Handshape coding made easier : A theoretically based notation for phonological transcription

This paper describes a notation system for the handshapes of sign languages that is theoretically motivated, grounded in empirical data, and economical in design. The system was constructed using the Prosodic Model of Sign Language Phonology. Handshapes from three lexical components — core, fingerspelling, and classifiers — were sampled from ten different sign languages resulting in a system that is relatively comprehensive and cross-linguistic. The system was designed to use only characters on a standard keyboard, which makes the system compatible with any database program. The notation is made relatively easy to learn and implement because the handshapes, along with their notations, are provided in convenient charts of photographs from which the notation can be copied. This makes the notation system quickly learnable by even inexperienced transcribers.