Sefdaanian Ethnography Chapter 14 - Technology

Technology - xemsą̋ra

• The Sefdaanian culture is a pre-industrial society, characterized by the following:
  • A. Artisanship, not mass production: Each settlement makes the implements, clothing, and artifacts that it uses. Lithan traders help disperse goods among the settlements, but this is not a major source of supplies.
  • B. Primarily agricultural: Although some time is devoted to industries such as weaving, forging, ceramics, and tanning, the major portion of the day’s labor is spent in agricultural pursuits. Every settlement must provide enough food to feed itself. Industries that can wait are postponed to be done indoors in the winter.
  • C. Limited division of labor: There are very few specialized labor tasks. The most significant of these is forging. Other than that, everyone can do every task. The great division of labor occurs among those Peoples involved in animal husbandry. In these societies, care of the animals is exclusively the domain of the males. Household chores, the raising of the children, and agricultural tasks are the domain of the females, except at harvest time, when it is necessary for all hands to harvest crops before the cold weather begins.
  • D. No social classes: Although the settlements have councils to maintain order, even the council members must do their share in carrying out the tasks mentioned in C. And the person who has more material possessions than the others must still do his share of the work with the herds and in the fields.
  • E. Parochialism: Most settlements are at a distance from one another. There are no extensive means of communication or transportation. Travel is limited to the trading journeys of the Lithans and the occasional journey of a matchmaker to find a prospective bride or groom. No one travels to the next settlement either because of the need to work in the growing seasons or because of the weather in the winter.
  • F. Rural – It should now be obvious that the Sefdaanian societies are rural. There are no big industrialized population centers.
• The exception to all this is the Ethran society. With the advantage of the energy known as dweomorcraft (seȝűra), they are more technologically advanced than the other Peoples. However, they are not permitted to intrude into the other societies with their technologies.

1. As with the other societies, there is no mass production, but dweomorcraft enables them to perform many tasks with less sweat.
2. The Ethran society, too, is primarily agricultural, but that is because they have to eat, too. Tools, implements, and artifacts were procured a long time ago and the modest wear and tear is easily remedied.
3. Unlike the other societies, there is a strict division of labor. Members of each rank of Ethrans do not become involved in the tasks of the others. Each rank is more powerful than the rank below it.
4. There are classes, but not in the sense of social classes. Class is based purely on labor. Other than that, the Ethrans of a citadel associate freely with each other. There is a strong fellowship among the Ethrans.
5. There is no parochialism. The Ethrans have been studying the world since they were created and can see the big picture. They are involved in the lives of the other societies as arbiters or even judges, especially when there are inter-People conflicts.
6. The rural/urban dichotomy does not apply to the Ethrans. There are only six citadels in which live all the Ethrans. Each is populated by the same number of Ethrans, a total of 5,238 individuals. These could be called population centers, but there is no danger of overpopulation.

