Community:Sign language in VRChat
Sign language is a silent method of communication between users in VRChat. There are many users on VRChat who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, and/or are able to communicate through signed languages.
Language support
VRChat supports numerous languages within their User Interface. There are ongoing efforts to support more languages for the platform. In addition, VRChat allows a user to display one's known languages, and signed languages on their bio.
- English
- American Sign Language (ASL)
- Auslan (ASF) [Australian]
- British Sign Language (BSL)
- New Zealand Sign Language (NZS)
- French
- Langue des signes française (FSL)
- German
- Deutsche Gebärdensprache (DSE) [German]
- Dutch
- Nederlandse Gebarentaal (GSG) [Netherlands]
- Japanese
- 日本手語 (JSL)
- Korean
- 한국 수화 언어 (KSL)
- No Linguistic Content (ZXX)
Sign language methods
Expressing sign language in VRChat is possible, but can be limited, due to the lack of variation with finger control, such as crossing fingers on controllers. It is also possible to utilize hand and finger tracking within VRChat to communicate better with sign language.
With controllers
Using gestures
By default, using VRChat on controllers will allow access to eight gestures on an avatar. Despite the limitations, interpretations of sign language can still be communicated through these controllers. The eight gestures are as follows:
- Normal
- Open (splayed)
- Victory
- Point
- Finger gun
- Thumbs up
- Fist
- Rock 'n' roll
Using these combinations of gestures makes it possible to convey many words, phrases, and sentences to other users.
Without gestures
Some controllers, like the Index Knuckles, do not use gestures. Instead, each controller has sensors for each finger, which can sense each finger to show if it's open, closed, or in between, like a lever. Using a controller in this manner makes it possible to express different words and phrases in sign language, which gestures cannot provide.
It is also optional for other controllers to emulate hand control without gestures in a similar manner, with more limited capability, such as less control on the middle, ring, and little finger.
With hand tracking
VRChat offers hand tracking support for many headsets, which allow for more finesse and versatility using hand and finger movements that controllers cannot replicate.
Communities
Users in the VRChat community have created different groups for deaf, and hard-of-hearing people to gather. Some users in VRChat also teach different sign languages. For example, educational courses and meet-and-greets are hosted by some of these groups, which aim to teach users how to practice communicating in sign language.
Examples of accessibility groups
- FRDeaf (FRDEAF.4948) [French]
- Community:Global Sign Language Community
- Community:Helping Hands
- The Silent Oni (SLTONI.8021)
- Star Rail ASL (ASLHSR.1444)
Examples of accessibility worlds
- D-School Global Sign Language (world link)
- Experimental Sign Language World (Udon)
- MrDummy_NL's Sign＆Fun v5 (world link)
Official resources
- SteamVR Skeletal Hand Tracking Driver Guide on docs.vrchat.com
- Quest 2 Finger Tracking on YouTube
Community resources
- The Deaf and Hard of Hearing of VRChat by Twice, on YouTube.
- The VRChat Dialect of Sign Language by The Virtual Reality Show, on YouTube.
- The Hidden World of Sign Language in VR by Ikenna, on YouTube.
- Devon's VRChat Sign Language Resource for Helping Hands VRChat Sign Language Resources, by Devon
Media coverage
There has been some external media coverage regarding sign language within VRChat.
- Deaf VRChat players are inventing their own sign language by GameRevolution, on November 18, 2019.
- VRChat gets finger tracking good enough for sign language by GamesRadar, on October 31, 2022.
- Social Game VRChat Provides New Possibilities for Sign Language Support by TheGamer, on October 31, 2022.
- VRChat Now Has Support for Hand Tracking on PC by UploadVR, on August 14, 2024.
