tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post4118676712218907459..comments2024-03-28T05:59:52.454-07:00Comments on TalkToYoUniverse: Alien body languageJuliette Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879627074920760712noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-83262018897002017192011-01-31T17:57:00.048-08:002011-01-31T17:57:00.048-08:00You might consider this body language: two example...You might consider this body language: two examples.<br />1. In the highlands of New Guinea, a parasitologist greeted the chief of the village by extending his hand for a handshake, and was surprised to find the chief extending his hand to shake the scientist's testicles.<br />2. In ancient Israel when a judge was hearing the case from a male, the judge would place his hand on the testicles of the male that was addressing him. The reason being that if the testimony was false, the judge's hand insured that all the man would be barren and would have no offspring, almost a death sentence in those days. And that is of course where testify and testimony are rooted.<br />So if an alien reaches for your testicles you should not be alarmed. It only shows he or she knows more about your culture sand body language than you do this visiting alien.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-61576751235706465972011-01-30T21:44:54.907-08:002011-01-30T21:44:54.907-08:00Interesting, Cora. Thanks for the comment! It soun...Interesting, Cora. Thanks for the comment! It sounds similar to, if somewhat more severe than, the American philosophy of eye contact.Juliette Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02879627074920760712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-38006771013588285702011-01-30T19:39:08.438-08:002011-01-30T19:39:08.438-08:00In Germany, it's considered extremely rude not...In Germany, it's considered extremely rude not to look into the other person's eyes during a conversation. This is drummed into kids from a very early age on, e.g. "Look into aunt so-and-so's eyes when talking to her."Corahttp://corabuhlert.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-10890642583444087912011-01-28T18:31:17.452-08:002011-01-28T18:31:17.452-08:00No problem, Heidi! Your weaselly folk sound intere...No problem, Heidi! Your weaselly folk sound interesting. I certainly enjoyed doing otters!Juliette Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02879627074920760712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-79641786746886884432011-01-28T18:16:24.690-08:002011-01-28T18:16:24.690-08:00I've always thought body language was a fascin...I've always thought body language was a fascinating part of characters -- and that goes double when there are tails and whiskers and fins involved! My weasel race actually borrowed a lot of their mannerisms from housecats, because I liked how clearly ear angle and motion can spell out how a cat is feeling. <br /><br />Also, thanks for your welcome on the Absolute Write forums, Juliette. It was a nice surprise in that user control panel thingie I just found!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11865524260060421873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-67797091845767938222011-01-28T12:29:35.948-08:002011-01-28T12:29:35.948-08:00Thanks for the comment, Trisha! That's an inte...Thanks for the comment, Trisha! That's an interesting observation, and one I didn't know about. Thanks for sharing!Juliette Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02879627074920760712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-60874091044438036372011-01-28T12:15:06.579-08:002011-01-28T12:15:06.579-08:00Since coming to Canada the first time to visit my ...Since coming to Canada the first time to visit my sister in law's family and so on, I learned that you are supposed to look people in the eye when cheersing with wine glasses or whatever. total news to me, but it's kind of nice. and I'm spreading the word in Aus, so people are learning it there too :DTrishahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16927558937796802496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-51990091264726924912011-01-28T11:41:15.393-08:002011-01-28T11:41:15.393-08:00Shandra, thanks for the comment! I've heard ab...Shandra, thanks for the comment! I've heard about the Uplift universe but haven't yet read it. I appreciate the recommendation.Juliette Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02879627074920760712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-76446047329452677732011-01-28T11:29:19.971-08:002011-01-28T11:29:19.971-08:00David Brin's Uplift universe is highly diverse...David Brin's Uplift universe is highly diverse in it's species and their means of communication.Shandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12793368216652854757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-79681471034762743792011-01-28T11:02:51.248-08:002011-01-28T11:02:51.248-08:00Yes indeed, Jamie - I felt the same. It's my f...Yes indeed, Jamie - I felt the same. It's my favorite book (to the extent that I wrote a paper on it!).Juliette Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02879627074920760712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-30847110804533673792011-01-28T10:30:46.713-08:002011-01-28T10:30:46.713-08:00I just remember constantly feeling shivering cold ...I just remember constantly feeling shivering cold as I read THE LEFT HAND OF DARKNESS. ;-)Jamie Todd Rubinhttp://www.jamietoddrubin.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-89147970757434799412011-01-28T09:05:10.671-08:002011-01-28T09:05:10.671-08:00Jamie,
I find myself wracking my brain as well. I...Jamie, <br />I find myself wracking my brain as well. I do enjoy how Rajnar Vajra handles his aliens in his series of shorts about "Doctor Alien" (Analog magazine). I recall humanoid body language being handled well by Ursula K. LeGuin in THE LEFT HAND OF DARKNESS. The question certainly makes me want to put a lot of attention into gesture in my future stories.Juliette Wadehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02879627074920760712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-48311989984382284722011-01-28T07:28:02.222-08:002011-01-28T07:28:02.222-08:00I am wracking my brain trying to think of examples...I am wracking my brain trying to think of examples of sf where this has been done particularly well. Possibly the middle part of Asimov's THE GODS THEMSELVES (the aliens there being gaseous) but I vaguely recall some references to body language (shifting of the gaseous form, etc.) There are the facial expressions of the Ashiyyurean's in Jack McDevitt's Alex Benedict novels. Are there good examples you can suggest?Jamie Todd Rubinhttp://www.jamietoddrubin.comnoreply@blogger.com