Opal (language)

Opal (also known as Red Hands, Red Coast Sign Language or Oestian Sign Language) is a second language of the United Nations of Oestia. It is a sign language. It is descended from Tpal.
== History ==
Opal came about from a diplomatic mission by a group of teachers, storytellers and elders lead by Tpal=5=Opal (Colourful Hands) to UNO (the nations of Alendora and Kapamir). They were not hearing diplomat interpreters and provided stories and teaching in Tpal (sign) in many towns. On their travels they met with many deaf and nonverbal people, some with small communities with home signs and village signs. They worked to bring them together, teaching Tpal but also working their own signs and grammar into their signing. And from this was born Opal - a unique language.
== Features ==
As of the Age of Expansion Tpal and Opal are extremely mutually intelliable. All features of Tpal apply to Opal. For most features refer to the Tpal page. Differences will be discussed below.
==== Number ====
The Seret pluralisation system (present also in the home/village signing of Alendoran communities) became used in Opal. It doesn't exist in exactly the same form as Seret, but the concept is similar.
English (singular)	Singular 	Some/few (of no specific number) 	Lots/many (of no specific number)	Plural (with a known specific number)
(n/a) 	(plain) 	~ (finger wiggle) or w (hand wiggle)	o (circle) 	" (repeat the specific number)
person 	Pl (verticle pinkie) 	Pl~ 	Plo 	Pl"
tree 	5^ (splayed hand moving upward)	5^w 	5^o 	5^"
==== UNO Nations Names ====
Nation 	Opal 	English Translation
The Touched 	iiiPvforu-oooo 	Touched by the Moon and Changed
Kapamir 	opY+O=L* 	The Red and Blue Horned People
Kapamir (House of the Fox) 	Onos.=T-tsss 	Red-Orange Pointy Nose and Sneaky
Kapamir (House of the Bear)	GchesoxGcheso-rawr-emph 	Dark, Clawed and Aggressive
Kapamir (House of the Deer)	5harx5har-gwag or Y-gwag	Horned and Stoic
Menaskor 	palY^o 	The Group of All Horned People
Alendora 	Towo 	The Bees
Hoedr 	YPo-emph 	The Strong Union Between the Horned and Unhorned
Masat 	Barm""""" 	Tapping on the Arm
Teltuorus Saurus 	opY,5larm* 	Spikes on Their Backs
==== Unique Phonemes/Morphemes ====
Opal 	Explanation 	Meaning 	Origin/Reason
Y 	Handshape: ASL-Y. Thumb and pinkie pointing out from fist. 	horns, person with horns, person (general)	Many of the people in UNO have horns, and in Opal this is interpreted as a normative trait. Originally from Kapimir Signs.
G 	Handhsape: All fingers separated and clawed. 	claws, dark, black, brown, grey 	Bears.
g 	Handshape modifier: Claw fingers. 	n/a 	Derived from G.
=R=, =5= or =iiiP=	Change from a previous handshape, then to the handhsape in question, then to the next.	Becomes 	Originally from Menaksor signs. The imagry is of the fire changing things, but the highly specific iiiP handshape became more rested, becoming R or 5 handshapes.
u5 or uiiiP 	Dip the the 5 or iiiP handshape down then up in a bending motion. 	Changed 	Derived from =R= but not used to transition between two forms.