Some Effects of First Contact on the English Language

Here are a few subtle changes that First Contact has on the English Language:

• The words “person” and “people” no longer refer only to humans, but to humans or yinrih.

• The term “misanthropy” and related words shift meaning to refer to anti-human prejudice rather than mistrust or hatred of humans by other humans. While this attitude is rare among yinrih, it isn't unheard of, especially within Partisan Territory and some colonies within the Spacer Confederacy.

• Furthermore, some anti-human slurs find their way into English. Caudally challenged sweat factory is a particularly colorful one.

• A subtle dialect developes among yinrih when writing English. Since the first humans that the crew of the Dewfall meet and befriend are hams, some old-timey telegrapher slang finds its way into the everyday English of other yinrih. This includes “HI HI” for “”, “R” (whence “roger”) for “OK” or “understood”, and “fine business” for “that's nice” or “sounds good.” Occasionally you'll see “73” for “goodbye”.