Mechanics - kisa̋ra

• The six simple machines (kı̋lo) are available to the Six Loquent Peoples
  • the lever (sı̋vlo)
  • the pulley (ðųre̋þo)
  • the screw (f̣őro)
  • the wheel (re̋þo) and axle (a̋ƶo)
  • the wedge (ɱe̋hlo)
  • the inclined plane (lenlę̋po)
• The following tools (xe̋mo) are available:
  • Horticulture (zɔðsą̋ra)
    • hoe (tőxlo)
    • harrow (ȝa̋nlo)
    • planting stick (mųlɱı̋po)
    • sickle/scythe (kőðlo)
    • plow (he̋lo)
    • water wheel (ąmre̋þo)
    • swingle/scutch/flail (ṅę̋mlo)
    • winnowing fan (ne̋ixlo)
  • Animal husbandry (þasɱőrta)
    • shears (pe̋slo)
    • crook (lı̋t̬o)
  • Equitation (morą̋ᵹta)
    • bit (nuka̋rðo)
    • hackamore (ðreulsɔ̋ɱo)
    • harness (de̋xlo)
    • bridle (nuksɔ̋ɱo)
    • halter (ƶ̇űlo)
    • headstall (þįrf̣a̋lo)
    • reins (cąsf̣ą̋lo)
    • saddle (xı̋ro)
    • whip (lőgo)
  • Construction (de̋ma)
    • adze (ṅų̋nlo)
    • hammer (te̋mlo)
    • sledge hammer (gųrte̋mlo)
    • mallet (ṁűxco)
    • single-bladed ax (kɔ̋ɱlo)
    • saw (lőslo)
    • plane (le̋iɱlo)
    • chisel (cą̋nlo)
    • scissors (d̬isı̨̋mlo)
    • drill (lőnlo)
    • tongs (ƶa̋flo)
    • file (fı̨̋xlo)
    • trowel (lęfka̋ilo)
    • shovel (vőðlo)
    • vise (sę̋flo)
  • Crafts (ų̋ras)
    • loom (ɱe̋vlo)
    • loom comb (pa̋þlo)
    • sewing needle (ṡų̋lo)
    • knitting needle (mę̋ᵹlo
  • Hunting and fishing (ke̋duk̬e mı̨̋nuk̬e)
    • bow (lűgo)
    • arrow (nőro)
    • trap (rı̋þlo)
    • fish lure (ace̋no)
    • net (tentőlo)
    • fishnet (kűlto)
    • fishhook (mı̨̋nlo)
    • fishing pole (mįnsa̋flo)
    • weir (na̋do)
  • Boating (ną̋ɱa)
    • anchor (kı̋slo)
    • paddle/oar (e̋rlo)
    • oarpin (t̬e̋lo)
    • boat pole (ga̋ilo)
    • sail (seke̋lo)
  • Weapons (ca̋þlo)
    • battle-axe (aǧe̋so)
    • spear/lance (cűno)
    • sword (vę̋mo)
    • blowpipe (ɱęcőlmo)
    • sling (kı̋flo)
    • crossbow (ṡőgo)
    • quarrel (ƶa̋po)
  • Miscellaneous (ka̋þos)
    • magnifying glass (me̋slo)

Tanning – ȝőda

• Four of the Peoples tan leather (kǫ̋no). The Ethrans tan the hides (ǧı̨̋no) of their pterhippi; the Pyrans tan the hides of their reindeer; the Humans, of their horses and of wisent, aurochs, etc.; and the Lithans of their turs and yaks. The dressing is done by an emulsion of animal brains. Because of the odor, the tannery (ȝoðdődo) is placed outside the settlement and downwind from the prevailing winds.
• The tanner may also makes parchment (ȝarǧı̨̋no).

Food production – eðsa̋iso

• All the Peoples have access to a number of foodstuffs, both animal and vegetable, but each of them specializes in particular foods that characterize their cuisine.

The Ethrans

• The specialized food production for the Ethrans consists of the raising of geese (ha̋nse); the cultivation of buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) (hőli), crocuses (Crocus cartwrightianus) (sı̋zi) and other flowers; and the keeping of bees (vı̨̋a). Some of the Ethrans also hunt wild fowl.
• Geese are raised for their flesh and their eggs. Goose fat is used for frying and flavoring.
• Wild fowl, such as partridge (ɱortőke) and pheasant (ge̋rke), are hunted for sport with gyrfalcons and their flesh graces the Ethran dinner table.
• Buckwheat is raised in fields around the citadels. Every citadel has a threshing floor (alą̋ɱo). The floor is covered with clay tiles and surrounded by a low stone wall. The threshing is done by hand using a swingle (pı̋slo).
• Saffron is one of the Ethrans’ favorite flavors. Each citadel also grows its own distinctive flower for making tisanes and syrups and for scenting the citadel. Some are grown out-of-doors, but the Ethrans maintain greenhouses (zɔðde̋mo) so that these flavors are available all year long.
• Bee hives are maintained for honey and wax. The bees gather pollen from the crocuses and the other flowers. The honey is fermented to make mead (me̋ð̬o).
• Various Ethrans are skilled in doing this work: farmers, gardeners, animal keepers, beekeepers, brewers, millers.

