BAY-PAH

27 January 2026 01:01

Oh yeah no this is definitely a different topic than what it started as, but I don't think it's supposed to be the same? Conlanging a puppy sign language is obviously not going to help Gabriel's deaf friend make furry friends but it's still a cool idea imo :›3

BAY-PAH

27 January 2026 00:57

I think that indicates us hearing pups are barking up the wrong tree

BAY-PAH

27 January 2026 00:56

Bay Pah panel slides showed pup postures for conversations

BAY-PAH

27 January 2026 00:54

And most puppies are hearing and don't know ASL

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 00:58

I'd imagine cup
The Ozzie who runs a pup channel made extensive note of this. Humans can't eat nor drink like actual dogs.

BAY-PAH

27 January 2026 00:56

Did any one note the question asked is gone?

BAY-PAH

27 January 2026 00:55

Ideally there would be a gentle learning curve built in

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