Sefdaanian Ethnography Chapter 7 - Manners

Pronunciation table

p	b	f	v	m̃	m			t	d	þ	ð	ɫ	l			ṡ	ż	s	z	r	n			k	g	x	ƣ	h	ȝ			š	s̨			i	e	a	ǫ	o	u			ĭ	ĕ	ŭ
/p/	/b/	/ɸ/	/β/	/m̥/	/m/			/t/	/d/	/θ/	/ð/	/l̥/	/l/			/ʦ/	/ʣ/	/s/	/z/	/ɾ̥/	/n/			/k/	/g/	/ç/	/ʝ/	/j̊/	/j/			/sʷ/	/sʲ/			/i/	/e/	/ä/	/ɒ/	/o/	/u/			/ɪ/	/ɛ/	/ʊ/

Greetings and Polite Expressions - ǧe̋rosk̬e ne̋e̋ro ðűűƣosk̬e

• ala̋a̋, intrj. hello; ahoy.
• aisma̋a̋ma, revered mother, form of address by a younger person to an older woman.
• aista̋a̋ta, revered father, form of address by a younger person to an older man.
• ezpőiku, esteemed son, form of address by an older person to a younger man.
• ez̈ı̋du, esteemed daughter, form of address by an older person to a younger woman.
• ȝűmu (ii-)re̋e̋ƣum ne̋so, God save the king(queen)!
• ka̋ita tibámoota̋ha, Happy April Fool’s Day (lit. happy grass-sprouting-month fool day).
• (tu) kétu fa̋ṡu (e̋sa), you are too kind.
• kóóvande̋ru, noble lord, form of address used by the Peoples to an Ethran.
• (me̋żo) k̨űto vűűla, thank you (very much) (lit., there is a (large) debt).
• k̨űto vűűla ne, you're welcome (lit., there is not a debt).
• m̌anderű (Voc.) (< mu-anderű), my lord, respectful address to sovereigns.
• porte̋ȝame, excuse me (lit., may I pass?).
• sa̋ka kuȝa̋ham! Happy Thanksgiving (lit., holy thanks-day).
• sa̋ka máżaþże̋ňam, Merry Christmas (lit., holy Christ-birth).
• sı̋fa ȝuundı̋lam Happy New Year (lit., properous new-year).
• suɠa̋a̋le, stay well (said by the one leaving).
• sure̋iðe, fare well (said to the one leaving).
• tu-saanta̋s o, to your health! (a drinking toast).
• tusőőra (< (mu) tús o sőőra), please (lit., (I) beseech you).
• suǧenű, (Voc.) goodwife, Mrs. (title of respect for non-Ethrans).
• sum̃iirű, (Voc.) goodman, Mr. (title of respect for non-Ethrans).
• suǧe̋raþu, welcome!
• supa̋naþu, well-met! (greeting upon meeting).
• e-te̋e̋ua ne, excuse me (said upon not understanding) (lit., I was not paying attention).
• (mu) xálu (niixe̋ȝa), how (may (I) serve)?, what? (response to being called).
• 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 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 – rűűmra

• 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 is offered with the expression feɫe̋ȝa, may I offer. The response is kűȝa, I thank.