Write about (visual aids optional) a gesture that is common in your statelet or some part of it, or alternatively something about the distinctive way in which your denizens use body language. Inspiration.
Additionally, note that the collaborative interaction contest is running for two weeks, and you can still write and submit entries for that.
[Competition 7] Gestures
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Carl Jackson
Re: [Competition 7] Gestures
Semi-on-topic, I just had a good idea for a fun contest: write an ad (radio or TV) for a product sold in your statelet.
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Demon of Fides
- Posts: 771
- Joined: Sun Nov 28, 2010 12:01 am
Re: [Competition 7] Gestures
Intel Report -- 432 -- Colony
Any Colonist seen returning by tunnel guards is subject to some sort of sign and counter-sign security check. As far as we've seen, no signal is used twice at any tunnel entrance, so it's unlikely that they correspond to words or numbers. It seems to act as either a security protocol or some ritualistic test of purity; one of my team saw one of the Gold ones being executed after failing the handsigns not only by the guards, but also by his companions. We have not yet determined any way to break or replicate this code.
--Message sent with MEDIUM IMPORTANCE--
Hier post ich, ich kann nicht anders
Re: [Competition 7] Gestures
Kovwi are a series of gestures originally used by Zaee, but picked up by a number of Islander humans and far more rarely used on Mainland. (Humans have pinky fingers instead of a second set of thumbs, but can still perform most kovwi recognizeably.) All kovwi consist predominantly of touching each fingertip and thumb to its analogue, palms facing each other; but adjustments in wrist angle, finger spacing, hand position, and other minor factors give them a range of possible meanings:
- A greeting (fingers splayed wide and pointing up, heels of the hands apart, located in front of the neck)
- A symbol that one is unarmed (fingers splayed and pointing towards the gesturer, heels of the hands apart, located in front of the neck; often segued into from the greeting or vice versa)
- Something to do with one's hands when one can't think of anything else (fingers together but loosely, pointed forward and down at a 45º angle, heels of the hands close but not touching, located in front of the belly)
- A thanks (palms close but not touching, with inner thumbs tucked into the hands and fingers together, pointed up and forward at a 45º angle, located in front of and a few inches forward of the chest)
- An indication of agreement (fingers splayed and heels of the hands apart, gesture tilted so left hand is directly over right, pointed forward, located in front of and a few inches forward of the chest)
- An indication that one finds one's interlocutor attractive (palms touching, fingers together and pointed up and forward at a 45º angle, heels of the hands touching, tucked under the chin)
- A farewell (as greeting, but a few inches lower, with first and middle fingers touching)
- A rude gesture usually translated as "kindly go slam your tail in a door" (middle three fingers touching, all thumbs/thumbs and pinkies touching below those, pointed forward and located close to and in front of the chest)
- A greeting (fingers splayed wide and pointing up, heels of the hands apart, located in front of the neck)
- A symbol that one is unarmed (fingers splayed and pointing towards the gesturer, heels of the hands apart, located in front of the neck; often segued into from the greeting or vice versa)
- Something to do with one's hands when one can't think of anything else (fingers together but loosely, pointed forward and down at a 45º angle, heels of the hands close but not touching, located in front of the belly)
- A thanks (palms close but not touching, with inner thumbs tucked into the hands and fingers together, pointed up and forward at a 45º angle, located in front of and a few inches forward of the chest)
- An indication of agreement (fingers splayed and heels of the hands apart, gesture tilted so left hand is directly over right, pointed forward, located in front of and a few inches forward of the chest)
- An indication that one finds one's interlocutor attractive (palms touching, fingers together and pointed up and forward at a 45º angle, heels of the hands touching, tucked under the chin)
- A farewell (as greeting, but a few inches lower, with first and middle fingers touching)
- A rude gesture usually translated as "kindly go slam your tail in a door" (middle three fingers touching, all thumbs/thumbs and pinkies touching below those, pointed forward and located close to and in front of the chest)
Re: [Competition 7] Gestures
The Dhonk Position:
The Dhonk position is an fetal-sort of position of similar to prostration though one is not really prostrating to anyone or anything. It allows the blood to flow into the head and is maintained for a half an hour. The body is sort of curled up in an rock like formation. The position involves the forehead touching the ground (but not the nose) coupled with the arms and elbows and the knees and legs. The gesture can be done anyone but conveys a meaning: I'm thinking deeply about something, leave me alone. This is the most common meditation, thinking, prayer, and relaxing position in Aryashti culture.
