| 1 | [[quoteright:609:[[{{ComicBook/Dollicious}} https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dollicious_tea_sisters_sign_language_5.png]]]] |
| 2 | [[caption-width-right:1000:[[ComicBook/{{Dollicious}} Tea family from 'Dollicious' having a chat.]]]] |
| 3 | Sign(ed) Languages are languages which primarily function non-verbally through visual signals, generally invented for the use of the deaf to communicate. As the name indicates, the primary means of communication is generally signs made with the hands in front of the body. However, most sign languages include facial expressions and some, such as Japanese Sign Language, include mouthing as part of their mechanics. It is important to recognize that while almost every community with a spoken language also has a signed language, the signed language used is related more to the geographical region than to the spoken language. For example, English is the primary language of the United States, Canada, UK, Australia and New Zealand, but the US and (Anglophone) Canada use ASL [[note]]Actually closely related to French Sign Language and quite different from British Sign Language. Quebec uses LSQ, basically a fusion of French Sign Language and ASL.[[/note]], the UK uses BSL, and Australia and New Zealand use Auslan and NZSL respectively - all different languages with distinct signs and grammar. |
| 4 | |
| 5 | 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/verbal 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. And, before you ask, most signs convey individual words. There ''is'' finger-spelling (you're familiar with that from ''Theatre/TheMiracleWorker'', it's what Annie shows Helen to communicate), but it's inefficient (especially with big words like "inefficient"), and not all signers are necessarily fluent in it because it requires them to depict, letter by letter, words that are not from their native language -- specifically, words from the spoken/verbal language of the region. |
| 6 | |
| 7 | It is worth noting that Signed Language, while non-verbal, is not necessarily quiet. Even deaf users typically make sounds while signing and it is not infrequent for a very low-pitched grunt to be used to catch someone's attention via the vibrations. |
| 8 | |
| 9 | As an anthropological note, it is worth considering that many communities and cultures define themselves by their language, and the deaf are no exception. The word "Deaf" is often capitalized when indicating the non-hearing culture, or membership of same. Though there are always exceptions, most Deaf individuals do not consider their lack of hearing to be a drawback and are proud of the community their condition allows them access to. |
| 10 | |
| 11 | For a number of reasons, including religious, eugenics and association with UsefulNotes/NativeAmericans (e.g. [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plains_Indian_Sign_Language Plains Indian Sign Language]]) and other "savages", the oralist movement sought to eliminate Sign in an attempt at normalization and mainstreaming. There were actually laws against using Sign in school classrooms until 2008. Educators such as Thomas Gallaudet recognized being Deaf as a cultural identity and warned that eliminating Sign and insisting on oral speech would put Deaf children at a lifelong disadvantage. Today, Sign is recognized as a legitimate form of communication and oral-only education has been discredited. |
| 12 | |
| 13 | Signed Language has nothing to do with the trope of TalkingWithSigns which involves characters communicating via written signs. It is related to HandSignals, which range from pantomime to a reduced vocabulary, sometimes with a sparse grammar. Especially within fantasy works, it is not uncommon to have races or nations where Hand Signals have evolved into a Signed Language, typically to provide a method to communicate in secrecy. |
| 14 | |
| 15 | In real life, some professional fields rely somewhat heavily on signed language even if nobody in a particular project is deaf. One such field that relies on HandSignals and signed languages in varying combinations, is professional diving, since one can't exactly speak out loud when wearing SCUBA gear. |
| 16 | |
| 17 | ---- |
| 18 | !! The following works involve Signed Language as a significant aspect of the plot: |
| 19 | |
| 20 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 21 | |
| 22 | [[folder:Anime & Manga]] |
| 23 | * One of ''Manga/{{Gangsta}}'s'' main characters is a deaf [[DifferentlyPoweredIndividual Twilight]] named Nicolas Brown who primarily communicates with his HeterosexualLifePartner Worick and friends using sign language. Note that Nic ''can'' speak, he just hates to do so because it's tiring and comes off ... not quite right. |
| 24 | * ''Manga/ASilentVoice'' is about a boy named Shouya who bullied a deaf girl named Shouko in elementary school and his attempts to reconcile with her in high school. It's actually sponsored by the Japanese Federation of the Deaf and features accurate Japanese Sign Language. |
| 25 | * In ''Manga/RankingOfKings'', the world's setting is fantasy medieval European inspired, but there's more modern societal advancements like a standard signed language in Bojji's kingdom, with that he can communicate with the higher educated peers of his homeland pretty well despite his hearing and speech disabilities, so Prince Bojji isn't more isolated than he already is for not being as strong as his father, and not perceived as a worthy successor to the crown by many. |
| 26 | [[/folder]] |
| 27 | |
| 28 | [[folder:Comic Books]] |
| 29 | * MediaNotes/{{The Bronze Age|OfComicBooks}} ''ComicBook/TeenTitans'' 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 [[GrandTheftMe 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. |
| 30 | * ComicBook/{{Hawkeye}} is deaf in one ear and, while he can communicate verbally, he is also fluent in ASL. One particularly famous issue of [[ComicBook/Hawkeye2012 Matt Fraction and David Aja's 2012 series]] features [[NoDialogueEpisode little to no dialogue]] due to a recent injury worsening his deafness, instead featuring various diagrams of ASL gestures that are untranslated, [[ShowDontTell but still manage to convey thought and plot through visual storytelling alone]]. |
| 31 | * ComicBook/BlackBolt's voice is strong enough to cause massive destruction with even a whisper, so by necessity, he communicates via either sign language or an interpreter. |
| 32 | * ComicBook/{{Dollicious}}: The Tea Family (Pu Erh, White Tea, Rooibos, and Green Tea) are all deaf and communicate in sign language, with their speech bubbles coming out of their hands, not mouths. One [[SilenceIsGolden dialog-less]] story focuses on Gnocchi (a toddler) being confused as to why she is ignored when she tries to talk to them. When she finally realizes what's going on, she wants Green Tea to teach her, which Green Tea is more than happy to do. In another story during a big event happening live on TV, Bay Leaf is shown providing sign language translation for the Teas. |
