Writing Rules for Finger Movements
...for all signed languages...

1	Writing Finger Movement With a Beginning and Ending Position Finger movements written with a beginning and ending position do not need any Finger Movement Symbols.
2	Writing Finger Movement With Only One Position Finger Movement Symbols are used when one position is eliminated. The symbols take the place of the position that is no longer there. There is an assumption of prior knowledge of the sign, since the writing is less detailed.
3	Which Position To Eliminate? You can choose to throw out either the beginning or ending position. Just be sure to test the writing with other readers, to see if they can read the sign. Eliminating positions has a danger. It is an abbreviated way to write.
4	Knuckle Joint Symbols Never Include Bending of the Middle Joint The Knuckle Joint Symbols are only used if the middle joints don't bend. They show trills with straight or slightly curved fingers that never bend in the middle joint during the trill.
5	Middle Joint Symbols Do Assume Some Bending of the Knuckle Joints In Fists It all depends on the handshape the Middle Joint Symbols are relating to....If the symbols are relating to Fists, then the bend will require some opening or closing of the Knuckle Joints too, as well as the movement from the Middle Joints. The Knuckle Movement is assumed when opening or closing from a Fist, but the Middle Joint Symbols are always written for Fists.
6	Knuckle Joint Symbols Usually Relate To Angles and Ovals The Knuckle Joint Symbols generally show opening or closing in relation to Angle Handshapes or Oval Handshapes. If either of those handshapes are present in the sign, the sign will most likely use the Knuckle Joint Symbols.
7	Middle Joint Symbols Usually Relate To Claws, Bent Fingers, and Fists The Middle Joint Symbols generally show opening or closing in relation to claw handshapes, bent fingers or fists (both Open Fists and Closed Fists). If a claw, bent finger, or a fist handshape is present in the sign, the sign will most likely use the Middle Joint Symbols. Some examples: Sometimes these handshapes are not written in the sign because they are the second position in the sign, and the writer discards the second position, so the reader has to guess what the ending position might be. If there is a dark dot written for Middle Joint Movement that closes, then the ending position will probably be a claw, bent finger, or fist. If there is a hollow dot, which means an opening movement, then the ending position might be a straight finger, since it probably opens into the straight position.
8	Different Arrows Can Be Used SignWriter 4.3 does not have special symbols already constructed for typists, so the dots are typed and then various arrows are placed near the fingers to show the direction of the trill. This offers the opportunity to write several different kinds of arrows, showing on which plane the movement takes place. Here are some examples of signs typed in Brazil: Brazilian signs excerpted from The Brazilian National Hymn Signed in Brazilian Sign Language typed with SignWriter 4.3, by Marianne Stumpf

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