Conlangs are, well, constructed languages. For the vast majority of people, a language is written and spoken, so creators of conlangs naturally gravitate towards those forms. But there is another kind of language that does not involve the written word, does not require speech. I’m talking, of course, about sign language.
Signing is not limited to the deaf. We all use body language and gesture every day, from waving goodbye to blowing kisses to holding out a thumbs-up or peace sign. Some of these signs are codified as part of a culture, and a few can be quite specific to a subculture, such as the “hook ’em horns” gesture that is a common symbol of the University of Texas.
Another example of non-deaf signing is the hand signals used by, for example, military and police units. These can be so complex that they become their own little jargon. They’re not full sign languages, but they work a bit like a pidgin, taking in only the minimum amount of vocabulary required for communication.
It’s only within the community of the hearing-impaired that sign language comes into its own, because we’re talking about a large subset of the population with few other options for that communication necessary for human civilization. But what a job they have done. American Sign Language is a complex, fully-formed language, one that is taught in schools, one learned by children the same as any spoken tongue.
Conlangs come in
So speaking with ones body is not only entirely possible, but it’s also an integral part of speaking for many people. (The whole part, for some.) Where does the art of constructing languages come in? Can we make a sign conlang?
Of course we can. ASL was constructed, as are many of the other world sign languages. All of them have a relatively short history, in fact, especially when compared to the antiquity of some natural languages. But there are a few major caveats.
First, sign languages are much more difficult to comprehend, at least for those of us who have never used one. Imagine trying to develop a conlang when you can’t speak any natlang. You won’t get very far. It’s the same way for a non-signer who would want to create a sign language. Only by knowing at least one language (preferably more) can you begin to understand what’s possible, what’s likely, and what’s common.
Second, sign languages are extremely hard to describe in print. ASL has transcription schemes, but they’re…not exactly optimal. Your best bet for detailing a sign conlang might actually be videos.
Finally, a non-spoken, non-written language will necessarily have a much smaller audience. Few Americans know ASL on even the most rudimentary level. I certainly don’t, despite decades of alphabet handouts from local charities and a vain attempt by my Spanish teacher in high school to use signing as a mnemonic device. Fewer still would want to learn a sign language with even less use. (Conlangers in general, on the other hand, would probably be as intrigued as for any new project.)
Limits
If you do want to try your hand at a sign conlang, I’m not sure how helpful I can be. I’ll try to give a few pointers, but remember what I said above: I’m not the best person to ask.
One thing to keep in mind is that the human body has limits. Also, the eye might be the most important organ for signing. A sign that can’t be seen is no better than a word you don’t speak. Similarly, it’s visual perception that will determine how subtle a signing movement can be. This is broadly analogous to the difference in phonemes, but it’s not exactly the same.
Something else to think about: signing involves more than the hands. Yes, the position and orientation of the hands and fingers are a fair bit of information, but sign languages use much more than that. They also involve, among other things, facial expressions and posture. A wink or a nod could as easily be a “phoneme” of sign as an outstretched thumb.
Grammar is another area where signing can feel strange to those used to spoken language. ASL, for example, doesn’t follow normal English grammar to the letter. And there’s no real reason why it should. It’s a different language, after all. And the “3D” nature of sign opens up many possibilities that wouldn’t work in linear speech. Again, it’s really hard to give more specific advice here, but if you do learn a sign language, you’ll see what I’m saying. (Ugh. Sorry about the pun.)
Celebrating differences
Conlanging is art. Just as some artists work with paint and canvas, others sculpture or verse, not all conlangers have to be tied to the spoken and written varieties of language. It’s okay to be different, and sign languages are certainly different.