| 33 | |
| 34 | [[/folder]] |
| 35 | |
| 36 | [[folder:Fan Works]] |
| 37 | * ''Fanfic/AllAssortedAnimorphsAUs'' has a chapter called "What if Marco was Deaf?", where he coins ASL words for some of aliens they encounter.[[note]]Andalites are "eyes-on-horns", Yeerks are "Y" with the outer digits wiggled, and Controller is "Yeerk" next to the forehead.[[/note]] At first, only Jake can communicate with him, but the others learn it after they become the Animorphs. |
| 38 | * [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic Ponies]], of course, don't naturally have the digits for the complex movements required of human sign languages, so what is a pony who cannot speak, for whatever reason, do? Fan-works have worked around this issue: |
| 39 | ** In ''[[https://www.fimfiction.net/story/279865/the-things-tavi-says The Things Tavi Says]]'', they have Blank Speak, introduced in the chapter called "Signing Things", in which a pony takes straws, pens, or other objects of the like in a magical field or pair of hooves. DJ Pon-3 uses it when communicating something too lengthy for writing, which, in turn, is what she does when something is too lengthy for simple gestures. Like real-life signed languages, there are speech-capable ponies who know it. DJ Capricorn is the first pony in the story to use it. Twilight starts out more along the lines of MyHovercraftIsFullOfEels, but gets better. |
| 40 | ** In ''Fanfic/ClaroDeLuna'', Octavia was left mute as a foal when her throat was slit in an accident. She communicates using Equestrian sign language, which is predominantly gestures and stomping. |
| 41 | * In the ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' fic ''[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/5841349?view_adult=true Whispers on the Wind]]'', [[SlaveRace Pearls]]' racial language is entirely gesture-based. Because many Pearls are forbidden to communicate verbally, this sign language (and its [[http://archiveofourown.org/works/5217728 future]] evolution into transferrable GeneticMemory) forms the backbone of their culture. |
| 42 | * ''Fanfic/InASkyOfAMillionStars'': Izuku learns JSL to compensate for his speech impediment while he's still recovering from his suicide attempt. Katsuki learns it alongside him as well, and later Toshinori learns it from him as a bonding activity. [[spoiler:It's through this that Izuku figures out Toshinori is All Might]]. Present Mic also knows JSL (and ASL), which is why he becomes Izuku's homeroom teacher when Izuku finally enters U.A. as a student. |
| 43 | * ''Fanfic/MyHeroPlaythrough'' has a version of [[ComicBook/Batgirl2000 Cassandra Cain]] who is mute due to her Quirk. She is fluent in both ASL and JSL, as is All Might. Izuku and others learn to sign to communicate with her. |
| 44 | * In ''Fanfic/RWBYScars'', Roman's daughter Neo was either born mute or became mute as an infant. Neo knows sign language, but most characters aside from her parents don't understand it. |
| 45 | * In ''Fanfic/SpeakUp'', [[Franchise/{{Pokemon}} Red]] communicates in sign language (no specific variety is mentioned for obvious reasons) not due to being deaf but rather being [[TheSpeechless mute]]. Blue learns it as well. A major plot point is that Red keeps running into trouble trying to communicate with people. Red being mute and communicating with sign language is a pretty common headcanon in general due to his apparent inability or unwillingness to speak in canon--[[https://umberarts.tumblr.com/post/152525448224/he-still-loves-you-blue-even-if-you-are-a-giant here is one such example]]. |
| 46 | * Jayne learns sign language in the ''{{Series/Firefly}}'' fic ''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/511732 Neither Wit Nor Words Nor Wisdom]]'' after going almost deaf in an explosion. Simon refuses to teach him swears but River does. Zoe bullies Mal into learning job-helpful hand gestures as well. Amusingly, the end paints a picture of the crew practicing signed swears with the baby on someone’s lap. |
| 47 | [[/folder]] |
| 48 | |
| 49 | [[folder:Films -- Animation]] |
| 50 | * Within the ''Franchise/{{Madagascar}}'' series are a pair of chimps called Mason and Phil. Phil can't speak normally and relies on Mason to translate for him. Of course, [[ShownTheirWork the ASL spoken by Phil is entirely accurate, down to the facial expressions]], but what Phil often says is a bit more complicated than what Mason translates, [[BilingualBonus leading to a few bonuses to those who know ASL]]. |
| 51 | [[/folder]] |
| 52 | |
| 53 | [[folder:Films -- Live-Action]] |
| 54 | * In ''Film/WhatWomenWant'', there's a moment when Nick Marshall believes he has stopped hearing women's thoughts. Then, he sees two deaf women using signed language and realizes he can hear what they're saying/thinking. |
| 55 | * ''Film/{{Deafula}}'' is about a deaf vampire. The film is completely performed in sign language, with no spoken dialog. [[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0123790/ And yes, it really exists]]. |
| 56 | * ''Film/{{Silenced}}'', a 2011 Korean film based on the true story of a sex abuse scandal at a school for the hearing-impaired, naturally has a great deal of subtitled KSL (Korean Sign Language). |
| 57 | * Shows up in ''Film/{{Shuttle}}'' where it's a ChekhovsSkill for the protagonist, used to communicate her kidnapping via a security camera in a convenience store. |
| 58 | * In ''Film/RiseOfThePlanetOfTheApes'' and ''Film/DawnOfThePlanetOfTheApes'', sign language is the main method of communication among apes. |
| 59 | * In ''Film/BeyondTheSilence'' (Jenseits Der Stille), the main character's parents are both deaf and hence there is a lot of sign language in the movie. |
| 60 | * The last scene of ''Film/AllAboutSteve'' features a group of deaf children stuck in a mine shaft. The sign language is accurate ASL. |
| 61 | * Films featuring Creator/MarleeMatlin frequently feature ASL due to her real-life disability such as: |
| 62 | ** ''Film/ChildrenOfALesserGod'' (1986) - With the exception of one line in English, Marlee Matlin gives her Oscar-winning performance entirely in American Sign Language. It isn't subtitled; instead, William Hurt's character interprets to himself, out loud for the audience's benefit. When he doesn't, Matlin's expressiveness speaks for itself. |
| 63 | ** ''Film/FourClosed'' (2003) - The sign language does not play a major role plotwise, but is used throughout the movie as simply something that is part of the family's day-to-day life. |
