Page "SignWriting" Paragraph 48

Sutton orders signs in ten groups based on which fingers are extended on the dominant hand.

These are equivalent to the numerals one through ten in ASL.

Each group is then subdivided according to the actual hand shape, and then subdivided again according to the plane the hand is in ( vertical, then horizontal ), then again according to the basic orientation of the hand ( palm, side, back ).

An ordering system has been proposed using this beginning and examples from both American Sign Language and Brazilian Sign Language ( LIBRAS ).

The current system of ordering for SignWriting is called the Sign Symbol Sequence which is parsed by the creator of each sign as recorded into the on-line dictionary.

This system allows for internal ordering by features including handshape, orientation, speed, location, and other clustered features not found in spoken dictionaries.