Abstract
Concerted attention in sign language linguistics has focused on
finding ways to document signs. Until now, most notation systems rely on a
complex plethora of symbols and are under-specific, to the extent that visual
images are still the most widely accepted way of recording primary data. This
paper presents a novel phonetic notation of handshape in a step towards deriving
an International Phonetic Alphabet for sign languages, based on digit shape
(configuration) and position in terms of reference coordinates, aiming at both
readability and precision. It is sufficiently hybrid to allow for both accurate
measurements and estimates of digit positions, thereby affording a way of
representing handshapes suitable for lexicography, studying phonetic variation
and avatar programming. Originally tailored to describe handshapes in South
African Sign Language, it can also notate gestures. After discussing
transcription methods and hand physiology, digit configurations are defined in
terms of joint angles. Variations in configuration positions are then specified
in terms of Cartesian reference coordinates.