manuallanguage

Manuallanguage is a hypothetical sign-based language used in linguistic theory and in discussions of gesture-driven human–computer interaction. It models how hand configurations, movements, and non-manual signals can encode lexical items and grammatical relationships in a system expressed primarily through the hands.

Etymology and scope: The name combines manual (hand-related) with language. In scholarly use, manuallanguage refers not to a single natural sign language but to a formalized construct with a designed phonology and grammar for exploration, prototyping, and teaching.

Phonology and grammar: The manual phonology comprises parameters such as handshape, location (where signs occur on or near the body), orientation, and movement. Non-manual signals, including facial expressions, eyebrow movement, and head tilt, can modify meaning or mark grammatical contrasts. Syntactically, manuallanguage often employs a topic–comment structure and uses the signing space to index referents. Morphology can be realized through movement variations, repetition, or spatial indexing; pronouns may be expressed by pointing or by referent-naming in the signing space.

History and status: Manuallanguage remains a theoretical construct rather than a documented natural language. It is used in academic exercises, sign-language pedagogy, and as a testbed for gesture-recognition technologies or middleware that translates gestures into text or speech.

Examples and variability: Real-world realizations of manuallanguage vary by signer, dialect, and technology. An illustrative gloss for a simple sentence might be I see you, represented through a signer’s I sign, a see sign, and pointing toward the addressee, with facial cues indicating assertion.

Related concepts include natural sign languages, constructed languages, and gesture-based communication.