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Signed Language: Difference between revisions
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{{examples|The following works involve Signed Language as a significant aspect of the plot:}}
== Comics ==
* 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.
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* [[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.
** Some surface Elves in [[Forgotten Realms]], according to ''Return of the Archwizards'' by Troy Denning, have "finger talk". As opposed to at least part-"hieroglyphical" Drow signs, it's alphabetical language and at least to some degree useable with human hands. Specifically, it was used by scouts, in which context it makes sense to go for flexibility, rather than for speed like with "tactical" languages.
** The ''Finder's Stone'' trilogy mentioned thieves' hand cant. Saurials can't speak aloud, so it came in handy, teaching a paladin to understand it. Wait...
* 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).
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* 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.
* The giant raccoons in ''Architect of Sleep'' use sign language to communicate due to having never developed a complicated enough vocal apparatus to support a spoken language. They do punctuate their signs with trills and chirps, though.
* The Isitri from the ''[[Star Trek]]'' novel "Troublesome Minds" by Dave Galanter. They communicate by a mixture of telepathy and sign language, and have no spoken language (they have poor hearing, with many being deaf, and their throats and mouths aren't configured for verbal speech). The sign language is used by the few non-telepathic Isitri, and by all Isitri to communicate with aliens.
* The telepathic treecats in the ''[[Honorverse]]'' communicate with humans via sign language, although they can understand spoken word fine.
*
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* The Sisters of Silence from ''[[Warhammer 40000]]'' use hand signals to communicate, one form for normal conversation and one for the battlefield.
* ''[[Dungeons and Dragons]]''.
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** The Drow had a language of hand signs in their original appearance.
** [[Forgotten Realms]] has mentions of "High Drow" sign language, corresponding to the old "High Drow" dialect. Also, the [[Sourcebook]] on Harpers
▲** 1st Edition had alignment languages, which included special signals and gestures.
* [[Star Wars]] saga edition had handsignals in one splatbook handled elegantly as a language. Well worth the cost, if you're playing that sort of campaign.
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