To speak in silence

Sign language is an important phenomenon of monasticism that has existed for a thousand years. Signs allow monks to communicate simple messages even at times when silence is required. The book focuses on Benedictine and Cistercian monasteries. It traces the history of sign language from the 10th to the 15th century and shows that it was also used in Czech monasteries. Most attention is paid to the primary source: sign language catalogues that resemble an explanatory dictionary. To understand some of the mediaeval contexts, parallels are sought with contemporary Trappists, as sign language is still in use, albeit increasingly less so.