Sefdaanian Ethnography Chapter 7 - Manners

Greetings & Polite expressions - ǧe̋rosk̬e te̋nɱo ðe̋uᵹosk̬e

• ąsnɘvę̋lu, noble lord, ]form of address used by a non-noble to a noble and by the nobles to each other]; < ą̋sna, t.v. ennoble, + vę̋la, 1) t.v. be in charge of. 2) i.v. be in charge.
• alą̋, intrj. hello; ahoy.
• aismą̋ma, revered mother [form of address by a younger person to an older woman] < a̋isa, 1) t.v. revere, reverence. 2) i.v. revere, + mą̋ma, mother.
• aista̋ta, revered father [form of address by a younger person to an older man] < a̋isa, 1) t.v. revere, reverence. 2) i.v. revere, + ta̋ta, father.
• ezsűnu, esteemed son [form of address by an older person to a younger man] < e̋za, t.v. esteem, + sűnu, son.
• ezı̋du, esteemed daughter [form of address by an older person to a younger woman] < e̋za, t.v. esteem, + zı̋du, daughter.
• (tu) kétu fa̋cu (e̋sa) , you are too kind. < fa̋ci= kind, pleasant, gracious, affable, nice, sweet.
• (me̋ƶo) ḳűto vų̋la, thank you (very much) [lit., there is a (large) debt].
• ḳűto vų̋la ne, you're welcome [lit. , there is not a debt].
• kı̋nos dą̋a, I'm sorry [lit., tears flow].
• (mu) ẋą́lu (nı̨̋xo), how (may (I) serve)?, what? [response to being called].
• (mu) tús o sǫ̋ra > tusǫ̋ra, please; sǫ̋ra = 1) t.v. beseech, beg, entreat, implore, appeal to, adjure. 2) i.v. beg, entreat, implore, appeal.
• mu-vęlű, my lord (Voc.) [respectful address to sovereigns] < mús, my, mine, + vę̋lu, lord.
• pőrtome, excuse me (lit., may I pass).
• sa̋ka kuȝa̋ham, Happy Thanksgiving < sa̋ki, holy + kűȝa, t.v. thank + a̋ha, day
• (gı̋ndo de̋po) tum se̋bome, Would you like (a cup of tea)?
• sı̋fa ȝųne̋nam, Happy New Year < sı̋fa, i.v. thrive, flourish, prosper, batten, + ȝų̋ni, new, + e̋na, year.
• sųta̋s éna ġą̋le, stay in well-being [said by the one leaving] < sų, well, + ġą̋la, remain, stay (behind), bide; stop. [I like "bide well"]
• sųta̋s éna re̋iðe, fare in well being [said to the one leaving] < sų, well, + re̋iða, i.v. go [in a vehicle], travel, drive, ride, sail; fare; pass.
• túsąnta̋so (< túsɘ sąnta̋s o), to your health! [a drinking toast]. < tu, you + są̋nta, health.
• sųǧenű, (Voc.) goodwife, Mrs. [title of respect for non-noble human] < sų, well, + ǧe̋nu, woman.
• sųɱirű, (Voc.) goodman, Mr. [title of respect for non-noble human] < sų, well, + ɱı̨̋ru, man.
• sųǧe̋raþu, welcome! < sų, well, + ǧe̋ra, t.v. welcome, receive, greet.
• sųmǫ̋daþu, well-met! [greeting upon meeting] < sų, well, + mǫ̋da, 1) t.v. meet, encounter, light upon, befall, bechance, happen to, become of, behave towards, treat (of), betide. 2) i.v. meet, encounter; befall, happen, bechance, come-, -to pass, -about, fall out, take place, occur, betide.
• e-tę̋ua ne, excuse me [said upon not understanding] (lit., I was not paying attention) < tę̋ua, 1) t.v. attend (to), pay attention to, heed, give-, pay-, -heed to, reck, mind. 2) i.v. attend, pay attention, give-, pay-, -heed, mind.
• When greeting another person, one puts his right hand over his heart and covers it with his left hand. Upon departing, the same gesture is used accompanied by a slight bow.

Modesty - ta̋fta

• Among all the Peoples genital modesty is the norm. One never appears in public with the genitals exposed. There are four exceptions:
  • The Pyrans and the Lithans bathe in their communal bathhouses in the nude, but with the sexes separated.
  • The Hydorans do swim in the nude.
  • The Xylans wear no clothing, but, out of respect, carry with them a loincloth to wear should they meet any of the other Peoples.
  • Weather permitting, children up to the age of three years are not clothed indoors.
• Among the four procreating Loquent Peoples, only the Hydoran women will appear bare-breasted in public, but then only amongst their own kind.

Bodily functions - boðne̋udos

• Defecation among all the Peoples is done in private. Urination is also done in private, though it need not be.
• The Xylans are the most natural of the Peoples. There is no taboo against defecating or urinating in the presence of another, although, out of respect, they do not perform these functions in the presence of the other Peoples.

Hospitality - rų̋ma

• Upon entering a home, a guest is offered a drink, usually a cup of the liqueur made by the People. It is bad form to refuse this drink. This offered with the expression fe̋łome, "may I offer". The response is kűȝa, "I give thanks".