Feline Sign Language
Jul 24, 2015 3:03:06 GMT -6
Post by ➤centipeetle ✿ on Jul 24, 2015 3:03:06 GMT -6
In RockClan, sign language has become a somewhat ingrained aspect of clan culture, largely on account of the former leader Swanstar. These signs are not only for use among deaf or mute cats, but also the rest of the clan - as it's likely that in patrols, whenever a cat wished to proceed completely silently whilst still communicating, they would often revert to sign language (even if a more basic form) or even just simple signs in these cases.
While this language was developed by and is intended for use by RockClan, and it is only in RockClan which every cat is taught it, it isn't impossible that some TreeClanners would know it as well, especially since they may have also had deaf or mute Clanmates in the past. Likewise, any non-Clan cats are also free to use this system! The only difference is that it is officially taught in RockClan, whereas in other places it would be taught more informally or occasionally.
This isn't a 'full' language so far, but I hope it's enough to help get started!
Eat/food/hunger - This sign is probably the simplest to teach, and usually the first taught to deaf kittens. Tap your paw against your mouth twice. Could be taught while offering food, during a meal, et cetera in order to get the point across.
Drink/water/milk/thirst - Kneading paws accompanied by the opening of the mouth (to symbolize a nursing kitten)
Mother - Bringing one paw up to tap at the bottom of chin/muzzle
Father - Bringing one paw up to tap once on the top (center) of forehead
Parent (neutral) - Both of the above in succession, order does not matter.
Done/finished/I'm on it - Paw raised, tapped on ground three times in quick succession
More/again - Paw held out, turned upwards (so pawpad is showing), head tilted to the right
Careful/watch out/caution (could be used to signify a cats fear or general discomfort, or also to warn another cat to be fearful aka 'watch out', depending on facial expression) - Paw placed on center of chest and ears turned back briefly
Bad/no/negative/none (in general - could be applied to a lot) - Paw lifted up towards face, then turned outwards in a dismissive/quick motion (like a paw flick) in the direction away from the signer (could also be applied to other things to negate them)
Good/yes/positive/affirmative - Head tilted upwards, then dipped down low, before raising back to normal height. Basically a very exaggerated (so clearly a sign) dip of the head, and much more drawn out. (Basically - the cat version of nodding, except a lot more distinct and can also be used for "thank you" in this case.)
Know/knowledge/I know(when paired with negative sign, don't know/uncertainty etc) - Paw tapped on the top right side of head, followed by an ear flick
Medicine/healing/medicine cat/etc herb related - One forepaw placed on top of other one, then a 'grinding' sort of motion (as in making a poultice)
Big danger/bad thing/various large and bad animals such as badgers or dogs - Head jerked downwards quickly, briefly pointing nose towards ground (as if telling another cat to hide/be afraid, sort of). Could be coupled with no for no danger etc.
Smaller danger/bad thing/various smaller but still bad animals such as foxes, eagles, etc. - Head jerked upwards quickly, circling nose briefly in the air (as if having spotted a hawk overhead) and accompanied by the lashing of the tail once at the same time.
Prey animals/any creature besides cats that is not a direct predator - Two forepaws moved in a 'skittering' motion quickly upon the ground, as if simulating the gait of a mouse or shrew.
Scent/Smell/Sense - An overexaggerated parting of the jaws (so, more so than one normally would do to scent), followed by a distinct head tilt and the flick of both ears one at a time.
Question/query/curiosity - Tail curled into a hook behind, and then swished in a quick back and forth motion three times. Can be coupled with other words to form questions, such as with the sign for "scent" to ask what the cat scents nearby, or with the sign for "knowledge" to ask something akin to "do you know (x)?"
Go/Do it/Attack - Tail spiked high upwards, then lashed down twice, before the cat gives a nod in the direction of whomever the command is intended for (nodding forward is considered a command to everyone generally present)
Wait/Hold on - One forepaw raised off of the ground and tail quivering and kinked over the cat's back; position must be held for a few heartbeats and end with a distinct ear flick to make sure that it's clear it's a command
Love/Affection/I love you - One forepaw placed on center of chest and held there whilst the cat inclines their neck and head downwards, then the paw is dragged horizontally, parting the cat's chest fur before being returned to the ground. Normally familial / friendly, but when combined with the sign for more afterwards or before, indicates romantic love.
Kit/young/apprentice - One forepaw moved exaggeratedly forward to extend its claws and dig them into the ground (as if a singular 'kneading' motion), accompanied by the complete flattening of the ears and the tail swished once up over the back.
Name/word - Both forepaws extended to make a dragging motion against the ground one by one, the entire motion (including both paws) repeated twice and accompanied by an ear flick. Can be used before and after another signed word to indicate a cat in particular - for example, a medicine cat named Badgerfur might be signified by the signs for "name", "big danger", and "medicine" in succession; a ginger warrior named Redclaw might by signified by the signs for "name", "fur", and "warrior."
Polite greeting/"How are you" - Head dipped low and eyes squinted, one paw drawn across face as if grooming (but without licking it prior to the motion)
Warrior - The distinct squinting of the eyes coupled with the lifting of one's chin exaggeratedly, and one paw moved over the chest in a 'smoothing' motion three times (vertically.)
Deputy - The above sign, but with an exaggeratedly puffed out chest and flattened ears as well as a hooked tail.
Leader - Raising one's head twice in quick succession as if looking up at another cat, followed by dipping the head to lick one's chest fur once.
General appearance/fur/pelt - One forepaw placed high up on the other, then moved up and down as if smoothing the fur of the leg.
Sickness/illness/injury - Head lowered dramatically while one paw is raised to be placed on the top of the head, while both ears are flattened (as if lamenting pain of some sort) - tail is swished back and forth rapidly at the same time.
