Signed Language: Difference between revisions

 

One important aspect of Signed Languages is that they are, as a rule, fully formed languages with their own grammar and words. They are not pantomime nor do they necessarily follow the grammar of the spoken language of the region. Some signs are iconic, or resemble what they speak of, much like how some spoken words are onomatopoeic, but most signs are abstractions of iconic signs or completely original. The grammar itself frequently differs greatly in part due to the spatial aspects of signs and the ability to convey information non-sequentially. For example, within ASL, it is common to establish specific people in a conversation at spatial locations and later use signs moving from location to the other rather than having to reestablish identities or use pronouns. Similarly, since both hands and the face can be used, multiple pieces of information can be encoded into a single sign. For example, a sentence like "I drove from Jane to John and I enjoyed it" can be conveyed in a single sign if Jane and John have already been previously established in the conversation.

 

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* The [[Bronze Age]] ''[[Teen Titans (Comic Book)|Teen Titans]]'' version of Jericho communicated only in sign language (his vocal cords had been cut by his father's enemies). If he spoke at all, it was because he was [[Grand Theft Me|possessing someone]]. Marv Wolfman also prohibited the use of thought bubbles when writing him in the comic, leading George Perez to get creative when displaying hand gestures. This trait is carried over into his animated appearances.

 

 

== Film ==

* All of the undersea settlers in ''[[Dark Life]]'' know sign language, because the liquid oxygen substitute they use when diving keeps them from talking out loud.

* In ''[[What Women Want]]'', there's a moment when Nick Marshall believes he has got ridden of hearing women's thoughts. Until he sees two deaf women using signed language and he can hear what they're saying/thinking.

 

 

* [[Forgotten Realms]]:

** The Drow hand code in R.A. Salvatore's novels (the ones with Drizzt Do'Urden). Drow elves are all taught a language composed entirely of hand signals. Any two Drow can communicate in this way in complete silence as long as they can see one another. And in complete darkness, because of their infravision.

* The Clan in the ''[[Earth's Children]]'' communicate primarily by sign language and [[Body Language]], using vocal noises only for names (based on a [[Science Marches On|now-disproved]] theory that Neandertals had less-capable vocal cords than do ''Homo sapiens'' and could not have supported a fully-verbal language). Visual miscommunication is [[Played for Drama]] several times in ''Clan of the Cave Bear'', with [[The Resenter]] always turning away before someone compliments him.

* The Drasnian secret language, of the ''[[Belgariad]]'', by [[David Eddings]]. All Drasnians involved in the intelligence community (which apparently means "all of them") are taught a language similar to the Drow version above. On more than one occasion, two such speakers converse verbally about something unimportant while having a completely separate discussion with their hands. The language is specific enough that a speaker can gesture with a recognizably outlandish "accent": when Garion first learns it, Silk notes that his initial use of it is a bit off due to learning it in a cold environment (with finger joints frozen).

* In ''The [[Wheel of Time]]'', the [[Proud Warrior Race Guy|Aiel]] have a limited form of "handtalk", with the [[Amazon Brigade|Maidens of the Spear]] expanding it into a more complete language.

* In ''[[Dune]]'' multiple characters use hand signals to give orders to their subordinates. In fact, there are entire sign languages developed separately by [[Feuding Families|the Atreides and the Harkonnens]] that allow them to communicate irrelevant information verbally and important stuff, with their hands, making sure that even if they are overheard, the enemy won't learn anything.

 

 

* Shows up a lot in ''[[NCIS]]'' as [[Perky Goth|Abby]] and Gibbs both know [[wikipedia:American sign language|ASL]]. Actually turns up again ''[[NCIS: Los Angeles]]'' when Abby is kidnapped and uses ASL to warn the local team about the room she's in.

* The [[Korean Drama]] ''[[Can You Hear My Heart]]'' centers around several deaf individuals.

* ''[[Sesame Street]]'' included Linda, a deaf woman who communicated entirely in American Sign Language during the course of the series.

* [[The BBC]] has a magazine show for deaf people called ''[[Incredibly Lame Pun|See Hear]]'', with presenters and interviewees using British Sign Language throughout. Until fairly recently the BBC would also repeat various prime-time shows in the early hours of the morning with an in-vision sign language interpreter for use as a teaching aid.

 

 

== Music Video ==

* In the music video for Savage Garden's "Crash and Burn," Darren Hays sings and signs the final verse.

* [[Francois Pagny]]'s [[Deliberately Monochrome]] video for "Savoir Aimer" (Know How to Love), consists of a single shot of him signing the lyrics of the song.

 

 

== [[Tabletop Games]] ==

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

 

 

 

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