Drow language

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

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

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

Drow Sign Language
Drow Sign Language is 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 has no alphabet or written form. Humans and other goodly races often confuse the language's motions as spell conjurations. Drow Sign Language is commonly known by drow, who find it particularly useful on patrols and in other instances when silence is expedient. It is 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.