[Video]

[findingbeasts]

[The video clicks on as the 'gear that's filming is absently adjusted, the person responsible finally drawing back enough that he can actually be seen rather than just a close up of his tan vest.

Newt.

The young man seems content with the placement of the 'gear and backs up further before sinking down to side beside an Oranguru and Queenie. The Audino looks very pleased with her new friend, leaning against her trainer's suitcase as she twills and chirps at the other Pokemon who looks very content as he listens. The suitcase the Audino is leaning against is cracked open slightly and...yep. That sure is a lot of Joltiks going in and out of it.]

I have a question for, well, everyone here, I suppose. Not necessarily those that have been here awhile.

[Newt smiles sheepishly before he gestures to the Oranguru who looks from the wizard to the 'gear and tilts his head.]

This is Cornelius. He decided to join us at camp last night and we spent a good portion of the night working on communicating with one another and I..well I thought I'd see if anyone else had luck with what we were trying to do.

[As he said it, the Oranguru nodded and lifted his hands to sign a couple very simply signs to Newt who chuckles.]

Yes, learning. That is exactly what we are trying to do, Cornelius.

[Arm resting around the Pokemon, Newt looks to the 'gear again while on his other side Queenie is chatting with at least six Joltiks that had come out of the suitcase.]

Has anyone else attempted sign language with their Pokemon? We managed to come up with some rather simple gestures but I thought perhaps I would ask and see if anyone had suggestions on a universal system of sorts? If there is one, that is.

Comments

[rambling_runner]

Well, I don't use sign language...but I speak in irish with them and use that when I'm battling with them.

To be honest I don't know sign language at all! How'd you learn it?

[findingbeasts]

Using another language wasn't something I had considered either. A rather interesting way of going about it--are you Irish then?

[That's got him curious though that curious look turns sheepish as he let's out a slight laugh.]

I must admit I, ah, don't actually know it myself. Cornelius and I developed a sign language of our own. It took some time to get ourselves on the same page but we managed it with the help of pictures.

[rambling_runner]

Yeah. I was born in London but my Dad came from county Donegal. They understand when I use English too but I didn't want to get rusty with it or lose that, since we always used it at home, so I use it with them! And ohh, so it's not like, official BSL?

I gotta admit, the only Pokemon who talk directly with me are the ones with telepathy; so Diarmuid and T-Pain, my Gallade and Slowking.

[findingbeasts]

Donegal...that is in Ulster, is it not?

All of my current companions have attempted to communicate with me in some manner and while I cannot understand them completely I can generally figure out what they are trying to get across.

[At his side, Queenie twills and he looks at her with a fond smile.]

Yes, especially you, my dear.

[rambling_runner]

Yep, it's as far north as you can be while still being in the Republic.

[ At the mention of communication, who else should pop up but Danny. The Lucario smiled and barked, giving a casual wave to the group on the screen. ]

The funny thing is, just how differently they all talk and communicate. You ever met a Lucario? That's what Danny right here is. They can see auras and use them to show how they feel, when they're not using them in a fight anyway. So if I'm feeling blue, he can outright see that just by looking at me.

[Video]

[badluckbabe]

Well I wouldn't exactly call it sign language. Not in the traditional sense but I have taught mine hand signals.

Lemme see if I can get them to do it.

[She turns the camera around to a Honchkrow who is currently preening her feathers proudly. Jinx holds her hand out where the camera can see it and snaps her fingers. The Honchkrow looks up bemused. When Jinx gestures up she stands up and then raises her wings.]

No. Come on you know this one Hex.

[She gestures again and Hex waves her wings mockingly. Jinx tries to the left and the bird points the opposite direction. Jinx just sighs.]

OK well, she knows it she just doesn't care right now.

[Hex bursts out laughing.]

[Video]

[findingbeasts]

[It takes everything Newt has not to chuckle, his lips twitching as they attempt to pull into a grin. Queenie and Cornelius are not so quiet, though, and both let out giggles at Hex's antics.]

A rather mischievous thing, isn't she?

[As much as he got exasperated with his more...trouble-making companions, Newt did adore them. And Hex was clearly a charming lady.]

Re: [Video] 1/2

[badluckbabe]

She knows I can't stay mad at her.

[Jinx makes a looping gesture with her finger and Hex simply wanders off screen dismissing the camera with her wing. Jinx turns the camera around.]

OK well, that was a bust but my friend Diana has actually had some real results with sign language and her pokemon. Sit tight and I'll get her.

2/2

[keep_surviving]

[After a few moments, the gear is passed over and Diana appears on screen.]

Oh, hey, Newt. Jinx said something about sign language?

[findingbeasts]

[The mention of Diana's name had already gotten a smile out of Newt but seeing her warms it a bit and Queenie let's out a merry cry in greeting.]

Hello, Diana. Yes I--well Cornelius and I, specifically, have been working on sign language together. I wasn't entirely sure if anyone else had attempted anything of the sort and if there was a universal system in place just yet.

[keep_surviving]

Sure, yeh. I've been looking some up and using it with Petey.

[She turns the camera to show a little Espurr, who was playing with some kind of flashing children's toy while tapping out an odd rhythm against his own cheek.]