| 64 | * ''Film/TheTribe'' (2014) is set in a boarding school for deaf children and is performed completely in Ukrainian Sign Language, a dialect of Russian Sign Language [[note]]descended from French Sign Language with similar grammar which has much stricter word ordering than spoken or written Russian or Ukrainian.[[/note]]. |
| 65 | * ''Film/{{Speed}} 2'' has a deaf girl as a character in the movie, [[spoiler:which causes problems when the ship is hijacked as she can't hear the alarm]], and while she does speak verbally with the aid of lip-reading she has a conversation with [[TheHero Alex]] in ASL at dinner to Annie's surprise. |
| 66 | -->'''Alex:''' I wanted to learn a new language. |
| 67 | * ''Film/JohnWickChapter2'' has a SilentSnarker SilentAntagonist mute assassin named Ares who primarily communicates via ASL. The titular protagonist also shows proficiency in ASL so you have the rare instance of two characters having SnarkToSnarkCombat during tense moments ''entirely through ASL''. The use of signed language also means stylized subtitles prop up every time they use ASL so non-ASL-using audiences know what they're saying. |
| 68 | * ''Film/TheShapeOfWater'': Elisa is mute, and thus uses real-life American Sign Language to communicate. She also teaches the fish person how to sign, since he can't physically talk either. |
| 69 | * ''Film/AQuietPlace'': In a post-apocalyptic world, the Abbott family has to communicate entirely in sign language in order to avoid attracting the attention of monsters that are attracted to sound. They were already familiar with the language since one member of the family, Reagan, is deaf. |
| 70 | ** ''Film/AQuietPlacePartII'': While Reagan's family knows sign language, another survivor, Emmett, does not, which becomes an issue when they end up traveling together for an extended period. |
| 71 | * ''Film/TheSilentChild'': A social worker starts teaching a deaf child how to sign, but runs into resistance from the child's self-centered mother. |
| 72 | * The protagonist of ''Film/BabyDriver'' has a deaf foster father and, besides a few token spoken words, communicates with him via sign language. The actor who plays the foster father, C.J. Jones, [[CastTheExpert is deaf in real life]] and Creator/AnselElgort, who plays the titular Baby, genuinely learned sign language to communicate with him. |
| 73 | * The 1957 film ''Man of a Thousand Faces,'' about Creator/LonChaney (played by Creator/JamesCagney), has a lot of sign language, used by Chaney and his deaf parents, later by Chaney's second wife and his son. There's a scene where Celia Lovsky (yes [[Recap/StarTrekS2E1AmokTime that Celia Lovsky]]) as Emma Chaney confronts Lon about his first wife's bad reaction to learning his parents were deaf. It's all in unsubtitled sign language; the essence of what they're saying is unmistakable. |
| 74 | --> '''Emma.''' You didn't tell her your parents were deaf? |
| 75 | --> '''Lon.''' I thought she would understand. |
| 76 | --> '''Emma.''' You don't understand your responsibility. |
| 77 | --> ''Lon turns away, not wanting to hear anymore. Emma grabs his chin and makes him look at her.'' |
| 78 | --> '''Emma.''' Go upstairs and talk to her. |
| 79 | * ''Film/FourWeddingsAndAFuneral'': Charlie and David speak in sign language, as David's deaf. It comes in handy for them to insult people or compliment women's breasts without them knowing. |
| 80 | * ''Film/SicarioDayOfTheSoldado'': Alejandro communicates with a deaf Mexican civilian using sign language, which the former knows because his late daughter was deaf. |
| 81 | * ''Film/{{Noelle}}'': The titular character, Santa Claus' daughter, instinctively knows how to speak ASL when she meets a deaf child, [[spoiler:an early tip-off that she's meant to become the new Santa]]. |
| 82 | * ''Film/SoundOfMetal'': Focuses on Ruben, a heavy metal drummer whose hearing rapidly deteriorates, as he agrees to learn ASL at a shelter for deaf addicts even as he attempts to secure money for cochlear implants. |
| 83 | * ''Film/Coda2021'' (another Marlee Matlin film): Ruby, the titular character, is the hearing daughter of deaf parents (and also has a deaf brother); the film centers around her as she struggles with strain of her having to effectively be her ASL-speaking family's interpreter, as they live in a hearing community. Her family also wrestles with the decision of whether they can continue living outside a deaf community, which has put them in a severely isolated position. |
| 84 | * ''Film/CryMacho'': Mike doesn't speak Spanish, but he does know ASL, which helps him bond with Marta and her family when he uses it to talk to one of her daughters, who is deaf. |
| 85 | * ''Film/{{Eternals}}'': Makkari is deaf, as is her actress Creator/LaurenRidloff, and uses sign language to communicate with her fellow Eternals. The others occasionally use signs to speak back to her but for the most part it's [[{{Handwave}} explained]] that she can "sense the vibrations" as people speak around her. |
| 86 | * ''Film/Dune2021''. Used by Lady Jessica when she wants to communicate covertly to her son Paul, or her personal bodyguard. |
| 87 | * ''Film/TheAddamsFamily'': Touched upon near the end of the film when Thing has to communicate to Gomez that Mortica is in trouble. He tries using sign language and Gomez can understand him revealing he knows ASL. But Thing is speaking too hastily that he's "stuttering", forcing Thing to switch to morse code to get his message across. |
| 88 | * ''Film/GodzillaVsKong'': One of the characters is a deaf girl named Jia, who communicates via ASL taught to her by her adopted mother Ilene. Kong has likewise been taught sign language and Jia uses it to talk with him which proves beneficial during the trip to Hollow Earth and the situation with Godzilla. |
| 89 | * In the 90's remake of ''Film/MiracleOnThirtyFourthStreet'', the little girl who is a Dutch refugee from World War II in the original is replaced with a girl who is deaf, and Kris communicates with her in ASL. |
| 90 | [[/folder]] |
| 91 | |
| 92 | [[folder:Literature]] |
| 93 | * The 16th ''Literature/TheBabysittersClub'' book "Jessi's Secret Language" introduces two new clients for the club, Haley and Matt Braddock, and the latter is deaf. Jessi babysits for them and learns ASL so she can communicate with Matt, and the neighborhood kids decide to learn it too. |
| 94 | * All of the undersea settlers in ''Literature/DarkLife'' know sign language, because the liquid oxygen substitute they use when diving keeps them from talking out loud. |
| 95 | * ''Franchise/ForgottenRealms'': |
| 96 | ** The Drow hand code in Creator/RASalvatore'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. |
