Hand Signals: Difference between revisions

Any situation where characters communicate with gestures and motions, usually of the hands, as opposed to using voices. This is often done specifically to avoid speaking, either because somebody present is unable to hear or comprehend a given language, or because the characters are sneaking and cannot make noise. American Sign Language (and those Sign Languages that are not American) is perhaps the perfect example, allowing deaf individuals to communicate with one another through the use of sight rather than hearing.

 

 

This trope is frequently played for laughs, usually through [[Lampshade Hanging]]. Instances include a character [[Nonverbal Miscommunication|misunderstanding a signal]], thinking a character is gesturing meaninglessly when they are attempting to frantically make themselves understood, and the gratuitous use of hand signals when they aren't required.

* ''[[Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex]]''

** ''1st Gig'' episode "In the Forest of Pupae – PORTRAITZ". The Major and Batou use this when they infiltrate a youth reform facility for fear of having their comms intercepted/destroyed/hacked after losing contact with Togusa.

* In ''[[Eyeshield 21]]'', Mamori and Hiruma devise a system of hand signals to use during games. Hiruma, smart-ass that he is, demonstrates by spelling out the message "The team manager secretly ate all [[Trademark Favorite Food|the cream puffs]]."

 

* In ''[[Team America: World Police]]'', Garry is about to infiltrate a terrorist cell. He is asked if he remembers the signal he should give if he's in trouble, and responds by waving his arms over his head and pantomiming screaming in terror. This is apparently the correct answer.

* Seth Rogen's character in ''[[The 40-Year-Old Virgin]]'' replies to the title character's description of his weekend by making a gun with one hand and firing it into the side of his head, then spreading his other hand quickly on the opposite side to indicate the resulting gore spatter. It was pretty graphic.

* Spoofed in ''[[Johnny English]]'': The titular secret agent and his subordinate are sneaking through a parking lot after being shot at. He doesn't want to risk giving away his position, so he tries to use hand signals to tell Baugh to move up one floor and cover that area. But due to Johnny being quite incompetent, he makes several sequences of silly gestures before he gives up and just whispers "You. Upstairs." while pointing.

* ''[[The Matrix]]''. As the Agents and some police approach Neo's cubicle, Agent Smith gives a hand sign to the police to move down another path.

* ''[[Starship Troopers (film)|Starship Troopers]]''. Lieutenant Rasczak uses them to the MI under his command while approaching the outpost on Planet P.

* ''[[Aliens]]''. During the preparation for the [[Drop Ship]]'s departure Lieutenant Gorman gives a "thumbs up" gesture to the pilots and one to Bishop who's driving the APC.

** The Army Men and their Sergeant used them with each other repeatedly during the recon operation to find out what toys Andy was getting at his birthday party.

** Woody and the mutilated toys used them while preparing to rescue Buzz from Sid.

* ''[[The Sting]]''.

** The [[Con Man]] recognition signal (brushing the nose with a finger).

* ''[[Young Frankenstein]]'' has a hilarious scene where Dr. Frankenstein attempts to use charades to communicate with his assistants, since he's being strangled by the monster. [[Take Your Time|One long set of hand signals]] later, and the two of them finally catch on. The Doctor is alive, if miffed.

* Played for laughs in ''[[Galaxy Quest]];'' Jason gives the "wave two fingers in front of the neck" signal to Gwen, telling her to turn off the communications line with Serris after he pretends to agree to Serris' demands. After she returns the signal, he immediately tells one of the others to fire everything they have before Serris realizes he's not actually capitulating, and tells Gwen to put him back on so he can continue the charade. Unfortunately, Gwen has ''no idea'' how to operate the equipment, and as such left the connection open for Serris to hear the entire thing.

'''Gwen:''' Right, 'we're dead.' [She repeats the gesture.] I was agreeing with you. Like I know where the damn button is! }}

* Parodied in ''[[Saving Silverman]]'' by Jack Black and Steve Zahn's characters. They are preparing to sneak into the evil girlfriend's house to kidnap her. Wayne (Zahn) makes a few hand signals that J.D. (Black) doesn't understand.

'''J.D.:''' Lay off me, I only know the Ranger signals. }}

* At the beginning of ''[[Ultraviolet]]'', the commando team leader uses the "closed fist" signal for "stop".

** Arthur uses some to direct his knights after arriving at the castle with the insulting French guards.

** The chief of the Knights Who Say Ni holds up a hand to stop his fellow Knights from saying Ni to King Arthur and his party.

* In ''Dobermann'', the titular character's girlfriend, played by Monica Bellucci, is deaf and the two communicate solely through sign language.

* ''[[The Silence of the Lambs]]''. In the 1991 film, when the elevator holding the police officers opens, their leader uses a hand gestures to signal them to leave and then uses another gesture to call over another cop waiting outside. He does this because he thinks Hannibal Lecter is hiding on the roof of the elevator listening to them.

