A set of tools to turn Formal SignWriting into LaTeX documents.
This project was started as I tried to teach myself American Sign Language (B525x535S2e748483x510S10011501x466S2e704510x500S10019476x475).
I always find it helps to read and write along with listen and speak, so I have been making supplements to ASL University based on information from SignWriting.
So why ASL University? In a word, licensing. He let's any teacher use the materials in in-person classes. I am teaching myself in-person, so I am utilizing his materials. This wasn't my first time trying to learn but I can't publish anything based on them without getting into licensing issues.
So why SignWriting? That's a little more involved but the short version is that I tried several writing systems and eventually got to a point where I couldn't record something semantically important, except for SignWriting.
Here's the tools so far.
This program takes text files with SignWriting in them and converts them into text files with TikZ instructions to make SignWriting words.
This program runs in about three different methods.
- If you provide no arguments, it reads from standard in and send the results to standard out.
- If you provide one argument, it reads from that file and send the results to standard out.
- If you provide two arguments, it reads from the first file and send the results to the second file.
The simplest usage is something along the lines of:
./fswtotex file.sw.tex file.tex
This program is fairly minimal and assumes that you will place enough LaTeX code before your first SignWriting word to ensure it works. Fswtotex will place some minimumal suggestions at the bottom of the output regarding what should go before and after the SignWriting text so that xelatex will be generate a pdf file for you.
The 7-bit FSW strings have been tested extensively, because that's what I happen to be using. The Unicode FSW strings have not been tested. There's really no excuse for it, I just haven't bothered.
This tool is not designed to be general purpose. It can be used if you happen to format a SignWritingLaTeX document just right. It's purpose is to find the glossary section of each supplement and spit out English/ASL pairs of words.
This tool is just a shade more general purpose. It expects pairs of lines with English/ASL pairs of words. It also assumes that the ASL words are in the middle lane and transforms them into horizontal words since the expected use is in an English list.
make
Simple and to the point. I don't install (and you may have noticed that my example call was "./fswtotex ..." indicating that it's not in my path. Maybe some day, but for right now my focus is on my supplements.
I currently have a set of tools to extract and make a glossary, which I will share when they are tested a bit more thoroughly.
I have a pair of tools that I use to sort my glossary.
I have a SignWriting cheatsheet that I consult on occassion. To my benefit, I look at it less and less, but it includes information on sorting so I'm not ready to share it yet either.
My current focus is supplements for lessons 1-15. I've settled down on the idea that you should understand the writing system within a semester. I still plan on placing these up here as well.