Anything beyond this can be conveyed through normal body language, typically - such as a nose touch for affection, et cetera. Feel free to suggest any signs if you'd like, though, as I know this is nowhere near perfect so far!
Thanks!
While this language was developed by and is intended for use by RockClan, and it is only in RockClan which every cat is taught it, it isn't impossible that some TreeClanners would know it as well, especially since they may have also had deaf or mute Clanmates in the past. Likewise, any non-Clan cats are also free to use this system! The only difference is that it is officially taught in RockClan, whereas in other places it would be taught more informally or occasionally.
This isn't a 'full' language so far, but I hope it's enough to help get started!
Eat/food/hunger - This sign is probably the simplest to teach, and usually the first taught to deaf kittens. Tap your paw against your mouth twice. Could be taught while offering food, during a meal, et cetera in order to get the point across.
Drink/water/milk/thirst - Kneading paws accompanied by the opening of the mouth (to symbolize a nursing kitten)
Mother - Bringing one paw up to tap at the bottom of chin/muzzle
Father - Bringing one paw up to tap once on the top (center) of forehead
Parent (neutral) - Both of the above in succession, order does not matter.
Done/finished/I'm on it - Paw raised, tapped on ground three times in quick succession
More/again - Paw held out, turned upwards (so pawpad is showing), head tilted to the right
Careful/watch out/caution (could be used to signify a cats fear or general discomfort, or also to warn another cat to be fearful aka 'watch out', depending on facial expression) - Paw placed on center of chest and ears turned back briefly
Bad/no/negative/none (in general - could be applied to a lot) - Paw lifted up towards face, then turned outwards in a dismissive/quick motion (like a paw flick) in the direction away from the signer (could also be applied to other things to negate them)
Good/yes/positive/affirmative - Head tilted upwards, then dipped down low, before raising back to normal height. Basically a very exaggerated (so clearly a sign) dip of the head, and much more drawn out. (Basically - the cat version of nodding, except a lot more distinct and can also be used for "thank you" in this case.)
Know/knowledge/I know(when paired with negative sign, don't know/uncertainty etc) - Paw tapped on the top right side of head, followed by an ear flick
Medicine/healing/medicine cat/etc herb related - One forepaw placed on top of other one, then a 'grinding' sort of motion (as in making a poultice)
Big danger/bad thing/various large and bad animals such as badgers or dogs - Head jerked downwards quickly, briefly pointing nose towards ground (as if telling another cat to hide/be afraid, sort of). Could be coupled with no for no danger etc.
Smaller danger/bad thing/various smaller but still bad animals such as foxes, eagles, etc. - Head jerked upwards quickly, circling nose briefly in the air (as if having spotted a hawk overhead) and accompanied by the lashing of the tail once at the same time.
Prey animals/any creature besides cats that is not a direct predator - Two forepaws moved in a 'skittering' motion quickly upon the ground, as if simulating the gait of a mouse or shrew.
Scent/Smell/Sense - An overexaggerated parting of the jaws (so, more so than one normally would do to scent), followed by a distinct head tilt and the flick of both ears one at a time.
Question/query/curiosity - Tail curled into a hook behind, and then swished in a quick back and forth motion three times. Can be coupled with other words to form questions, such as with the sign for "scent" to ask what the cat scents nearby, or with the sign for "knowledge" to ask something akin to "do you know (x)?"
Go/Do it/Attack - Tail spiked high upwards, then lashed down twice, before the cat gives a nod in the direction of whomever the command is intended for (nodding forward is considered a command to everyone generally present)
Wait/Hold on - One forepaw raised off of the ground and tail quivering and kinked over the cat's back; position must be held for a few heartbeats and end with a distinct ear flick to make sure that it's clear it's a command
Love/Affection/I love you - One forepaw placed on center of chest and held there whilst the cat inclines their neck and head downwards, then the paw is dragged horizontally, parting the cat's chest fur before being returned to the ground. Normally familial / friendly, but when combined with the sign for more afterwards or before, indicates romantic love.
Kit/young/apprentice - One forepaw moved exaggeratedly forward to extend its claws and dig them into the ground (as if a singular 'kneading' motion), accompanied by the complete flattening of the ears and the tail swished once up over the back.
Name/word - Both forepaws extended to make a dragging motion against the ground one by one, the entire motion (including both paws) repeated twice and accompanied by an ear flick. Can be used before and after another signed word to indicate a cat in particular - for example, a medicine cat named Badgerfur might be signified by the signs for "name", "big danger", and "medicine" in succession; a ginger warrior named Redclaw might by signified by the signs for "name", "fur", and "warrior."
Polite greeting/"How are you" - Head dipped low and eyes squinted, one paw drawn across face as if grooming (but without licking it prior to the motion)
Warrior - The distinct squinting of the eyes coupled with the lifting of one's chin exaggeratedly, and one paw moved over the chest in a 'smoothing' motion three times (vertically.)
Deputy - The above sign, but with an exaggeratedly puffed out chest and flattened ears as well as a hooked tail.
Leader - Raising one's head twice in quick succession as if looking up at another cat, followed by dipping the head to lick one's chest fur once.
General appearance/fur/pelt - One forepaw placed high up on the other, then moved up and down as if smoothing the fur of the leg.
Sickness/illness/injury - Head lowered dramatically while one paw is raised to be placed on the top of the head, while both ears are flattened (as if lamenting pain of some sort) - tail is swished back and forth rapidly at the same time.
Anything beyond this can be conveyed through normal body language, typically - such as a nose touch for affection, et cetera. Feel free to suggest any signs if you'd like, though, as I know this is nowhere near perfect so far!
Thanks!
