Cherology

Cherology is the equivalent of phonology, but for sign languages. It refers to the system of distinctly recognizable hand motions and shapes. The term is not widely used, as most linguists feel that phonology can appropriately be used in a metaphoric sense when referring to visual languages.

Cherology comes from the Greek for "hand", Cheros. Also related is the term chereme, the sign language equivalent of phoneme, which refers to the smallest recognizably distinct unit of motion and/or shape. However, the term chereme has generally been replaced with the term phoneme.

The terms were coined in 1960 by William Stokoe, a researcher at Gallaudet University.