Drow language

The Drow language was the most common native language of the drow.

Deep Drow
Deep Drow, also known as Low Drow or Drowic, was the normal language of the drow. Each isolated community had its own variant with a distinct accent. Deep Drow was read right to left in single-word columns with little punctuation.

High Drow
High Drow was a more complex language than Deep Drow and had a larger, runic alphabet. This language was primarily used by priestesses in their rituals and by nobles who wished not to be understood by lower-born drow and slaves.

Drow Sign Language
Drow Sign Language was a silent hand code used to communicate in the Underdark. Unlike other languages that must be heard to be comprehended, Drow Sign must be seen to gather meaning. It had no alphabet or written form. Humans and other goodly races often confused the language's motions as spell conjurations. Drow Sign Language was commonly known by drow, who found it particularly useful on patrols and in other instances when silence was expedient. It was a very expressive language, able to convey tone and emotions.

Signing drow sometimes disguised their signing with what was called a "visual code of silence": holding up part of one's cloak with one hand in order to shield the signing hand.