Would be useful for monks with vow of silence, among others?
The only one I know of is drow sign language.
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Golarion is pretty much at the point modern sign languages really came into their own, historically. So they could exist, or some form of precursors at least.
Officially though, I think the Drow one is the only confirmed sign language - and I can't imagine it's entirely fit for daily life usage, I'd expect to be more geared towards commando and spycraft.
Still, it's apparently spreading, so at the very least it's likely a decent basis for something more.
Speaking of vows of silence though : among all the unique, never seen elsewhere populations Kaer Maga has, there is one entire group with such a vow, I believe. I'll try to find the name.
Edit : the Sweettalkers. Should have remembered that.
Who might be of Tian or more likely Casmaron origin, sew their lips shut, and communicate non-verbally, because the spoken word is just too holy.
An interesting group. I just like Kaer Maga and its weird inhabitants, strange as it is that half of them seemingly come out of nowhere.
(Mostly) not sign language though, it's mostly whistling, clicks and sighs.
Varisians, with many afflicted with deafness and muteness, have a highly developed sign language, which the Sczarni use as a silent Thieves Cant. The Pathfinder society has one. The Rangers of Kyonin are supposed to have one, possibly with non-Golarian roots.
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Varisians, with many afflicted with deafness and muteness, have a highly developed sign language, which the Sczarni use as a silent Thieves Cant. The Pathfinder society has one. The Rangers of Kyonin are supposed to have one, possibly with non-Golarian roots.
Yes. Azra, a mute Varisian Desnan Cleri that appears in Prince of Wolves (novel) and Rule of Fear (Campaign Setting), uses "Sign-talk". Prince of Wolves (Chapter 8) does mention, however, "Sign-talk is not a proper language, so she often had to resort to mime words for which she knew no sign."
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Adventurers Guide (page 127) also mentions a Great Mother Omak a human shaman with no tongue. "She has no tongue and speaks only in sign language."
The spell Aphasia (Ultimate Intrigue page 204) says "You render the target unable to understand any language, including spoken language, written language, sign language, gestures attempting to mimic a crude language, or even truespeech and telepathy."
Return of the Runelords - Rune Plague (page 89) "Kasthezvis communicate using a unique sign language known only to their kind, in which they use their entire bodies in an inhuman display of contortions and jerking limbs."
The novel Skinwalkers (page 24) "He didn't know much of the sign language other mutes used, but he was good at finding his own ways to communicate."
Before the Dawn, Part 1: The Bloodcove Disguise (page 9) lists the following languages for Captain Andre Elanzo: Aquan, Common, Polyglot, Sign Language.
Is that enough evidence yet? Haha.
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I had my Mute Musician take the Expressive Pantomime trait, which is kind of like sign language? It allows sending simple secret messages without words.
Now I know that the fact that there are three creatures in the room next to us is not much of a secret, but I did convey it without using words.
Any reason the drow in particular would use sign language? It says they don't want to be overheard but I would assume no race would want to be overheard.
I think it is part of the Darklands theme. You can be heard much further away than you can see, so you can never know who is listening, adding to the danger and hostility of the environment. Also Drow, and to an extent all elves are thematically secretive. Calling out that Drow sign language is a thing highlights this. Some take it to mean that they are the only ones, an unfortunate side effect of the rules traditions that if it isn't specifically written it doesn't exist. Good question.