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In this setting, I have a species with incredibly weak vocalization abilities, being hardly able to speak over what a human would consider a whisper. In this, they have relied entirely on using their hands to speak their dominant languages. Some are assisted by other parts of the body or elements of body language, but hands maintain a mostly-universal method of communication within their cultures.

Since they are, at the time I am currently concerned with, at an FTL-level of technology, how complex might their sign language get after thousands of years of development and evolution? Writing could also be a subject of intense complication, as it has no need to actually be vocalized (human languages are literally constructed and organized around how we vocalize) and only translatable into physical sign (who needs syllables? or syntaxing? or even discernable letters?).

Some basic information that could possibly be relevant: This species is called the Shovan, an exonym given by their long-time brethren, the Scien. They live in wet and hot tropical climates primarily, being cold-blooded and thus unfit for the frozen worlds of the Scien. They have 5 digits on each of their two hands, as well as two legs and a clearly discernable head structure that features a large bony frill. Their scales feature intricate and colorful patterns, especially in their youth. They are on average moderately shorter than a human, but the digits on their hands are slightly (5-7 cm / 2-3 in) longer.

As always, all answers are appreciated and any needed clarification will be given ^^

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    $\begingroup$ What do you mean with "complexity" of a language? $\endgroup$
    – L.Dutch ♦
    Nov 2, 2021 at 6:25
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    $\begingroup$ Have you looked into how real life sign languages work? They're not only letters and common hand signs, they also consider facial expression, head movements (nodding / shaking), lip movement $\endgroup$
    – Juliana Karasawa Souza
    Nov 2, 2021 at 7:07
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    $\begingroup$ As far as I know, sign languages used by deaf people are definitely rich enough and expressive enough to function as a medium of communication. Also as far as I know, there is but little relationship between the spoken language of a country and the sign language(s) used in that country; for example, the British Sign Language is not mutually intelligible with the American Sign Language. (Fun fact: the American Sign Language evolved from the 18th century French Sign Language; the modern American and French Sign Languages are sisters.) The entire question seems to be based on a misconception. $\endgroup$
    – AlexP
    Nov 2, 2021 at 7:31
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    $\begingroup$ Additionally: "they are... at an FTL-level of technology". If you have access to technology, you don't even need hands. I composed this message to you using just two fingers, and the 2nd was only needed to press shift on the keyboard. Stephen Hawking managed to deliver speeches and write several books, and he could barely blink! Technology completely removes barriers to communication. You could consider his minimal movements to instruct his vocalizer to be "sign language", and I'd consider the book "A brief history of time" to be really, really advanced communication! $\endgroup$
    – PcMan
    Nov 2, 2021 at 9:21
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    $\begingroup$ you may want to look at Nicaraguan Sign Language which was invented by deaf people for deaf people with no prior input from existing languages, and not by hearing and deaf people together like ASL. it is a full blown language that can do anything any other language can do. $\endgroup$
    – John
    Nov 2, 2021 at 17:43

2 Answers 2

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EXTREMELY COMPLEX

Spoken language is limited by only producing a single sound at a time (though with plenty of variation in pitch, intonation, loudness, etc.).

With sign language (using two five-fingered hands), you have two hands that each can show a different hand gesture at the same time, and you can move or position the hands (and elbows) in various ways do add further meaning to the hand gesture.

Hand gestures can include bending and strecthing the individual fingers at various degrees. With just three positions per finger, for ten fingers that comes to 59,049 variations, each of which could have a different meaning. In addition, pairs of fingers could be spread, held close or crossed, and streched fingers could be held straight or turned down. Even without moving or positioning hands, this roughly triples the meaning of each finger, for more than 3 billion meanings for hand gestures alone. Position and movement (e.g. wagging a finger) probably brings it close to a trillion - far more than a human mind could ever hope to grasp.

To this we can add body language, which humans use to modify or add to the meaning of speech (nodding, shaking your head, swaying, leaning forward or away, standing spread-legged or leaning on one foot, and much more).

For your aliens, their frills could add to the meaning: Is it laid back, straight up, tilted to a side, changing color or whatever. Movable ears can also add meaning - just look at cats or rabbits. The sign language could also be accented with grunts, whistles or whatever sounds the species can produce.

All in all, sign language can be far more complex than simple spoken language. The limitations are not what it is possible to express with sign language, but what you are capable of understanding.

Also worth noting is that sign language is severely limited in darkness, which spoken language is not. Distance can also hamper sign language more than speech - it can be difficult to discern details. Your aliens have probably developed a simpler sign language for long-distance use, using only only arm movements. In return, sign language is silent, which can come in handy (just see any action movie), and noise doesn't disturb it.

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  • $\begingroup$ The limitations are something I hadn't considered. But this helps a lot to show the possibilities going forward! A really great answer, thank you. [: $\endgroup$
    – INPU
    Nov 4, 2021 at 2:47
  • $\begingroup$ I wonder, how many of these possible variations can be reliably identified and what would be the upper limit for a number of signs. In spoken languages, IIRC, only 2-3 000 words are used in everyday speech, but the total number of words can be in hundreds of thousands. $\endgroup$
    – Otkin
    Nov 5, 2021 at 16:18
  • $\begingroup$ @Otkin I imagine that, just like our range of sounds we can make when we vocalize, the almost countlessly various possible signs would be separated by language. Just like no one human language uses every possible sound, no one of these languages would use every possible sign [: $\endgroup$
    – INPU
    Nov 6, 2021 at 5:25
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    $\begingroup$ @INPU I asked my initial question because if we look at kanji and hanzi (Japanese and Chinese characters), it takes years and special education to learn the advanced/rare ones. I am not sure about Chinese (and they use more characters than Japanese), but it is not common even for educated Japanese to master both reading and writing of over 10 000 kanji. It is also common for both Chinese and Japanese to confuse some similar-looking characters (especially those with many [20+] strokes). So, I was wondering what Klaus Æ. Mogensen would suggest in this regard. $\endgroup$
    – Otkin
    Nov 6, 2021 at 19:35
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    $\begingroup$ @Otkin: As you say, the limitation is more in what we are able to grasp than in what we are able to express. With human-like intelligence, 10,000 distinctive finger signs are probably close to the limit, but 'grammar' and 'intonation' in the shape of hand movement and positioning, etc., could add meaning. Puns could be done be with similar-looking signs. Interestingly, the loss of a hand or finger would provide a strong 'speech' impediment. $\endgroup$
    – Klaus Æ. Mogensen
    Nov 7, 2021 at 10:55
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I'd think, from what I've read on sign language, and my experience with a sister that studied some ASL, that you could have just as much variety in sign language as you could with spoken language.

Our perception of sign language may rank it lower than spoken languages (not sure if that wording makes sense) because things like ASL are purposefully constructed forms of communication - thus we feel like they might have limits imposed upon them by their artificiality.

But strictly speaking, the ability to vocalize different sounds, while complex, is still limited - and most languages don't try to use them all - for example, many languages don't have the "th" sound at the start of "the." English doesn't use the glottal stop except in rare cases like "uh-oh."

Sign language has limitations as well, but a great number of options too. You might see really interesting variations along with culture. Perhaps everyone carries around certain items that assist them in communicating something - holding up a blue stone means that you are speaking in a joking tone, while a green stone means a serious one.

The possibilities are really expansive.

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    $\begingroup$ I hadn't considered the idea of tools used alongside their physical communication. It makes a lot of sense! Thanks for the ideas ^^ $\endgroup$
    – INPU
    Nov 4, 2021 at 2:45

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