D&D 5E (2024) Who has sign language?

[Lakesidefantasy]

Who has sign language? Is it just for Player Characters or do Non-Player Characters have it too?

 

[James Gasik]

Canonically, I think only Drow have a sign language.

 

[LordEntrails]

Why wouldn't NPCs be able to have it?

 

[lall]

Canonically, I think only Drow have a sign language.

Evereskan finger talk.

 

[Gradine]

Why wouldn't NPCs be able to have it?

No hands

 

[Morrus]

Who has sign language? Is it just for Player Characters or do Non-Player Characters have it too?

In what world? In my campaigns, anybody can learn it, just like in the real world.

 

[James Gasik]

Evereskan finger talk.

Oh really? Hey that's cool, I didn't know about that.

 

[Epic Meepo]

NPCs who use sign language appear in several modern WotC adventures (including Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus, Tomb of Annihilation, and Waterdeep: Dragon Heist, if I'm not mistaken).

If you look at older editions, sign languages of various sorts are fairly widespread in the Forgotten Realms setting. Drow, dwarves, and surface elves all have sign languages, as do some named NPCs in Kara-Tur and Zakhara.

Also, per the 1985 edition of Oriental Adventures, the Trade Tongue used throughout Kara-Tur includes gestures in addition to spoken words. Arguably, that means it could be used as a simple sign language.

 

[aco175]

Army hand and arm signals.

30 seconds before jumping out.

 

[bergec]

Army hand and arm signals.

View attachment 408224 30 seconds before jumping out.