* ''[[Terminator (franchise)|Terminator]] 2: Judgment Day''. SWAT team leaders use them twice: to direct team movement during the infiltration of Cyberdyne, and to order that tear gas be fired at the T-800.

 

* In ''Mirror Friend Mirror Foe'', a ninja family is not only trained in that... They can communicate that way while having a verbal conversation on a totally unrelated matter.

* ''[[Bored of the Rings]]''. When Frito Bugger first sees Stomper the ranger in the Goode Eats & Lodging inn, Stomper uses a variety of hand gestures to invite Frito to meet him in the inn's bathroom in 5 minutes.

 

 

* ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'': the Initiative uses military sign language, but the Scooby gang doesn't, which makes it hard for Riley to patrol with them.

** In one episode, Riley pumps his fist up and down, which the other characters interpret as a gesture meaning to follow him. "Like a train. Choo choo!"

** Parodied in the very meta episode "200", in an imaginary sequence where Jack is [[Invisibility|turned invisible]]. On a mission, the other members of SG-1 sit there waiting, at which point Invisi-Jack asks "Can't you see my hand signals?"

* In ''[[Supernatural]]'', Sam and Dean have occasionally been shown using military hand signals when silent coordination is needed. Never explicitly brought up, but their Dad (who trained them to hunt) was an ex-marine, making it likely he taught them.

* On ''[[The West Wing]]'', President Bartlett has had a very inconvenient MS attack while traveling to an important conference in China. While he regains some of his mobility by the time Air Force One arrives, he's still confined to a chair and heavily fatigued. CJ tells him to give a signal if he needs a break from the conference, and suggests he tug on his ear to let them know he needs them to make up a "something's gone wrong back home that needs the President on the phone" excuse. [[Nonverbal Miscommunication|Unfortunately,]] CJ forgets to tell anyone else about this, largely because the President himself didn't take it seriously at first. She's absent for much of the conference, and returns to find the President frantically tugging on his ear.

* In ''[[Murphy Brown]]'', Miles often used the "stretch" and "speed up" signals described under [[Real Life]] below.

 

 

== [[Tabletop Games]] ==

* ''[[GURPS]] Fantasy II''. The Madlanders have a set of hand signs that they use to communicate with each other while hunting.

** The Drow had a language of hand signs in their original appearance.

** [[Forgotten Realms]] [[Sourcebook]] on Harpers also mentioned their own "silent code" of gestures and expresions. High Drow (archaic dialect used mostly in sacred texts and secret talks between priestesses) is said to have its own hand sign system.

** Mocked in the "Rainbow Sprinkles" trailer for ''[[Battlefield: Bad Company]]''. B Company don't understand hand signals, and don't see the point of using them when they're all standing right there anyway.

* Eddie's orders to his troops in ''[[Brutal Legend]]'' all have associated hand signals that appear on the orders cross. He even goes through them in the [[Justified Tutorial]]: he's allegedly teaching the somewhat thick Headbangers what the signals mean, but he's also teaching the player. Stop is the military raised fist. For follow, he raises his ax. Charge is, appropriately, throwing "the horns".

* ''Day of Defeat'' has stock phrases in voice (which good bots understand) doubled in silent signals.

 

 

== Western Animation ==

* In ''[[Ben 10]]'', [[Retired Badass|Grandpa Max]] shows a knowledge of military hand signs during a stealth mission to rescue giant alien monster eggs (and Ben). [[It Makes Sense in Context]].

* In ''[[Star Wars: Clone Wars]]'', Captain Fordo is completely silent in the heat of battle, and gives orders to his ARC troopers exclusively with hand signals.

* ''[[The Herculoids]]'' episode "The Raiders". Igoo and Zandor use them to signal the beginning of the attack.

* Played with and [[Lampshade Hanging|Lampshaded]] in ''[[The Venture Brothers]]''.

'''Hank:''' No... }}

 

** And by extension, there is of course the signals (established around [[WW 1]]) which indicate the direction of the enemy, the distance to the enemy, and the amount or type of enemies. With such rapid movements from the CO, a quick offensive action could be carried out by the squad, even if the enemy came form behind. Such signals can (and were) even be carried out using rifles, swagger sticks, walking sticks and umbrellas.

** Police and SWAT teams often use the same or similar signals to avoid tipping off suspects during raids or situations where announcing their presence would likely result in the suspect bolting or opening fire.

* The hand signals used by cyclists are also standard practice for motorists to use when their cars' turn signals are for some reason non-functional. Therefore, you will be most likely required to know them for a [[Driving Test]].

* Many types of animals are trained with hand signals. One well known example is the use of signals with whales or dolphins. Signals and signs are also used with deaf dogs. Horseback riders use a variant,touch signals, in Dressage.

* Hand signaling is also used in the [[wikipedia:Open outcry|open outcry]] format of stock/trade exchange. Further info can be found [http://tradingpithistory.com/ here].

 

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[[Category:Hand Tropes]]