Odor Colors

Yinrih odor vocabulary works like color vocabulary in most human languages. Yinrih speak of a two dimensional “odor space”, with one axis representing arousal (whether the odor depresses or stimulates alertness) and valence (whether the odor is pleasant or unpleasant). All languages distinguish at least four basic odor words, and all more specific odor terms can be described as subsets of one of these base words. All languages also have a word that means //odorless//, analogous to words like //dark// and //silent//.

The following table demonstrates the four basic odor words in Hearthsider. The hearthsider word for //scentlessness// (the language lacks true adjectives) is %%tqT%% pronounced /short plain weak hiss; huff, long plain weak hiss/.

^ ^Unpleasant^Pleasant^ ^high Arousal|nsN|pyP| ^Low Arousal|lqL|mrM|

Layered on top of this system are the various words describing emotional states, which are tightly coupled with the odors produced by a yinrih’s ambient musk and ink. This is why all major yinrih languages have a word meaning //to smell like// that doubles as the verb //to feel an emotion.// Yinrih have an empathetic musk response, where smelling an odor associated with a particular emotion will evoke that same emotion in the smeller, and this response can be triggered by things that merely smell similar. It’s not uncommon for a yinrih to describe an inanimate object as smelling “happy” or “scared” or “angry”.

A person can be said to be //scentless//, which can mean a few things depending on context. Much like humans putting on a poker face, yinrih can, with practice, stifle or eliminate the notes of their musk that communicate emotion. In this sense a person who is stoic or unflappable may be described as scentless. Someone who lacks empathy, such as a sociopath, can also be scentless. A scentless kit or pup in particular is cause for a great deal of concern, as it often forebodes troubling unchildlike behavior.