| 97 | ** Some surface Elves in ''Forgotten Realms'', according to ''Return of the Archwizards'', have "finger talk". As opposed to at least part-"hieroglyphical" Drow signs, it's alphabetical language and at least to some degree usable with human hands. |
| 98 | ** 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. |
| 99 | * The Clan in the ''Literature/EarthsChildren'' communicate primarily by sign language and BodyLanguage, using vocal noises only for names (based on a [[ScienceMarchesOn now-disproved]] theory that Neandertals lacked a hyoid bone and/or had less-capable vocal cords than ''Homo sapiens'' so could not have supported a fully-verbal language. Hyoid bones have since been found in Neanderthal remains). Visual miscommunication is PlayedForDrama several times in ''Clan of the Cave Bear'', with TheResenter always turning away before someone compliments him. |
| 100 | * The Drasnian secret language, of the ''Literature/{{Belgariad}}'', by Creator/DavidEddings. 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). |
| 101 | * Verghastite, and later some Tanith, members of ''Literature/GauntsGhosts'' that have been deafened by artillery fire communicate with a form of sign language. |
| 102 | * In one of the ''Literature/{{Xanth}}'' stories, two characters learn American Sign Language as a way to communicate because a Xanthian girl cannot speak any known Mundane language, and the American doesn't know the language of Xanth. They later talk to a deaf man on the bus, because he saw them signing and thought they were deaf, initiating a conversation in American Sign Language. |
| 103 | * In ''Literature/TheWheelOfTime'', the [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Aiel]] have a limited form of "handtalk", with the [[AmazonBrigade Maidens of the Spear]] expanding it into a more complete language. |
| 104 | * In ''Franchise/{{Dune}}'' multiple characters use hand signals to give orders to their subordinates. In fact, there are entire sign languages developed separately by [[FeudingFamilies both the Atreides and the Harkonnens]], as well as even more subtle ones developed by the Bene Gesserit, 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. |
| 105 | * 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. |
| 106 | * 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. |
| 107 | * The Isitri from the ''Franchise/StarTrek'' novel ''Troublesome Minds'' by Creator/DaveGalanter. 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. |
| 108 | * The telepathic treecats in ''Literature/HonorHarrington'' communicate with humans via sign language derived from ASL (modified for the treecat's FourFingeredHands), although they can understand spoken word fine. |
| 109 | * The crypt workers in the ''Literature/SwordOfTruth'''s People's Palace. Darken Rahl ''had their tongues cut out so they wouldn't speak ill of his father'', so they developed one of these. Only their boss understands them at all, and poorly at that. He still has his tongue, primarily for this reason. Cara begins to follow what they mean after a lengthy "conversation". When they get their tongues magically restored, they never stop talking. It has less UnfortunateImplications than one might imagine, because these people were all mute against their will, and had no support structure like actual deaf and mute communities, so they would be less inclined to stay mute. |
| 110 | * The Heralds of the ''Literature/HeraldsOfValdemar'' series not only have a hand-based signed language, but also a form of "HandSignals" involving apparently playing footsie under the table for when they wish to communicate in secret. |
| 111 | * In the ''Literature/SimeGen'' world, Householders at a Gen auction will hold hands, the Sime wrapping tentacles around their hands as well, and communicate via subtle pressures and shifts in contact. (There's also a great deal of non-verbal information communicated via manipulating nagers.) |
| 112 | * The second book in A.C. Crispin's [=StarBridge=] series deals with a species of crane-like aliens who communicate primarily in sign; vocalization is used only as emphasis or warning...and their voices are so loud and piercing that they do physical damage to fragile human eardrums. The protagonist is a deaf cultural interpreter who is brought in to live with them, meaning that most of the book's dialogue is in sign. |
| 113 | * ''Literature/TheShipWho'': In ''[=PartnerShip=]'', Blaize is [[ReassignedToAntarctica assigned to steward the native creatures of Angalia]], which have been assessed as non-sapient humanoids after a FirstContactFauxPas. He's automatically kinder to them than his predecessor was and starts idly teaching one signs, which are picked up immediately by the others, as it turns out that the aliens share a telepathic link with each other. Soon one asks him a question that he paraphrases as "Why did Paunch Man throw ration bars in mud and treat us like animals, and why do you make stacks and hand them to us one at a time with proper respect?" |
| 114 | ---> "Can you imagine [[ArmorPiercingQuestion how it felt to hear a question like that]] coming from somebody I'd been thinking of as - oh, like a trained spider to while away the hours of my prison sentence?" |
| 115 | *** [[spoiler: Blaize [[ScrewTheRulesImDoingWhatsRight breaks some rules]] to get them some autonomy and have them reclassed as people. His punishment is five years of community service - with another species that sound-focused evaluators haven't been able to communicate with, one that resembles giant spiders. Blaize's uncle says he complained about it but was clearly already planning to try to use sign with them as well.]] |
| 116 | ** ''The Ship Who Won'' has a LostColony whose inhabitants inherited some sign language from {{Precursors}}, though their vocabulary is mostly small and the signs are mainly used to enhance a point. These Precursors are found to still be on the planet - they are small froglike aliens, unable to travel to the dry rocky citadels of the powerful humans without the technology that was stolen from them - and still speak this language, with much greater fluency. |
| 117 | *** ''The Ship Errant'' is a direct sequel dealing with making FirstContact with the main civilization of these {{Precursors}}, the Cridi. Naturally it involves much more discussion of their languages. They do speak vocally as well but regard that as "the language of science", since it didn't take off until their civilization was well established and technology was developing. Mid signed conversation, Cridi will often squeak things like "B equals B!" and use vocal speech to relay things like coordinates, but are otherwise silent - which humans can appreciate, since their voices are quite shrill. Cridi also give [[SapientShip Carialle]] a signed name, a specific gesture that means "The Watcher Behind The Wall". |