Petey's... Kind of different. Did you want to see?

video

[forsaintcecilia]

Hmm... I haven't tried anything that complicated yet, but I don't think it's that hard to understand them, you know? Honky Tonk is really expressive, and even though Xylo is like a really big beetle, he makes music with his antennae that helps me to figure out how he's feeling. Do they really need to talk like we do, or with their hands?

video

[findingbeasts]

Oh no--no of course not. This..my apologies, I did not mean for it to come across as if I wanted them all to know it.

[Flustered Newt is a bit flustered.]

Cornelius simply showed an interest in learning and we worked on it together. Most of my other companions have their own way of getting their thoughts and feelings across, most definitely. I meant what I asked more as, well as if anyone else had a Pokemon that had shown a similar interest.

video

[forsaintcecilia]

Oh! It's okay, don't worry about it! My mistake! [Kazuki doesn't want anyone to be flustered!] No, none of them want to learn anything like that. We haven't known each other for very long though. We're still getting to be friends.

video

[findingbeasts]

[It's easy to get Newt flustered; it's not your fault, Kazuki.]

Many Pokemon do take time. Quite some time, in certain cases. To warm up that is. To us.

[Newt pauses and clears his throat, smiling awkwardly.]

With time you'll begin to learn more about them, though.

video

[forsaintcecilia]

I think we're getting along pretty okay! But you're right, I still have a lot to learn.

[There's an off-screen bark, and a couple of flippers latch around Kazuki's neck. A Popplio then hauls itself up onto his shoulder, and pats his trainer's head. It's okay, buddy! You're doing a good job so far!]

Hi, Honky Tonk! [Kazuki reaches up to give him a hug.] Thank you, thank you... Yeah, I know. Everything's gonna work out, right?

[charcoalfeather]

Aah! That's really cool! You're teaching your Pokemon to talk to you with signs?

[She's... never actually seen that being used here before. Or if it was a thing anywhere.]

I never really thought of using that, but it's a great idea. Normally, I just talk to my Pokemon, or in special cases... they can talk to me telepathically.

[findingbeasts]

[Newt chuckles a bit sheepishly.]

Well he isn't--Cornelius is a wild Pokemon, not mine.

[Said Oranguru nods then reaches up to tug on Newt's sleeve to draw his attention. He signs something to the young man when he looks and a soft smile appears.]

Indeed, we are friends.

[Cornelius looks pleased and Queenie let's out a happy twill, getting a chuckle from Newt as he turns his attention back to the 'gear.]

I have yet to meet any telepathic Pokemon but I was aware that was a particular option in some cases.

[charcoalfeather]

You mean he just decided to follow you around? [That makes it even better in her eyes, and sweeter too.

She giggles at a through that catches her.]

Well, a lot of psychic Pokemon are capable of it, so I'm sure you'll meet one eventually. My Espurr, Bright, likes to talk to me sometimes... even though it's usually about jokes.

[findingbeasts]

Oh, well, yes. I have several that are simply along for the adventure, I suppose you could say. They come and go as they please--more than once there have been others with them when they return.

[Like Merlin and his mate, Helena.]

Jokes, hm? A bit of a prankster then?

[islandshore]

Haven't really tried sign language, but writing's something at least a couple of 'em have tried to pick up on... as well as actually trying to teach themselves to speak in the case of my Weavile.

[He rubs at his neck, groaning.]

Now he never shuts up.

But I'd say sign could work. That, or catching a Psychic type as an interpreter. They've typically got telepathy to work with, so they make a pretty good middleman. Or middlemon, I guess.

[findingbeasts]

[That gets a surprise burst of laughter from Newt.]

Speaking? Really? I hadn't considered that to be a possibility. I have met several that can use telepathy but I wasn't aware that verbal communication was possible.

[How intriguing..now he had a new thing to try!]

Yes I have considered that as well. I--actually, I believe Cornelius is a Psychic type.

[Beside him, the Oranguru nods, looking proud of himself.]

sorry about the delay. work's been kicking my butt!

[islandshore]

It's probably not as doable for some species. Ones without mouths. Or lips. And heck, it took Slash about a year to get it down. This one trainer's Meowth tried it once, but could just barely enunciate before he left Johto.

[On the whole, it's probably just not something most 'mons want to do, or most trainers want to entertain. Definitely uncommon.]

Ah, Psychic, eh? Man, I really gotta get up to date on my Pokemon. But hey, if you've got a Psychic already, then you've already got your foot in the door when it comes to communication.

No worries!

[findingbeasts]

Yes I could definitely see where it might be a bit of an issue for some. I'll have to see if I can engage any of my current companions and test their speaking abilities.

[Because it would be very fascinating to have some that could use human words without telepathy.]

Have you never seen a Pokemon like Cornelius before? [He's just genuinely interested to know if things are really that varied around here.] And I have a feeling a proper Psychic type being around will help encourage more communication. Not that I have had many issues, mind you. It will just give others a chance to speak with us as well.

[islandshore]

Not personally. I've, uh. Kinda fallen behind in terms of species. I know there's a lot of Pokemon types that've started popping up over the past year or so, but I've just had my hands so full with my current roster that it's been hard to keep up, y'know?

[He sighs, shaking his head.]

Honestly, I really gotta step up my game. It really does feel like there's a lot of cool new species out there. It'd be great to actually get a feel for them- abilities, temperament, that sorta thing.