	SignWriting text was originally written only horizontally. But after [[Deaf culture\|Deaf]] users reported that it felt more natural to write signs down the page, SignWriting was changed to conventionally write signs vertically.<ref name=":3" />		SignWriting text was originally written only horizontally. But after [[Deaf culture\|Deaf]] users reported that it felt more natural to write signs down the page, SignWriting was changed to conventionally write signs vertically.<ref name=":3" />
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	''SignPuddle'' and ''SignMaker'' are the standard software applications for using SignWriting. They work as [[Web application\|web applications]] which run in a web browser.<ref name=":6" />		''SignPuddle'' and ''SignMaker'' are the standard software applications for using SignWriting. They work as [[Web application\|web applications]] which run in a web browser.<ref name=":6" />
	[[File:SignMaker app example.jpg\|thumb\|195x195px\|SignMaker application]]		[[File:SignMaker app example.jpg\|thumb\|195x195px\|SignMaker application]]
	SignPuddle is a document and dictionary editor for SignWriting. SignPuddle documents and dictionaries are stored in the [[Cloud computing\|cloud]], and can be shared among SignPuddle users. Documents and dictionaries can be exported from SignPuddle as PDF files. Signs can be exported as graphics files.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=SignPuddle \|url=https://signbank.org/signpuddle/ \|access-date=July 24, 2025 \|website=signwriting.org}}</ref>		'''SignPuddle''' is a document and dictionary editor for SignWriting. SignPuddle documents and dictionaries are stored in the [[Cloud computing\|cloud]] and can be shared among SignPuddle users. Documents and dictionaries can be exported from SignPuddle as PDF files. Signs can be exported as graphics files.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=SignPuddle \|url=https://signbank.org/signpuddle/ \|access-date=July 24, 2025 \|website=signwriting.org}}</ref>

	SignMaker is an editor for signs and dictionaries. Signs can be exported as graphics files, and dictionaries as text or JavaScript files. The SignMaker application ~~can be downloaded to your~~ computer ~~and used locally~~ without an ~~internet connection~~.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=SignMaker \|url=https://www.signbank.org/signmaker.html \|access-date=July 26, 2025 \|website=signwriting.org}}</ref>		'''SignMaker''' is an editor for signs and dictionaries. Signs can be exported as graphics files, and dictionaries as text or JavaScript files. The SignMaker application run locally on a computer without an Internet link.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=SignMaker \|url=https://www.signbank.org/signmaker.html \|access-date=July 26, 2025 \|website=signwriting.org}}</ref>

	== Unicode ==		== Unicode ==
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	* It is simple enough to be learned and used by children.<ref name=":9" />		* It is simple enough to be learned and used by children.<ref name=":9" />
	* It is precise enough to be used by linguists as a [[Transcription (linguistics)\|transcription system]].<ref>{{Cite thesis \|last=Costa \|first=Roberto C. R. \|title=Proposta de instrumento de avaliação fonológica da Língua Brasileira de Sinais: FONOLIBRAS. \|date=2012 \|access-date=August 8, 2025 \|degree=Master's \|publisher=Universidade Federal da Bahia \|url=https://repositorio.ufba.br/handle/ri/17216}}</ref>		* It is precise enough to be used by linguists as a [[Transcription (linguistics)\|transcription system]].<ref>{{Cite thesis \|last=Costa \|first=Roberto C. R. \|title=Proposta de instrumento de avaliação fonológica da Língua Brasileira de Sinais: FONOLIBRAS. \|date=2012 \|access-date=August 8, 2025 \|degree=Master's \|publisher=Universidade Federal da Bahia \|url=https://repositorio.ufba.br/handle/ri/17216}}</ref>
	* It can be used to write any sign language.<ref name=":0" />		* It can be used to write any sign language.<ref name=":6" />