| 118 | * Joanne Greenberg's novel ''In This Sign'' is about a deaf couple navigating everyday life in the hearing world from the 1920s to the late 60s. Sign language is extensively discussed including the fact that it has many nuances and even accents. |
| 119 | * Jane Yolen's ''The Mermaid's Three Wisdoms'' has a little mermaid banished from the sea and befriended by a hearing-impaired child who is ashamed of her deafness. She hates sign language, but the mermaid is mute, so it's the only way they can communicate. The three wisdoms are: "have patience, like the sea; move with the rhythm of life around you; and know that all things touch all others." |
| 120 | * In the future setting of ''Literature/ThePrincesOfTheAir'', there's a sign language used to give commands to androids, though most people regard it as an obsolete historical curiosity now that androids come equipped with the ability to understand commands spoken in natural language. All androids are still made to understand it, though, in case of situations where speech would be difficult (and in fact are programmed to prioritize signed commands over spoken commands, as they're less susceptible to being misinterpreted), and use it for preference to communicate among themselves. The protagonist learns the sign language in college for an easy course credit, and it becomes unexpectedly useful later on. |
| 121 | * Margalit Fox's nonfiction book, ''Talking Hands'', tells the tale of visiting Al-Sayyid, a remote Arabic town with its own sign language due to the high rate of deafness in the community. About half of the book is explaining the history of why it took so long to realize sign language is language. |
| 122 | * It's explained that the main AnimalTalk used in ''Literature/TailchasersSong'' is a combination of both gestures and vocal communication. [[CommonTongue Common-Singing]] is very sign-based, so various species can use it. Even mute characters can use communicate decently thanks to how sign-based it is. |
| 123 | * In "Part of Your World" from the ''Literature/ATwistedTale'' series, Ariel uses sign language with Sebastian, Flounder, and a seahorse messenger as interpreters since she didn't regain her voice. |
| 124 | * Michael Crichton's novel ''Literature/{{Congo}}'' features a female gorilla named Amy who communicates with her human guardians using American Sign Language. |
| 125 | [[/folder]] |
| 126 | |
| 127 | [[folder:Live-Action TV]] |
| 128 | * An episode of ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'', "[[Recap/StarTrekTheNextGenerationS2E5LoudAsAWhisper Loud as a Whisper]]", featured Deaf actor Creator/HowieSeago performing the role of Riva, a mute character who in the context of the story used an esoteric form of gestural communication known only to him and a few others. In reality, Seago was using his native American Sign Language. When Riva's interpreters were killed, Commander Data had to quickly learn the language and serve as Riva's interpreter. Unfortunately, while Brent Spiner is a wonderful actor, his attempts at signing were hilariously bad, and he was effectively speaking nonsense for the couple of brief moments when Data was actually shown signing on camera. It's a good thing, then, that the majority of the time, Data simply filled the role of voice interpreter. |
| 129 | * ''Series/{{Beauty and the Beast|1987}}'' has a deaf character who had grown up in the tunnels in [[InspirationallyDisadvantaged "An Impossible Silence"]] and [[DisabilityAsAnExcuseForJerkassery "Sticks and Stones"]] who communicated through ASL. The second episode was groundbreaking in that there were several scenes where deaf characters communicated in on-screen silence, with no voiceover or even background music, something the [[DisabledCharacterDisabledActor deaf actors involved]] fought hard for, not wanting someone else's voice to overshadow their own "voices". |
| 130 | * ''Series/CHiPs'': they meet a [[GirlOfTheWeek deaf woman]] and learn sign language ''just in time'' to use it during a chase scene when they were far away from each other and there was construction noise nearby; then they never used it again. |
| 131 | * Shows up a lot in ''Series/{{NCIS}}'' as [[PerkyGoth Abby]] and Gibbs both know [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_sign_language ASL]]. (Abby's adoptive parents were both deaf.) Actually turns up again ''Series/NCISLosAngeles'' when Abby is kidnapped and uses ASL to warn the local team about the room she's in. |
| 132 | * The KoreanDrama ''Series/CanYouHearMyHeart'' centers around several deaf individuals. |
| 133 | * ''Series/SwitchedAtBirth'' stars a deaf high-schooler and the girl she was switched-at-birth with. Basically all of the cast uses American Sign Language on a regular basis, though there is a clear difference in skill between the (relatively large number of) deaf actors and the speaking ones. |
| 134 | * ''Series/SesameStreet'' included Linda, a deaf woman who communicated entirely in American Sign Language during the course of the series. |
| 135 | * Creator/TheBBC has a magazine show for deaf people called ''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. |
| 136 | ** Morning programming on some BBC channels is comprised of repeats with an in-vision sign language interpreter to the side of the screen. There are also signed broadcasts throughout the day on the dedicated news channel. |
| 137 | ** This still happens on Cbeebies, the morning's shows are repeated from 3 til 5 with sign language. |
| 138 | ** There's also ''Something Special'' on Cbeebies, which is about teaching children Makaton (a simplified sign language, distinct from BSL). |
| 139 | * A children's show that aired in the late 90s/early 2000s called ''What's Your Sign?'' had one hearing host and one deaf host, and everything spoken was also said in ASL, to help teach kids sign language. |
| 140 | * There's also public television's 2006-2008 ''Signing Time!'' and a number of programs for children and adults on local and community access TV beginning in the early 1970s. |
| 141 | * ''Series/SueThomasFBEye'' was about a deaf detective and included at least one other deaf character almost every episode. |
| 142 | * In the 2009 [[Creator/TheBBC CBBC]] 11 part series ''My Almost Famous Family'' youngest child Martha is deaf and what ever she 'says' appears on the screen, the other members of the family sign when speaking to her and when there's something they want her to 'hear' when she's in the room. |
| 143 | * ''Series/TheWestWing'' featured deaf pollster Joey Lucas (played by Creator/MarleeMatlin), as a recurring character, always accompanied by her interpreter Kenny. This led to copious amounts of ASL flying around, occasionally spreading to main characters: |
| 144 | -->'''Sam:''' Joey puts together a decent snapshot.\ |
