Re: theory (was: Re: Greenberg's Word Order Universals)

Yoon Ha Lee wrote:
> transcription would be a pain
Actually, sign languages have an equivalent of phonemes, can't remember
the term used, but they're basic elements (like hand orientation,
movements, etc.), something like 50 in ASL, that are combined into
signs.  It's just that instead of being linear, like spoken languages,
the elements are used at the same time.

In fact, I've read of a writing system being developed for American Sign
Language.

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