BAY-PAH

27 January 2026 00:53

Like, look at the fuck-all that most auxlangs have done for international communication

BAY-PAH

27 January 2026 00:51

Depends on how much you're prioritizing compatibility with ASL vs puppy identity

BAY-PAH

27 January 2026 00:40

Some basic verbs:
- HAVE: tap chest once with tips of both paws (turned inward)
- WANT: move both paws upwards, palm-up, in front of chest
- NEED: raise one paw, palm-down, to shoulder height; move forward and down, as if pawing at a dangling object
- LIKE: tap chest once with palm of one paw
- EAT: tap mouth once with tip of paw, palm-in

BAY-PAH

27 January 2026 00:31

I had been trying to make the language as similar to ASL as possible

BAY-PAH

27 January 2026 00:30

Shaking or nodding ones head?????

BAY-PAH

27 January 2026 00:30

perhaps the PSL (Pup Sign Language) sign for "no" could be a swipe to the side

BAY-PAH

27 January 2026 00:25

So to recap:
- knuckles towards the subject: personal pronoun
- palm towards the subject: possessive pronoun

BAY-PAH

27 January 2026 00:25

Wait nvm I just realized that palm orientation would remove that ambiguity

BAY-PAH

27 January 2026 00:23

(goes back to re-read OP)

BAY-PAH

27 January 2026 00:23

This person wants to make human friends in the pup community and felt ignored at an event.

BAY-PAH

27 January 2026 00:21

i.e. upwards head tilt instead of raised eyebrows for yes/no questions, and downwards head tilt instead of lowered eyebrows for wh-questions

BAY-PAH

27 January 2026 00:21

And since most hoods make eyebrow movements difficult, we might need to substitute upwards/downwards head tilt when asking different types of questions

BAY-PAH

27 January 2026 00:19

thats a good start, but needs more signs for some basic communication needs.

BAY-PAH

27 January 2026 00:19

I would be so down to create and/or learn that

BAY-PAH

27 January 2026 00:17

hmm, I thought I saw one that also included some paw signals for basic things (using left or right paw, the direction in which you lift it and how, etc.) Was super simple, tho.

I really do support the idea of a simplified sign "language" derived from ASL but geared at pup play that is simple and easy enough to use in full gear, on all fours and with paw mitts on (so, no fingers/hands).

BAY-PAH

27 January 2026 00:52

The biggest issue if you want to turn this into something real is getting buy-in

BAY-PAH

27 January 2026 00:40

Should the sign for DRINK mimic drinking from a cup (as in ASL), or from a bowl (because ouppy)?

BAY-PAH

27 January 2026 00:31

But I guess ASL also has those head movements

BAY-PAH

27 January 2026 00:31

I guess that's also doable

BAY-PAH

27 January 2026 00:30

as if pushing some unwanted object aside

BAY-PAH

27 January 2026 00:29

The sign for "yes" can be the same as ASL (it's literally just a fist, moving up and down to imitate a nodding head). "No" will have to be different, though, since the ASL sign involves a pinching motion with the fingers.

BAY-PAH

27 January 2026 00:25

Nd like was said earler pups/furries and even in human mode can be very clickish and making friends is hard

BAY-PAH

27 January 2026 00:24

(in other words, we'll borrow a feature from pirate speak. "me friend" instead of "my friend")

BAY-PAH

27 January 2026 00:23

Pronouns will still be simple, since ASL pronouns are literally just pointing. Possessives will be identical to regular pronouns, though, since ASL possessives are just regular pronouns with a flat hand instead of a pointer.

BAY-PAH

27 January 2026 00:21

this would be a great topic and discussion to be had with the larger pup play groups in the area and beyond (Bay PAH, SF K9 Unit, BAMP, etc.)

BAY-PAH

27 January 2026 00:21

I think we are not totally off base but I don’t think “in pup mode” is exactly what in in question here.

BAY-PAH

27 January 2026 00:19

Mitts and masks might make parts 1 and 5 difficult, so we'll have to rely solely on Palm Orientation, Location, and Movement

BAY-PAH

27 January 2026 00:19

As I recall, each ASL sign has 5 parameters:
1. Handshape
2. Palm Orientation
3. Location
4. Movement
5. Non-Manual Markers

BAY-PAH

27 January 2026 00:18

Oh that sounds like a sick conlang project

BAY-PAH

27 January 2026 00:17

Half true and half false, I just answered you I'm deaf pup ^^