Cardassian sign language

Cardassian sign language is a gestural form of communication used by the Cardassian species, and is a language in its own right separate from the spoken Cardăsda language. That said, multiple idioms and dialects exist, some influenced to a greater degree by Cardăsda than others. Like any full-fledged sign language it serves as the primary mode of communication for some Cardassians considered to be hearing- or speech- impaired, it has also enjoyed an unusual degree of use among Cardassians with normal hearing and speech capabilities in situations where speech is considered impractical or undesirable. In fact, all Cardassians who serve in the Guard are trained in the language and are generally fluent, which means that a large percentage of the population is familiar with it. (--The Thirteenth Order)

This is largely due to the Cardassian sense of hearing. While their hearing is adequate enough for most purposes and Cardassians therefore speak as their primary mode of communication, they are not as able to pick out subtle sounds such as whispering, or to sort out coherent information from high ambient noise levels. This means that sometimes, rather than trying to shout over the noise (other than, perhaps, to call someone's name to get their attention), or to whisper, a Cardassian with normal hearing will sometimes choose to sign instead, to avoid miscommunication.

Before first contact, and amongst themselves, Cardassians thought nothing unusual of this split mode of communication; cultural attitudes towards sign, even in pre-spaceflight days, were always significantly different from those on some worlds such as Earth given the hearing population's use of the language. Sign language was not simply the province of the deaf, but also of those who held jobs where speech could not always serve reliably--a thing of everyday use or at least a part of one's cultural landscape for hearing as well as deaf. In pre-Union days, before the language standardization that affected both spoken and signed language, every Cardassian ethnic group had its own form of sign language.

In modern times, however, the prominence of the Cardassian sign language is not well known outside of the Cardassian Union due to the fact that many Cardassians believe that it would be perceived by others as a sign of weakness to show the degree to which their overall society uses sign language. Similarly, for other species to bring up the commonality of its use could be regarded--depending on the parties to the conversation--as an insult to the Cardassian race. However, exceptions have been made in cases where great trust has been established with non-Cardassians, such as in the case of the human Lt. Cdr. Makis Spirodopoulos and the other members of the combined rebel force, the Thirteenth Order.

Language mechanics
Most of what is known of Cardassian sign language outside the Cardassian Union (aside, perhaps, from intelligence circles) are the simple military gestures seen on the battlefield, and most Starfleet or other soldiers do not realize they are seeing words that belong to a full language as opposed to the sort of combat signaling common to humanoid species. Often Cardassians, when in view of other species, choose not to use a full, grammatically-complete dialect in order to keep the adversary's universal translator--or an observant enemy soldier--from picking up on the fact.

When true Cardassian sign language is used, however, the difference is often very obvious to those who are watching. In addition to the language's broad vocabulary of word and fingerspelling signs (which are capable of rendering anything that can be spoken), facial expression and lip movements are also incorporated into the signer's message similar to how they might be in other species' sign languages. As one might expect, certain cues would seem modified or unfamiliar to other species. For instance, given that the eye ridges are less mobile than the eyebrows of species like humans, Vulcans, and Bajorans, this cue might seem subtle or difficult to notice to non-Cardassians. Conversely, the human or Vulcan gesture might seem exaggerated to Cardassian eyes. Also, certain signs use uniquely Cardassian points of reference upon the body, such as the facial, neck, and chest ridges.

Known signs

 * One sign often seen in military use is the so-called command gesture. The signer places his fist upon the chest where the legate's crest would be located on a Cardassian uniform.  This generally translates as My decision will stand, and is a way of closing debate. (--The Thirteenth Order)


 * Like any language, Cardassian sign language has its share of obscenities. A particularly crude one uses a circled thumb and forefinger, and extended pinky, on each hand, and a thrust of one hand to the other indicates the act one suggests the other party commits on off-duty hours.  The sign can also be used in a less literal sense to indicate general disdain towards someone, much like the human "middle finger" gesture. ("Let He Who Has Eyes See")