D&D (2024) Who has sign language?

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Bizarrely, there doesn't seem to be a way to easily find languages in the 2024 PHB via D&D Beyond, either by looking at the table of contents or the search engine. Did they remove that info from the book for some reason?

EDIT: It's under Creating a Character in chapter two, although the site's search engine doesn't seem to be aware of it: 2024 Player's Handbook - Marketplace - D&D Beyond

In any case, "Common sign language" is described as a standard language native to Sigil (as is the Common language itself). The suggestion is it's more widely spoken than Abyssal, Celestial, Deep Speech, Druidic, Infernal, Primordial, Sylvan, Thieves Cant and Undercommon.

So if more characters know sign language than Thieves Cant, I think it's fair to say that lots of NPCs must know it.

 

[Lakesidefantasy]

In the character creation part of the Player's Handbook it specifically indicates that your character can speak, read, write, and sign a language. Does the Monster Manual indicate this in the stat' blocks for Non-Player Characters? Monsters?

 

[jmartkdr2]

Presumably it works like any other language in terms of availability, since it’s taken as a language. How widespread it is in any given setting is up to the worldbuilder and/or dm.

Follow-up: can you use sign language for Verbal components?

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Follow-up: can you use sign language for Verbal components?

I'd say no, but I would expect this to be a full-on argument at some tables. I can't imagine that magic itself is ableist and only able to be performed by the hearing, but so what does that mean for deaf spellcasters?

 

[jmartkdr2]

I'd say no, but I would expect this to be a full-on argument at some tables. I can't imagine that magic itself is ableist and only able to be performed by the hearing, but so that does that mean for deaf spellcasters?

Fair enough.

My own first instinct is “why not?” and then trying to think of way it can be exploited and if those are really a problem.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Fair enough.

My own first instinct is “why not?” and then trying to think of way it can be exploited and if those are really a problem.

The exploitation is that this would give the equivalent of Silent Spell to anyone who chose sign language as one of their languages, and languages can be learned during downtime.

How much of a problem this would be probably varies a lot between tables, but it's a genuine consequence.

 

[Tonguez]

IMC Druid cant is primarily full body sign languages, various peoples have their own sign and everyone can use it

 

[aco175]

Wouldn't each language have its own sign language? It would be easier to just have an universal one like 'common', but makes sense that dwarves and elves would develop their own styles.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Wouldn't each language have its own sign language? It would be easier to just have an universal one like 'common', but makes sense that dwarves and elves would develop their own styles.

That sort of/any logic leads to picking apart the entire official D&D language system.

 

[Iry]

The exploitation is that this would give the equivalent of Silent Spell to anyone who chose sign language as one of their languages, and languages can be learned during downtime.

How much of a problem this would be probably varies a lot between tables, but it's a genuine consequence.

I saw a DM handle this by requiring the caster to have +1 free hands. That is to say, spells with a V component needed one free hand instead, and spells with an S and V component needed 2 free hands OR a spell focus and a free hand. It was still a net benefit for the silent spellcaster, but messed with him a little.