| 145 | '''Lisa:''' Which one's Joey?\ |
| 146 | '''Sam:''' Kenny, can we get Joey a second?\ |
| 147 | '''Kenny:''' ''[signs]'' Can you come over for a second?\ |
| 148 | '''Joey:''' ''[signs]'' Just a minute, please.\ |
| 149 | '''Sam:''' ''[signs]'' Thank you.\ |
| 150 | '''Lisa:''' When did you pick that up??\ |
| 151 | '''Sam:''' I just said "thanks"... could he go easy with the pictures? |
| 152 | * ''Series/{{Fargo}}'' features deaf hitman Mr. Wrench (played by deaf actor Russell Harvard) and his interpreter/partner Mr. Numbers. The two communicate in mostly unsubtitled ASL, leaving a lot of jokes and arguments exclusively for people who know ASL. |
| 153 | * Creator/AlJazeera Arabic has an in-vision (Arabic) Sign Language interpreter on some of its broadcasts. Since (given that Al Jazeera serves the Middle East) they tend to report on wars a lot, even non-deaf viewers of Al Jazeera Arabic can give a decent imitation of the Arabic sign for "air strikes." |
| 154 | * ''Series/{{ER}}'': |
| 155 | ** Peter Benton, whose son Reese (played by deaf actor Matthew Watkins) is deaf. Peter initially looks into surgeries and other methods to give Reese a chance to hear, but later accepts it and begins to learn Sign. |
| 156 | ** Kerry Weaver -- yes, peppery, abrasive Kerry Weaver -- speaks at least some ASL, using it to communicate with [[FriendToAllChildren a young deaf girl]] as early as season 2. |
| 157 | * The ''Series/DoctorWho'' story "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS35E3UnderTheLake Under the Lake]]"/"[[Recap/DoctorWhoS35E4BeforeTheFlood Before the Flood]]" has a deaf UNIT officer called Cass, who was played by [[DisabledCharacterDisabledActor genuinely deaf actor]] Sophie Stone and communicates entirely in sign language, although she can also [[ReadingLips read lips]], which becomes a plot point. This caused a brief CrossCulturalKerfluffle, when some American viewers accused the actors of "just waving their hands around" instead of using real sign language, not knowing that British Sign Language is a different language to America Sign Language and they are not mutually comprehensible. |
| 158 | * In ''Series/{{Inhumans}}'', as in the comics, Black Bolt has [[SuperScream an incredibly destructive voice]] so he communicates with a unique sign language he developed with his wife, Medusa. This causes issues when they're separated during the first part of the series, as it means he loses his interpreter. Made-up signs were used on the grounds that, as he lives on an isolated moon colony, he never would have had a chance to learn any Earth sign languages. His actor Anson Mount put extra effort into making sure his signs were valid in their own right and didn't overlap with ASL, and he expressed interest in expanding them into a fully-developed [[ConLang fictional language]]. |
| 159 | * In the "Return of the Fighting 69th" episode of ''Series/BuckRogersInTheTwentyFifthCentury'', Buck encounters a young deaf girl named Alicia, being held as a slave on an asteroid by space pirates. Showing a previously unknown ability to use ASL, Buck communicates with her to help with his and Wilma's escape after they're captured. |
| 160 | * Very common in ''Series/TheSociety'' due to main character Sam being deaf. He uses ASL and a majority of his friends and family have learned at least the basics to ease communication. His best friend Becca is fluent and acts as his unofficial interpreter. Grizz is also learning, though initially he tries British Sign Language because he doesn't realize it's a different language. |
| 161 | * ''Series/TheYoungRiders'' has a character named Ike who is mute resulting from Scarlet Fever and speaks in Native American Sign Language. |
| 162 | * ''Series/Hawkeye2021'': [[Characters/MCUHawkeye Clint Barton]] is now hearing impaired after years of being exposed to loud noises so he and his kids have started learning ASL. Maya Lopez, the main antagonist, has been deaf since birth (as has her actress Creator/AlaquaCox) and relies on her right hand man Kazi to act as a TranslatorBuddy because the rest of the Tracksuit Mafia don't understand sign language. When the gang capture Barton, Maya attempts to speak to him directly via sign but he admits he's still a beginner and can't say much more than "More cookie, please". |
| 163 | * ''Series/SpinCity'': One episode dealt with Mike having to quell some offended deaf people due to some bad wording from the Mayor and meets their representative who is partially deaf and speaks through sign language. Stuart is revealed to be fluent in ASL and helps translate what she's saying. |
| 164 | * ''Franchise/CSIVerse'': |
| 165 | ** ''Series/{{CSI}}'' has two cases involving schools for the deaf. Grissom speaks ASL, but he's rusty. He uses it to gain the trust of the school's principal in the first case and later asks him to talk about himself in sign. Later, the victim actually faked being deaf to get a scholarship, but sign is still used. Grissom talks to his mom using it. Created an IAmNotSpock situation as fans tried speaking it to actor William Petersen but he actually doesn't know it. |
| 166 | ** ''Series/{{CSINY}}'' has a case with a deaf woman who argued with her boyfriend over cochlear implants for their daughter. Actress Marlee Matlin, who also played the school principal in the original series' later episode, played the victim's mother and used both sign and spoken English. |
| 167 | * A ''Series/LawAndOrder'' episode about the murder of a deaf woman had her deaf ex as the prime suspect, with the question being whether he killed her because she was planning to get a cochlear implant and abandon the deaf community, or because she had broken up with him and was just a typical scorned ex-lover who just happened to be deaf. Throughout the episode, sign language is repeatedly used by the other characters, a police interpreter, and the man's lawyer. |
| 168 | * A similar episode of ''Series/LawAndOrderCriminalIntent'' featured several deaf suspects in the murder of a doctor who performed cochlear implants even paired this with an attempt at BilingualBackfire--two suspects stop signing when they notice that Goren (who himself is trying to hide his mouth so that they can't read his lips) and the police interpreter are watching them. Later, the interpreter himself refuses to translate a conversation between a suspect and his lawyer, even deliberately turning away so as not to violate attorney-client privilege. |
| 169 | * A ''Series/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit'' episode had Creator/MarleeMatlin as a murder suspect. Despite her need for an interpreter, her deafness was actually irrelevant to her motives (she was assisting ill people with suicides). |
