Re: Sign Language?

        If I were crazy^Wsmart enough to design a sign language, here's what I would
do:
1. Determine what the predominant spoken language is.
        This is because, at least in this world, no sign language has developed apart
from a spoken language. I am aware of Nicaraguan Sign Language, which sorta
developed spontaneously, but even so, the students who developed it were at
the school to learn lip-reading. I'd be interested to know how much Spanish
was incorporated into it--anyone have any good links on its linguistic
aspects?

2. Develop a finger alphabet from the spoken language.
        The spoken language will effect the signed language. Take, for instance, the
ASL sign for "planet": the right "P" hand moves in a vertical circle around
the left fist. Or "I" is signed with the right "I" hand held thumbwards to
the chest. Of course, not every sign has such clear links to the spoken
language, but a finger alphabet will help in the development of the full
language. For instance, "hurt" is signed with both "D" hands, index fingers
pointing at each other, rotating in an elliptical fashion (simultaneously but
in opposite directions) before the chest.

3. Decide on about 100-200 or so "primitives"
        By "primitives" I mean whatever the signed equivalent of "phoneme" would be.
That is, for "planet" I count three "primitives": the right "P" hand, the
left fist, the vertical circular motion. These can be arranged in different
ways: for instance, the fist could circle the "P" hand. Primitives include
not only hand formations and motion, but also direction and location within
the signing space. And then there's also facial expression and body posture.

4. Design signs and dictate the grammar.
        ASL has a very interesting grammar--alas, there's no readily available
summary of it. (If anyone knows a link, speak up.) I'll let someone else sum
it up. But signing can be so freeing in terms of grammar: "just a few minutes
ago" can be a tiny wave over the right shoulder; "years ago" can be a large
wave over the right shoulder. Voila! Tense and aspect! You can emphasize one
aspect of the sign to make a point: slow down for something big or heavy,
speed it up for light and fast; you could sign an entire story without using
a single adjective and still convey the same sense.

5. Don't draw.
        Drawing is for incredibly talented people who have lots of time on their
hand. If that's you, godspeed. Otherwise, come up either with something like
signwriting (www.signwriting.org) or a notational system like what most
signing dictionaries use in addition to the pictures.

        Side note: I once developed a very primitive sign language with my best
friend when I was a kid--mainly so that his pesky little sisters couldn't
understand us. I've forgotten it, but that sparked my interest in sign
language. Have you heard about teaching infants sign language? Apparently,
some claim that it helps improve communication when the baby has good motor
skills, but still hasn't learned the vocal skills necessary. My sister is
trying it with her son--we'll see how it goes.
        :Peter