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

On Mon, 18 Sep 2000, Nik Taylor wrote:

> 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.
Neat!  Thanks.  I'll look into that.  I figured there would be basic
elements, but I was thinking in terms of drawing pictures, because
otherwise *I'd* never be able to remember what I created (if I ever
attempted a consignlang).

YHL