| 170 | * In the ''Series/{{Seinfeld}}'' episode "The Lip Reader", Jerry dates a deaf woman, who at one point misreads him saying "six" as "sex". Later in the episode, she joins him at a party where George asks her to read his ex-girlfriend's lips to determine why she dumped him. The woman signs while Kramer interprets (he knows ASL) her saying "We'll sleep together" to another guy, causing George to go ballistic. Only to find out that she actually said ''"sweep"''. One naturally assumes that the deaf woman has once again misread someone's lips as she did before, but viewers who know ASL know that she actually ''correctly'' signed "sweep". ''Kramer'' is the one who screwed up and misinterpreted what she signed. |
| 171 | [[/folder]] |
| 172 | |
| 173 | [[folder:Music Videos]] |
| 174 | * In the music video for Music/SavageGarden's "Crash and Burn," Darren Hays sings and signs the final verse. |
| 175 | * Parts of Music/LaurieAnderson's video for "O Superman" have Anderson signing the lyrics in the corner of the screen. |
| 176 | * Music/WeirdAlYankovic's video for "Dare To Be Stupid" has a woman in the corner of the screen signing the lyrics "It's like spitting on a fish / It's like barking up a tree". |
| 177 | ** In the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vq6OncN6_Fo raw footage]] of Donny Osmond's appearance in Al's video for "White and Nerdy", Osmond can be seen fingerspelling when the phrase "ROTFLOL" comes up in the lyrics; Osmond's two oldest brothers are deaf and one of his nephews is hard of hearing. |
| 178 | * And for People who understand BSL, the video for Faithless' [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhSB8EEnCAM God is a DJ]] is pretty much sung and signed by Maxi Jazz. Only one small part with an argument being signed is not a direct translation. |
| 179 | * Music/FlorentPagny's DeliberatelyMonochrome video for "Savoir Aimer" (Know How to Love), consists of a single shot of him signing the lyrics of the song. |
| 180 | * UK band Red Box was lauded in the mid-'80s for their video for [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTyFUbgSvL8 "Lean On Me (Ah-Li-Ayo),"]] which featured a BSL interpreter on the lower right side of the screen. |
| 181 | * A running gag in the filk music of Music/TomSmith and others at conventions is to have a sign language interpreter, generally the talented Judi Miller, [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LecGuQE6t44 try to interpret songs on the fly]]. |
| 182 | * The American Author's song "Pride" has a [[https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=american+authors+pride music video]] featuring deaf actress Sandra Mae Frank interpreting most of the song in ASL. |
| 183 | * Ingrid Michaelson released an alternate music video for Hell No, with herself and a Deaf/hard-of-hearing cast: Josh Castille, Miles Barbee, Daniel Durant, Treshelle Edmond, and Ren, signing the song. It was directed by (hearing) Michael Arden, who had worked with the aforementioned actors and actresses for the 2015/2016 English/ASL revival of Theatre/SpringAwakening in Los Angeles and on Broadway. |
| 184 | [[/folder]] |
| 185 | |
| 186 | [[folder:Tabletop Games]] |
| 187 | * ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'': |
| 188 | ** The Sisters of Silence from use hand signals to communicate, one form for normal conversation and one for the battlefield. |
| 189 | ** Averted with the gretchin who crew ork artillery and eventually go deaf. They do use sign language... but it's a very limited one, as [[LiteralMinded there are only so many signs a gretchin can carry.]] |
| 190 | * ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons''. |
| 191 | ** The Drow have a language of hand signs in their original appearance. The fluff concerning it is to allow communicating silently in the Underdark while sneaking on their enemies. |
| 192 | ** ''TabletopGame/ForgottenRealms'' {{sourcebook}} on Harpers also mentioned their own "silent code" of gestures and expressions. |
| 193 | ** 1st Edition had alignment languages, which included special signals and gestures. |
| 194 | * ''TabletopGame/StarWarsSagaEdition'': |
| 195 | ** It has hand signals in one splatbook handled elegantly as a language. Well worth the cost, if you're playing that sort of campaign. |
| 196 | ** The [=RPGs=] also originated the idea that twi'leks would use their "lekku" (long, semi-mobile "head-tails") to communicate with one another in secret. In some sources, bothans could do something similar by rippling their fur in various patterns -- unsurprisingly, both species had long associations with crime and/or espionage and would use their sign languages as a kind of subtle SpySpeak. |
| 197 | * ''TabletopGame/{{Paranoia}}'' has Twitchtalk for conversing silently to comrades. It works as well as everything else in this setting. |
| 198 | * In ''TabletopGame/GeneStorm'', not all mutants have vocal cords so "Finger Talk" is something of a wasteland CommonTongue. |
| 199 | * ''[[http://www.thornygames.com/sign/ Sign]]'', by Creator/ThornyGames, is an educational card-game meant to immerse players in the world of Nicaraguan Sign Language, a pidgin turned language that emerged when 50 deaf children from various backgrounds were brought together at a school and forced to figure out how to communicate. |
| 200 | [[/folder]] |
| 201 | |
| 202 | [[folder:Theater]] |
| 203 | * [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deaf_West_Theatre Deaf West Theatre]] is a Los Angeles based company that aims to give exposure to deaf performers and present both original and adapted works in ASL. Their most popular and notable accomplishment is the 2015 revival of ''Theatre/SpringAwakening'', which used the presence of deaf characters to augment the play's themes of miscommunication and alienation. It also incorporated the policies for the deaf enacted in education at the time, such as forbidding sign language and forcing the students to speak. The play was eventually moved to Broadway, and successfully gained a nomination for a Tony Award as well. |
| 204 | [[/folder]] |
| 205 | |
| 206 | [[folder:Video Games]] |
| 207 | * An update in October 2022 for ''VideoGame/GoodPizzaGreatPizza'' introduced a unique customer named Iris who is mute. Unlike nearly every character in the game [[LimitedAnimation who only has one pose with different facial animations]], Iris uses [[AnimationBump fully-animated ASL]] to place her orders and responds to you as such. If you don't understand her and push for a Hint, [[AntiFrustrationFeatures she gives you a written note with her order]]. |
| 208 | * Within ''VideoGame/PhantomBrave'', Castille realizes that Putties are intelligent, but unable to speak, and teaches one sign language to communicate. |
