I wouldn't think so. Besides the spell description that reads "you understand the literal meaning of any spoken language that you hear. You also understand any written language that you see, but you must be touching the surface on which the words are written."
I take this to mean there must be a verbal component for the spell to translate. Extending this out a bit this also implies that there must be a language behind the noise. Something structured and conventional. Dogs barking at each other would not be considered a language. The other aspect of the spells definition is the term "literal meaning..." The spell won't translate words figuratively. This would include any slang, colloquialism or any words that have multiple meanings.
So if you want to have a conversation without someone eavesdropping with Comprehend Languages I'd say you can safely use sign language or cockney rhyming slang. Go nuts... as they say
So if the "spoke language that you hear" clause is taken literally as "it works with audible components exclusively" and somatic languages are excluded, that would disqualify it. To be honest it feels strange that magic can translate languages including languages you don't even knew existed, but it somehow needs to be a Verbal language (so it would work on spoken Japanese even though there is no Japan in Isekai land and Generic Otaku Isekai Protagonist #1337 is the first person Isekai land ever met who speaks Japanese, yet it wouldn't work on the exact same language spoken through codified gestures instead of sound...), which is why I asked whether the vocal clause should be taken literally, or if it worked with languages in general, even somatic ones..
I think as was stated, strictly by RAW it doesn't work. You can make the argument that the spell is translating for you - converting JSL into ASL or something of the like, but if you still have no context to interpret it, then you cannot understand it still. Just because I can listen to English and understand it doesn't mean that I can read it, and certainly doesn't mean I'd understand ASL.
It is interesting that comprehend languages doesn't require but assumes that you can read at least one language -- it says that you read the words on the page. Does that mean that you must be able to read to read the words? Or does the spell give you the ability to read?
Either way, it doesn't help much for sign language. If it doesn't give you the ability to read, then you actually couldn't comprehend language that you don't have the context to interpret in the first place -- written language or sign language. If it does give you the ability to read, it expressly doesn't give you the ability to interpret sign languages.
I'm not sure if you're saying that it allows the illiterate to read or not. It says you understand text, but it also says you read at a rate of one page per minute. Being able to automatically understand text and having to read it seem to be at odds.
I'm not sure if you're saying that it allows the illiterate to read or not. It says you understand text, but it also says you read at a rate of one page per minute. Being able to automatically understand text and having to read it seem to be at odds.
You’re inserting the word “automatically.” I can understand English text without magic, but I still have to read it to do so. The spell just extends that same kind of understanding to all written languages. One page per minute is the rate at which the understanding is arrived at, because it’s done not automatically but by reading, just like reading languages you don’t need magic to read.
But yes, the wording absolutely allows the illiterate to read.
I think I agree with you from the words of the spell.
I will just point out that I absolutely inserted the word "automatically" purposefully to make a distinction between the two cases I was trying to point out: One where the text is translated into one that you can read and one where the meaning of the words flows into your head at a slow rate.
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Hello everyone!
So I've been on an Isekai crunch lately, and it got me thinking...
So this is a simple question: does comprehend languages translate hand and head gestures that make up Japanese Sign Language (JSL)?
Thanks! :)
I wouldn't think so. Besides the spell description that reads "you understand the literal meaning of any spoken language that you hear. You also understand any written language that you see, but you must be touching the surface on which the words are written."
I take this to mean there must be a verbal component for the spell to translate. Extending this out a bit this also implies that there must be a language behind the noise. Something structured and conventional. Dogs barking at each other would not be considered a language. The other aspect of the spells definition is the term "literal meaning..." The spell won't translate words figuratively. This would include any slang, colloquialism or any words that have multiple meanings.
So if you want to have a conversation without someone eavesdropping with Comprehend Languages I'd say you can safely use sign language or cockney rhyming slang. Go nuts... as they say
So if the "spoke language that you hear" clause is taken literally as "it works with audible components exclusively" and somatic languages are excluded, that would disqualify it. To be honest it feels strange that magic can translate languages including languages you don't even knew existed, but it somehow needs to be a Verbal language (so it would work on spoken Japanese even though there is no Japan in Isekai land and Generic Otaku Isekai Protagonist #1337 is the first person Isekai land ever met who speaks Japanese, yet it wouldn't work on the exact same language spoken through codified gestures instead of sound...), which is why I asked whether the vocal clause should be taken literally, or if it worked with languages in general, even somatic ones..
I think as was stated, strictly by RAW it doesn't work. You can make the argument that the spell is translating for you - converting JSL into ASL or something of the like, but if you still have no context to interpret it, then you cannot understand it still. Just because I can listen to English and understand it doesn't mean that I can read it, and certainly doesn't mean I'd understand ASL.
It is interesting that comprehend languages doesn't require but assumes that you can read at least one language -- it says that you read the words on the page. Does that mean that you must be able to read to read the words? Or does the spell give you the ability to read?
Either way, it doesn't help much for sign language. If it doesn't give you the ability to read, then you actually couldn't comprehend language that you don't have the context to interpret in the first place -- written language or sign language. If it does give you the ability to read, it expressly doesn't give you the ability to interpret sign languages.
Short answer: the spell does what it says it does.
I'm not sure if you're saying that it allows the illiterate to read or not. It says you understand text, but it also says you read at a rate of one page per minute. Being able to automatically understand text and having to read it seem to be at odds.
You’re inserting the word “automatically.” I can understand English text without magic, but I still have to read it to do so. The spell just extends that same kind of understanding to all written languages. One page per minute is the rate at which the understanding is arrived at, because it’s done not automatically but by reading, just like reading languages you don’t need magic to read.
But yes, the wording absolutely allows the illiterate to read.
I think I agree with you from the words of the spell.
I will just point out that I absolutely inserted the word "automatically" purposefully to make a distinction between the two cases I was trying to point out: One where the text is translated into one that you can read and one where the meaning of the words flows into your head at a slow rate.