ISFA Nomenclature
From the first scientific studies on string figure-making practices---from the 19th century and onwards---a number of anthropologists have attempted to devise suitable and efficient nomenclatures to record the procedures involved in the making of such figures. The first published nomenclature by Cambridge anthropologists William H. R. Rivers and Alfred C. Haddon (1902), has been used and refined by ethnographers like Diamond Jenness (1886-1969), Honor Maude (1905-2001), James Hornell (1865-1949), and many others who have collected string figures in different societies throughout the 20th century. This method of writing down string figures processes has been further standardized thanks to the work of string figure experts (like Mark Sherman, Will Wirt, Philip Noble, Joseph D'Antoni, among others), all of them members of the International String Figures Association (ISFA). This writing system---known as the ISFA nomenclature---is currently the most commonly used method to write down string figure procedures.
1 = Thumb, 2 = Index, 3 = Middle, 4 = Ring, 5 = Little, H=Hand, W = Wrist, T = Teeth
345 = Middle, ring, and little fingers acting as a single finger.
L before finger designation = left; (i.e., L1 = left thumb)
R before finger designation = right; (i.e., R1 = right thumb)
n after finger designation = near (or radial)
f after finger designation = far (or ulnar)
TV = transverse
| Adjectives | Definition |
| Radial | the loop or string nearest the thumb |
| Ulnar | the loop or string nearest the little-finger |
| Palmar | a string that crosses the palm |
| Dorsal | a string that crosses the back of a finger or hand |
| Distal | the loop or string nearest the fingertip, regardless of the finger’s orientation |
| Proximal | the loop or string nearest the base of the finger, regardless of the finger’s orientation. |
Proximally or "proximal to" means "from proximal side".
Distally or "distal to" means "from distal side".
When there is no L or R designation before before a finger number, the action is performed simultaneously on both hands unless otherwise stated.
Pick up - retrieve a string using the nail side of a finger.
Hook up - retrieve a string using the fingerprint side of a finger, then straighten the finger by rotating it a half turn towards you or away from you as indicated.
Hook down - retrieve a string using the fingerprint side of a finger, securing it in the crook of a bent finger. Oftentimes the finger remains in this position with the fingertip touching the palm.
Release - Allow the loop to slip off the finger.
Horizontal rotation are said to be done either "clockwise" or "anticlockwise" regardless of an observer located on the left side of the practitioner.
SUB-PROCEDURES
1. Openings = Sub-procudure which puts the string in the first "Normal Position"
Opening A
2. Other sub-procedures
- Transfer - Move a loop from one finger to another. Proximally transfer 5 loop to 2 means "on each hand, insert index finger into the loop on the little finger, entering it from the knuckle side, then withdraw the little finger."
- Navajo - When two loops lie on the same finger x the "Navajo" operation is implemented on this finger by passing the proximal loop over the distal one, and then, over the fingertip where it is
released. We use the term "Navajo" as a verb, saying "Navajo finger x".
- Caroline Extension - When a thumb carries a loop, the Caroline extension consists in picking up the far thumb string,
while pressing the thumb against the index in order to seize the latter string , and, finally, rotating the hands outwards.