| 209 | * In her revised lore, the mute musician Sona Buvelle from ''VideoGame/LeagueOfLegends'' created a private sign language with her adopted family which she also shared with her friends. In the [[FantasticRacism paranoid and magic-fearing]] Demacia, she tries to keep it out of sight in case the hand signs are mistaken for spellcasting by the ignorant. |
| 210 | * Fyra in ''VideoGame/{{Nier}}'' is bound by the rules of the city of Facade that forbid her to speak, so instead she speaks entirely in sign language. This turns out to be quite useful, considering you can't understand anyone else upon your first visit due to the odd language. |
| 211 | * The main character of ''VideoGame/TheQuietMan'' is [[HandicappedBadass a deaf brawler for a mafia-style gang]] who occasionally shares exchanges with his allies in ASL. Unfortunately for the game, it caught a lot of controversy from deaf advocates of its representation (namely for how due to the circumstance and the need to make him look badass, it frequently conflates usage of the language with gang signs), as well as broad criticism for its storytelling implementation (despite the game ostensibly being based around his perspective [[GameplayAndStoryIntegration and thus completely lacking sound]], the game provides no TranslationConvention to parse out what he understands, so anyone who doesn't know the language is completely locked out of the plot). |
| 212 | [[/folder]] |
| 213 | |
| 214 | [[folder:Visual Novels]] |
| 215 | * ''VisualNovel/KatawaShoujo'' is set in a high school for disabled teenagers. One of the routes centers on the deaf-mute StudentCouncilPresident, where she and [[TranslatorBuddy her best friend]] communicates mainly in sign language. [[spoiler:If the main character pursues this route, he learns it, too]]. |
| 216 | [[/folder]] |
| 217 | |
| 218 | [[folder:Webcomics]] |
| 219 | * ''Webcomic/ThatDeafGuy'' is all about the day-to-day life of a deaf man, his translator wife, and their CODA (Child Of Deaf Adult) son. Aspects of signed language and Deaf culture are central conceits. |
| 220 | * ''Webcomic/DumbingOfAge'', the UltimateUniverse version of the Webcomic/RoomiesItsWalkyJoyceAndWalky continuity, features Marcie as a mute woman who communicates via ASL. Only Sal is fluent enough to understand her. |
| 221 | * ''Webcomic/{{Runewriters}}'' gives us Tarri, TheHeart of the party, who's deaf and communicates in [[TranslationConvention a language represented as ASL]]. |
| 222 | * One minor character in ''Webcomic/GirlsWithSlingshots'' is a deaf woman named Melody. She frequently communicates with signs, and it's used for BilingualBonus [[http://www.girlswithslingshots.com/comic/gws-879/ at one point.]] |
| 223 | * Played for irony in DistantSequel ''The Legacy of Webcomic/DominicDeegan''. After PlantPerson Sunflower [[spoiler:is mostly eaten by a PlantMonster except for a hand and forearm that were subsequently planted in a flowerpot]], they try to use sign language to communicate with Snout, who is deaf. But Snout normally communicates through writing and never learned to sign, so he doesn't know what "all that weird hand stuff" (as he called it in his journal) meant. There's a BilingualBonus: the panels spell out "Follow the path home" in ASL. |
| 224 | * ''Webcomic/TheOrderOfTheStick'' being a ''D&D''-based webcomic, the Drow signed language crops up once, used by Tarquin to communicate with a deafened ZZ'dtri. The [[http://www.giantitp.com/Images/CafePress2013/DrowHandSigns.png "Common Drow Hand Signs"]] bonus art parody the concept. |
| 225 | * ''Webcomic/LeifAndThorn'' has the Embassy staff communicate with hand signals when they want it to go unnoticed. Leif thinks of it as "servants' code", but when [[http://leifandthorn.com/comic/summer-sunshine-7384/ he encounters an actual deaf person]] it turns out they can communicate fluently. (The cast page refers to it as Sønheim Sign.) |
| 226 | * ''Webcomic/SisterClaire'': The Missing Moment side stories (which are mostly set in the past before the main webcomic) introduces a character named Lark who's deaf, so she communicates through sign language. She teaches it to Clementine who would often use as an alternate way to talk to her friends whenever she got too nervous that her stuttering impeded her words. |
| 227 | [[/folder]] |
| 228 | |
| 229 | [[folder:Web Original]] |
| 230 | * In the ''Website/SCPFoundation'' mythos, [[http://www.scp-wiki.net/scp-085 SCP-085]], "Hand-Drawn Cassy", is effectively mute due to being an albeit animate drawing. The only other way she can communicate is through SpeechBubbles in comic book mediums. |
| 231 | * In ''Literature/TheSagaOfTuck'', Tuck is fluent in ASL because he had communication problems when he was a child, so his family and Mike learned it as well. This becomes very handy to secretly talk in plain sight without listeners and to befriend a deaf girl in ''Seasons''. |
| 232 | * ''Literature/WhateleyUniverse'': |
| 233 | ** At the Whateley Academy, signed language is used by a significant subset of the student population to deal with people whose mutations leave them unable to speak, or unable to speak safely, although the details are often glossed over. |
| 234 | ** It is explained that Razorback signs in both AUSLAN and ASL, because he learned the former first, and that he's had to make some adjustments to both because of his saurian digits. |
| 235 | [[/folder]] |
| 236 | |
| 237 | [[folder:Western Animation]] |
| 238 | * ''WesternAnimation/CampCandy'': In the episode "Signs of Silence" a deaf girl visits the camp and everyone uses sign language while she's there. She also communicates with a lost gorilla. |
| 239 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaid1992'': In the episode "When You Wish Upon a Starfish", Ariel meets a deaf mermaid girl named Gabriella who speaks with signed language while her octopus friend interprets for her. |
| 240 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheSmurfs1981'': Laconia the wood elf is mute and communicates in signed language. |
| 241 | * ''WesternAnimation/TheDragonPrince'': Ezran and Callum's aunt, Amaya is deaf and communicates through ASL, while her lieutenant Gren [[TranslatorBuddy interprets for her]]. |
| 242 | * ''WesternAnimation/ThePenguinsOfMadagascar'': the two chimpanzees Mason and Phil are the only characters with five fingers. Phil is mute and uses sign language while Mason translates. |
| 243 | * ''WesternAnimation/AmericanDad'': Steve ends up trapped in a gorilla enclosure. The gorilla and its father communicate with accurate sign language, while their zoo handlers translate what they say. |
| 244 | [[/folder]] |
| 245 |
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/context.php
FollowingContext UsefulNotes / SignedLanguage
Go To
- Show Spoilers
- Night Vision
- Sticky Header
- Wide Load