	However, it has a few disadvantages as well:		However, it has a few disadvantages as well:

imported>Namoroka: /* Research */

2025-12-19T08:13:53Z

Research

← Previous revision		Revision as of 08:13, 19 December 2025
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	Here is a partial list of PhD theses on (or using) SignWriting:		Here is a partial list of PhD theses on (or using) SignWriting:

	– Abushaira, Mohamed (2007). "[[doi:10.13140/2.1.4097.8883\|The Effect of SignWriting on the Achievement and Acquisition of Vocabulary by Deaf Students at]] [[doi:10.13140/2.1.4097.8883\|'Al-Amal School for the Deaf' in the City of Amman-Jordan]]" (PhD thesis). King Abdulaziz University.		* Abushaira, Mohamed (2007). "[[doi:10.13140/2.1.4097.8883\|The Effect of SignWriting on the Achievement and Acquisition of Vocabulary by Deaf Students at]] [[doi:10.13140/2.1.4097.8883\|'Al-Amal School for the Deaf' in the City of Amman-Jordan]]" (PhD thesis). King Abdulaziz University.
			* Bianchini, Claudia Savina (2012). "[[doi:10.13140/RG.2.1.3817.4563\|Metalinguistic analysis of the emergence of a sign language writing system: SignWriting and its application in Italian Sign Language (LIS)]]" (PhD thesis). University of Paris VIII * Vincenne Saint-Denis.
	– Bianchini, Claudia Savina (2012). "[[doi:10.13140/RG.2.1.3817.4563\|Metalinguistic analysis of the emergence of a sign language writing system: SignWriting and its application in Italian Sign Language (LIS)]]" (PhD thesis). University of Paris VIII – Vincenne Saint-Denis.		* Borgia, Fabrizio (2015). "[https://theses.fr/2015TOU30030 Computerization of a graphic form of sign languages: application to the SignWriting writing system]" (PhD thesis). Toulouse 3 * Paul Sabatier University.
			* Bózoli, Daniele Miki Fujikawa (2021). "[https://repositorio.ufsc.br/handle/123456789/227006 Bilingual education for the deaf: the use of SignWriting in learning Portuguese as a second language]" (PhD thesis). Universidade Federal Santa Catarina.
	– Borgia, Fabrizio (2015). "[https://theses.fr/2015TOU30030 Computerization of a graphic form of sign languages: application to the SignWriting writing system]" (PhD thesis). Toulouse 3 – Paul Sabatier University.		* Brito, Ronnie Fagundes de (2013). "[https://bdtd.ibict.br/vufind/Record/UFSC_7bdd92665aeea4d57bb94cfdc54aba27 Reference model for developing artifacts to support deaf access to audiovisual media]" (PhD thesis). Universidade Federal Santa Catarina.
			* Flood, Cecilia Mary (2002). "[https://www.signwriting.org/archive/docs5/sw0476-CeciliaFlood-Dissertation2002.pdf How do Deaf and hard-of-hearing students experience learning to write using SignWriting, a way to read and write signs?]” (PhD thesis). University of New Mexico.
	– Bózoli, Daniele Miki Fujikawa (2021). "[https://repositorio.ufsc.br/handle/123456789/227006 Bilingual education for the deaf: the use of SignWriting in learning Portuguese as a second language]" (PhD thesis). Universidade Federal Santa Catarina.		* Galea, Maria (2014). "[[doi:10.13140/2.1.3842.5924\|SignWriting (SW) of Maltese Sign Language (LSM) and its development into an orthography: Linguistic considerations]]''"'' (PhD thesis). University of Malta.
			* Gan, Lu (2011). "[https://core.ac.uk/outputs/340565/?source=2 Real-time immersive human-computer interaction based on tracking and recognition of dynamic hand gestures]" (PhD thesis). University of Central Lancashire.
	– Brito, Ronnie Fagundes de (2013). "[https://bdtd.ibict.br/vufind/Record/UFSC_7bdd92665aeea4d57bb94cfdc54aba27 Reference model for developing artifacts to support deaf access to audiovisual media]" (PhD thesis). Universidade Federal Santa Catarina.		* Moryossef, Amit (2023). "[https://biu.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=alma9927075697205776&context=L&vid=972BIU_INST:972BIU&lang=en&search_scope=MyInst_and_CI&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&tab=Everything&query=any,contains,Moryossef&pfilter=rtype,exact,dissertations&offset=0 Real-time multilingual sign language processing]" (PhD thesis). Bar-Ilan University.
			* Pinto, Jorge Manuel Ferriera (2015). "[https://repositorio-aberto.up.pt/handle/10216/104983 SignWriting as a writing system appropriate to sign languages: a contribution to the development of writing skills of the deaf student?]" (PhD thesis). Universidade do Porto.
	– Flood, Cecilia Mary (2002). "[https://www.signwriting.org/archive/docs5/sw0476-CeciliaFlood-Dissertation2002.pdf How do Deaf and hard-of-hearing students experience learning to write using SignWriting, a way to read and write signs?]” (PhD thesis). University of New Mexico.		* Stumpf, Marianne Rossi (2005). "[https://lume.ufrgs.br/handle/10183/5429 The learning process of sign language writing through the SignWriting system: sign languages on paper and in the computer]" (PhD thesis). Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul.
			* Wanderley, Débora Campos (2017). "[https://repositorio.ufsc.br/handle/123456789/194005 Classification of verbs with agreement in Brazilian Sign Language: an analysis based on SignWriting]" (PhD thesis). Universidade Federal Santa Catarina.
	– Galea, Maria (2014). "[[doi:10.13140/2.1.3842.5924\|SignWriting (SW) of Maltese Sign Language (LSM) and its development into an orthography: Linguistic considerations]]''"'' (PhD thesis). University of Malta.

