#finessae

His disability is paralleled to the real world, making it very rare for anyone to know sign language or be able to communicate effectively with him. His disability is very abnormal.

His disability is still abnormal, but maybe this Link is not the first one to be silent, and so the concept of noble muteness is built in Hylian culture and mythology. Because of this, more people have a fascination and appreciation for sign language and thusly more people learn it. While not MOST people know it, more people do and so Link can more effectively communicate with others.

Personally, I try to combine these two techniques. I like the idea of Link having to deal with similar struggles that real hearing impaired and sign language using people do, but this is also a fantasy world where ableism and the like doesn’t HAVE to exist, yknow?

I like the idea that sign language is rare in Hyrule, but there are some signs which are very common. There have been heroes in the past who are said to have been mute, or have taken a vow of silence, so sign language has become closely associated with lore and mythology in Hyrule. As it became a piece of historical fascination for some, other communities have latched onto it for practical purposes.

The Sheikah, in specific, have integrated Hylian sign language as a second language of their culture over many generations. Given their cultural specialty in stealth, being able to communicate in complete silence is practical to their ninja-like skill sets and has become a point of pride for them.

Other populations have different relationships with sign language:

Hylians & Gerudo find sign language to be rare. Not many hearing impaired or voiceless people are in these populations. Gerudo Sign Language has some slight differences, but its vocabulary is very close to HSL. Not many people know it, but it is not impossible to find sign language interpreters or speakers in these populations.

Rito almost never use sign language. Because of their feathers, their non-verbal languages are VERY different from signing. Rito are almost never fluent in HSL and have a lot of trouble communicating with it. 

Goron hands are not very conducive to HSL. They try, and there are some words which they can form with their hands, but given how differently they are physically made, signing is not easy for Gorons. Any Gorons who are nonverbal speakers tend to communicate through morse code-type vibrations in the ground through foot or finger tapping, very focused on the nature of percussion and power. It is rare for Gorons to know HSL.

Zroa have their own very particular nonverbal language, Zora Sign Language. It is not very similar to HSL, though there are a few universal words across the signing languages. ZSL involves fin placement and movement and combines with webbed hands as well as the placement of fingers and palms. It is a more complex, and sometimes sublte nonverbal language. While it is uncommon for Zora to know ZSL, it is not rare. However, it is more rare for Zora to be fluent in HSL as well as ZSL, because the languages are so different.

So in general, Link’s signing and silence is considered abnormal by everyone. But depending on where he is, other people won’t treat him too differently for his disability. Many people will even be able to communicate on a basic level with him.