Is nonverbal communication a thing in Adventure Mode? (I only really do fort mode, so). It seems like having some expanded communication options, covering gestures, shouting, writing, signalling, speech and even sign language would be good to have if they aren't already there. Languages could be generated that don't require a tongue, or (for animal-people and other creatures) require particular organs not possessed by everyone to speak or comprehend. It would be a good way to make, say, kobold speech unintelligible if you need to be able to hear a dog-whistle to hear all of it, or can't speak it without a muzzle and sharp teeth.
The thought of Urist sign language (In urist or a universal sign language used across the realm) for the deaf as a skill is amusing to say the least but also quite practical even if time consuming for the dwarf without the perks given by conversation.
Y'know, if trolls had their own language, I wonder if this is what it would be like.
Most certainly given that trolls carry the [evil] game-tag on them, i agree.
> Troll McTrollerson is fighting!
> Indeliberately the troll wrestles Urist Mcfancypants into a loving embrace bearhug
> Urist McFancypants rib bones break! Legs bones break! Arm Bones Break!
> The troll and its new best friend are seperated, Urist Mcfancypants is rushed to hospital, troll visits bringing a roll of dwarven cheese and grapes as apology
But since trolls are baseline intelligent creatures ( [Slow Learner] ), if you taught them Urist sign language you might be able to get a basic conversation out of them about how horrible life is, how much their back aches etc, quickly making yourself wish you'd never taught it anything, if conversation is different between evil/neutral/good species at all i guess.
As to tongue cutting. Im sure you could assign a gelder to commit a crude traumatic punishment removal of the tongue using their *snipping equipment* or if you want to go the clean medical route just task a surgeon to take it out on a traction bench then lead the prisoner away back into the cage.