	– Gan, Lu (2011). "[https://core.ac.uk/outputs/340565/?source=2 Real-time immersive human-computer interaction based on tracking and recognition of dynamic hand gestures]" (PhD thesis). University of Central Lancashire.

	– Moryossef, Amit (2023). "[https://biu.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=alma9927075697205776&context=L&vid=972BIU_INST:972BIU&lang=en&search_scope=MyInst_and_CI&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&tab=Everything&query=any,contains,Moryossef&pfilter=rtype,exact,dissertations&offset=0 Real-time multilingual sign language processing]" (PhD thesis). Bar-Ilan University.

	– Pinto, Jorge Manuel Ferriera (2015). "[https://repositorio-aberto.up.pt/handle/10216/104983 SignWriting as a writing system appropriate to sign languages: a contribution to the development of writing skills of the deaf student?]" (PhD thesis). Universidade do Porto.

	– Stumpf, Marianne Rossi (2005). "[https://lume.ufrgs.br/handle/10183/5429 The learning process of sign language writing through the SignWriting system: sign languages on paper and in the computer]" (PhD thesis). Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul.

	– Wanderley, Débora Campos (2017). "[https://repositorio.ufsc.br/handle/123456789/194005 Classification of verbs with agreement in Brazilian Sign Language: an analysis based on SignWriting]" (PhD thesis). Universidade Federal Santa Catarina.

	== Development ==		== Development ==
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	== External links ==		== External links ==

	{{Commons category\|SignWriting}}		{{Commons category\|SignWriting}}
	{{div col}}		{{div col}}
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	{{DEFAULTSORT:Signwriting}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Signwriting}}
	[[Category:Sign language notation]]		[[Category:Sign language notation]]
	[[Category:Writing systems introduced in 1974]]		[[Category:Writing systems introduced in the 1970s]]
			[[Category:1974 introductions]]

imported>Luxpoiesis: Updated reference #1 to include the date of the newly-revised "Formal SignWriting" draft

2025-10-19T06:46:22Z

Updated reference #1 to include the date of the newly-revised "Formal SignWriting" draft

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imported>Donnermar2: /* Accessibility */ Spelling

2025-05-22T03:13:02Z

Accessibility: Spelling

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