 | This article includes alist of references,related reading, orexternal links,but its sources remain unclear because it lacksinline citations. Please helpimprove this article byintroducing more precise citations.(June 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
 | This articlerelies largely or entirely on asingle source. Relevant discussion may be found on thetalk page. Please helpimprove this article byintroducing citations to additional sources. Find sources: "Manual communication" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(June 2012) |
Manual communication systems use articulation of the hands (hand signs,gestures, etc.) to mediate a message between persons. Being expressed manually, they are received visually and sometimestactually. When it is the primary form of communication, it may be enhanced bybody language andfacial expressions.
Manual communication is employed insign languages andmanually coded languages, though sign languages also possessnon-manual elements. Other systems of manual communication have been developed for specific purposes, typically in situations where speech is not practical (such as loud environments) or permitted, or where secrecy is desired.