Sign language

Sign language was a language that used manual communication instead of or in conjunction with sound to convey meaning by simultaneously combining hand shapes, orientation and movement of the hands, arms or body, and facial expressions to fluidly express a speaker's thoughts. Species that used a form of sign language included Kallidahin and Twi'leks. In 21 BBY, after being captured and imprisoned by Separatist forces, Jedi Master Eeth Koth used sign language to relay his hyperspace coordinates to the Jedi Council on Coruscant. As of 17 ABY, there were 9,057 forms of sign language in the galaxy.

Protocol droids such as the 3PO-series were limited in their ability to replicate sign language as part of their translation duties. Although their humanoid bodies allowed them to translate to a certain degree, they were unable to duplicate the nuances of alien sign languages, including the subtle lekku tics used by the Twi'leki language.

The Jedi Order employed a set of standardized hand signals. Prior to their approaching the shackled Supreme Chancellor Palpatine aboard the Invisible Hand during the Battle of Coruscant, Obi-Wan Kenobi signaled Anakin Skywalker with "approach with caution" and "be ready for action."

Text and facts from the “Sign language/Legends” article on Wookieepedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. Modified for this site.