Location Module

This module is used to code the location components of a sign. As many instances of this module as necessary can be called for any given sign coding. For more discussion on the use of modules in SLP-AA to encode information about signs, see Modularity.

Warning

(For Kathleen and Oksana)

There should be some discussion somewhere around here for the difference between our broad use of ‘location’ vs. how the term is usually defined phonologically.

Select the hand(s) involved in this instance of the module.

Note

As a connected unit

(Add here) reference Morgan and link to the glossary entry connected.

From system overview: this option is intended to accomplish a similar thing as in the movement module, in that it allows a single specification to be given for H1 while applying to both hands. But e.g. if the specification is ‘ipsilateral shoulder’ then it is interpreted as meaning that both hands are on the SAME shoulder, ipsilateral for H1 (as in SINCE or RESPONSIBILITY) – it could be used in conjunction with an axis of relation and / or a connected movement module, but it wouldn’t have to.

Module instances link to generic x-slots to record information about their timing relative to any others within a sign. For more information on the use of x-slots in SLP-AA, consult Timing & X-Slots.

Note

Phonological locations

Each module instance can optionally be tagged as a phonological location, a phonetic location, or both of these at once. If it is selected to be a phonological location, it can optionally be further described as a major or minor phonological location. These selections will apply to the entire instance of the module.

There are three possible types of locations that can be described in this module. There are Body and body-anchored locations, which have the same functionality in this module, and there are :ref:Purely spatial locations<purely_spatial_location>`.

Most Location options adhere to one of two models to describe the horizontal sides of the body, either relative (ipsilateral/contralateral side) or absolute (H1/H2 side). These are described in greater detail in Symmetry. These options can be toggled separately for different modules, and the relative set applies by default for Location. See the Global Settings for how to change these options.

1. Body and body-anchored locations

(Intro: what is a body/body-anchored location in general?)

(Explain differences between how the two function in the program: identical within the module, different implications for analysis. List possible uses for the distinction.) Note that these movement types are functionally identical within an instance of Location, but differences surface in other ways, like how a linked instance of the Relation Module might be coded. The distinction can also be helpful for searching and analysis.

Note

Linked modules

For these kinds of locations, the program expects a linked instance of the Relation Module. This instance of the module will be flagged if it is unlinked. (Some discussion has happened about how the program will prompt the user for this to be made clear. The important thing to note is that only Location will have a “save and add linked relation module” type of button in addition to the regular set of save buttons.)

These kinds of locations can also take a linked instance of the Hand Part Module if desired.

Choose from the list of Predefined Locations or navigate the image view window to select a body location.

Warning

To include here:

• how to navigate the image view

  • selecting, zooming, flipping images, ‘link’ button

  • (overlapping regions?)

• how to access the locations text list in the dropdown box, and how to add them to the top window

• how to interact with sub-menus, how the columns are set up in the lower window

  • these exist only relative to the selection in the locations list window

• mutually exclusive location options within an instance of the module

2. Purely spatial location

(What this section is for/how it differs from body locations.)

Note

Linked modules

The program expects there to be no associated Hand Part or Relation Module for this type of location. If there is one, it will be flagged.

Make exactly one selection from each axis (each represented by a column in the table below), leaving no axis unspecified. Some axis locations allow an optional distance specification (close/medium/far) to add more detail about the degree of extension of the arms. (Defaults may be central/mid/in front medium, though I’m not sure this is decided concretely.)

Note that only one set of options for the horizontal axis will apply, depending on user preference, and the relative set applies by default for Location. See Symmetry for more information, and Global Settings to change which set of options appears in each module.

Horizontal (relative)	Horizontal (absolute)	Vertical	Sagittal
Ipsi	H1 side	High	Distal
Close	Close	Mid	Close
Medium	Medium	Low	Medium
Far	Far		Far
Central	Central
Contra	H2 side		Proximal
Close	Close		Close
Medium	Medium		Medium
Far	Far		Far

See signing_space for a visual description of the axis system.