Further Thoughts on Traveling Indications

Further Thoughts on Traveling Indications
Submitted by Charlotte Wile - February 25, 2000

Re: Ann Hutchinson Guest's Feb. 10 submission. I really like the idea of using an arrow for the indication of traveling (i.e., just "going," with the path irrelevant). I think it is the best solution so far. Ann's examples A4 and A5 ( Ex. 1 and Ex. 2 here) show two ways the arrow could be used to indicate such traveling. I like Ex. 2 best because it can be modified with distance, direction, and action signs, as shown in Ex. 3-5.

I think it might be useful to see how the proposed sign for traveling (Ex. 2) fits in with other indications for locomotion.

Paradigm 1 below contains standard path signs (Guest, Your Move, 1995, p. 25) and the proposed sign for traveling.

Looking at Paradigm 1, I think the proposed sign for traveling works well. However, I think the standard sign for meandering (Ex. 6 below) is confusing because it looks like it should indicate a curved path. One solution to this problem was discussed in The Labanotator, no. 75 (April, 1994). The sign for meandering could be drawn as shown in Ex. 7. Then Ex. 6 could be used to indicate a curved path.

Also, I would like to suggest that the standard sign for a path that is straight or curved (Ex. 8) could be changed to Ex. 9. Similarly, the standard sign for a path that is straight and curved (Ex. 10) could be changed to Ex. 11.

These new ideas are shown in Paradigm 2 below. Suggested changes are labeled "NEW".