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--- lore:gestures [2026/04/19 11:33] – created lurker
+++ lore:gestures [2026/04/20 07:39] (current) – lurker
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 ====== Gestures ======
+===== Paws =====
+Because yinrih are quadrupeds, gestures involving the paws and legs are less common, but some do exist.
 In the [[Allied Worlds]], the act of jamming the pad of the outer thumb into the ground, sometimes called "the one-digit stomp" is a vulgar gesture similar to the middle finger. It imitates crushing an insect, and is used to express contempt.
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 Hearthsider pups, particularly in larger cosmopolitan urban centers, who have grown up watching media produced in the Allied Worlds have begun interpreting the gesture in line with its use there. How one uses and perceives its use by others has become an inter-generational shibboleth, with older generations and less urban folk lamenting the new negative perception as more AW cultural imperialism.
-A more niche gesture used in communities where yinrih and humans interact frequently involves lifting a paw and making a grasping or twiddling motion with the digits. This is specific to inter-species interactions, and is a way for a yinrih to tell a human "This is just how we do things here". Its literal meaning is "Our feet are also our hands" and can be anything from mocking to empathetic depending on context.
+A more niche gesture used in communities where yinrih and humans interact frequently involves lifting a rear paw and making a grasping or twiddling motion with the digits. This is specific to inter-species interactions. It's meant to highlight the anatomical differences between the two species, and especially the sometimes drastically different ergonomics and architecture that result from those differences. Intent can be anything from mocking to empathetic depending on context.
 For an empathetic example, an exhausted human is staring up into the entrance to a building, which is a hatch through the floor accessed by climbing a ladder. An elderly yinrih walks up beside him, smells his exasperation, and makes the gesture in response. She climbs ahead of him, then offers a paw to help pull him up.
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 For a mocking example, a group of pups is leaping and brachiating around a play structure. A human child is struggling to keep up, and one of the pups mocks him by making the gesture and bounding off without helping.
-In both cases the gesture means something like "this world wasn't built for you," and the follow up actions make it clear whether it's meant as an expression of solidarity or ridicule.
+In both cases the gesture means something like "this world wasn't built for people with only two prehensile extremities," and the follow up actions make it clear whether it's meant as an expression of solidarity or ridicule.
+==== Head ====
+It's more common for yinrih to express themselves using the head and tail while the legs are busy bearing their weight.
+Yinrih point with their snout rather than their paws. This usually involves simply looking in the desired direction, but when indicating something behind them, a yinrih will quickly toss their head to the side.
+Tracing an upward half-circle with the muzzle is similar to rolling the eyes, but it can also be a similar pointing gesture meaning "all around us"
+A quick upward movement of the snout shows affirmation or agreement.
+One or more quick dips of the head indicates respect. This gesture is associated with more pious or traditional culturees like Hearthside.
+Yinrih have well developed whiskers, they often twitch to indicate intense interest, though this is more an unconscious reaction than a deliberate gesture.
+Panting is the principle way yinrih keep cool, and is an involuntary reaction to high ambient temperatures. Panting may also be imitated consciously to show discomfort. This is usually exaggerated, with the tongue lolling out of the side of the mouth rather than simply protruding slightly. Repeatedly rapidly licking the nose and lips also indicates discomfort with one's surroundings or situation.
+==== Ears ====
+A flick of the left ear is similar to a sly wink. Flicking the right ear is used to show annoyance or aggravation. Flicking or sweeping both ears back is similar to a shrug. Pinning the ears back can express hostility or anger. Doing so while lowering the head and closing the eyes shows apprehension. Perking the ears up, like whisker twitching, is more an involuntary reaction to intense interest. Perking the ears while opening the eyes wide (with lids and all four bandpass membranes open wide) is like a goofy smile or excited grin.
+{{tag>culture}}