The Dhonk position is an fetal-sort of position of similar to prostration though one is not really prostrating to anyone or anything. It allows the blood to flow into the head and is maintained for a half an hour. The body is sort of curled up in an rock like formation. The position involves the forehead touching the ground (but not the nose) coupled with the arms and elbows and the knees and legs. The gesture can be done anyone but conveys a meaning: I'm thinking deeply about something, leave me alone. This is the most common meditation, thinking, prayer, and relaxing position in Aryashti culture.
The Great King, King of Kings, King of the World
Re: [Competition 7] Gestures
The Favored don't believe in an afterlife or any deities or other higher powers, but a semi-religious respectful sign known as the Praisefist has developed over time. One clenches the fist of their dominant hand (i.e. right handed people clench their right fist) and hold it against their forehead, head slightly bowed, eyes closed. The first represents the power of humanity. Touching it to the forehead represents memory. Bowing the head with eyes closed represents contemplation. The general translation of this in words is something along the lines of “may this person’s hard work be remembered and provide a lasting contribution to society.” It is used both as a sign of respect to the dead and also to honor those of higher authority that do difficult jobs, similar to a salute but only given to those of higher rank. To Praisefist someone meaninglessly is considered terrible form and is quite the scandal.
This sign is almost never given to outsiders, but it is not technically taboo to do so. For an outsider to receive a Praisefist gesture from one of the Favored means that the Favored believe someone is acting (or, in the case of the deceased, acted in their life) in accordance with the Favored’s views on the purpose and meaning of life. There is scarcely any praise higher for an outsider to receive.
This sign is almost never given to outsiders, but it is not technically taboo to do so. For an outsider to receive a Praisefist gesture from one of the Favored means that the Favored believe someone is acting (or, in the case of the deceased, acted in their life) in accordance with the Favored’s views on the purpose and meaning of life. There is scarcely any praise higher for an outsider to receive.
Re: [Competition 7] Gestures
Historical Zaee cultures used a complex set of aerial maneuvers for long-distance communication. As Zaee technology became small enough to use while flying, such 'flight languages' became less popular, and had nearly been forgotten by the time the Mevwani Zaee's ancestors boarded the Ka Mevwan. After the crash, and especially as the Zaee started to be unable to rely on having flight-friendly communication tech, the Mevwani Zaee remembered stories of the old flight languages and started creating one of their own, simpler one, which includes the following maneuvers:
Loop: Used in group flight to indicate agreement or that that everything is okay.
Barrel roll: Used in group flight to indicate that the group should go in a particular direction.
360 degree turn (clockwise): Used during group flight to indicate that the person is leaving the group.
360 degree turn (counterclockwise): Used during group flight to indicate that the person would like the group to land.
Hammerhead stall: Used by a scout to indicate to viewers on the ground that help is needed.
Immelman turn: Used by a scout to indicate to viewers on the ground that they've seen something strange.
Split S: Used by a scout indicate to viewers on the ground that everything is okay.
Loop: Used in group flight to indicate agreement or that that everything is okay.
Barrel roll: Used in group flight to indicate that the group should go in a particular direction.
360 degree turn (clockwise): Used during group flight to indicate that the person is leaving the group.
360 degree turn (counterclockwise): Used during group flight to indicate that the person would like the group to land.
Hammerhead stall: Used by a scout to indicate to viewers on the ground that help is needed.
Immelman turn: Used by a scout to indicate to viewers on the ground that they've seen something strange.
Split S: Used by a scout indicate to viewers on the ground that everything is okay.