The Pyrans

• The specialized food production for the Ethrans consists of the raising of reindeer (ɱa̋ce), the cultivation of chickpeas (Pisum sativum) (ha̋rli) and home gardening.
• The major source of food for the Pyrans comes from the reindeer. The reindeer are a source of meat and the milk is used for making cheese (tų̋ro) and butter (ȝɔ̋lo).
• Several types of cheese are made. If rennet (bardo) is not available, vinegar (sų̋rt̬i) is used to curdle the milk. The butter is clarified to make it imperishable.
• In their home gardens they grow, among other things, the fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) (maðűrki) and the horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) (tőrbi) which characterize Pyran cuisine.
• Rye (Secale cereale) (rűgi) is grown on communal land. Everyone lends a hand to care for the crop and the produce is divided among all the families. Every da̋bo has a communal threshing floor (alą̋ɱo). The floor is covered with clay tiles and surrounded by a low stone wall. The threshing is done with a threshing sledge (pisnőrto) pulled by a team of reindeer.
• At a distance from the da̋bo, toward the river, is the mill (molde̋mo). Taking advantage of the river current, an acequia (meþȝa̋mo), lined with clay tiles, is dug to power the water wheel (ąmre̋þo) which then turns the millstone (moltą̋ino).
• Everyone has at least one sloe tree (Prunus spinosa) (ṡőfi) on his property, the creamy white blossoms of which beautify the da̋bo streets in the spring. The berries are used to make jam (ṡofȝų̋to), or are dried and pickled (sąlṡőfo); the juice is fermented into a liqueur (ṡőfṭąþsőgo).

The Hydorans

• There is very little food production among the Hydorans. Most of what they eat is provided by nature.
• The primary source of the Hydorans’ protein is what they catch in the water: fish, frogs, crayfish, eels to name a few. These are eaten either raw or grilled over peat or wood. Fish are caught with either hook and line or in nets woven from cattail fibers or leaves. If the lake on which they live is large enough, they often fish from some type of water craft. Their otter companions also do some fishing for them.
• Cooking is the only food processing in which the Hydorans engage.
• Much of the Hydoran culture revolves around the cattail (Typha latifolia) (kűrði). As food from bottom to top:
  • The roots are cooked and eaten like potatoes, or they may be crushed and boiled to make a sweet syrup, or they are ground into a powder and used like flour (although there is no gluten). They are harvested when the weather becomes cold and they are richest in starch.
  • The young shoots and stems can be eaten raw or cooked rather like asparagus.
  • The immature spike can be cooked or eaten raw rather like corn on the cob.
  • The seed also can be eaten either raw or cooked or pressed to yield its oil in which the Hydorans do their frying.
  • The pollen can be eaten.
• Other water plants harvested in the wild are a food source for the Hydorans. Watercress (Nasturtium officinale) (nerɱa̋ti) and water mint (Mentha aquatica) (hurƶe̋li) are the characteristic spices in Hydoran cuisine. And the cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccus) (kite̋ṁi) is used as is, but sweetened, or to make a fermented wine.

The Humans

• The horse is the center of the Human culture and, on occasion, horsemeat is eaten. However, most of the protein in their diet is obtained from wild game. Smaller game, such as antelope, is hunted on horseback with eagles. Larger game, such as aurochs and giant deer, is also hunted on horseback, but with bow and arrow.
• Lentils (Lens culinaris) (le̋nti) are grown in gardens around the ce̋iɱo and tended by the women.
• The corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas) (mą̋ki) grows wild on the steppes and the seeds are harvested in the fall. The seeds are used to flavor their cuisine or are ground for their oil. The leaves are not eaten since it is more important to await the seeds. The petals also produce a flavored syrup.
• The cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera) (arha̋ni) grows along the rivers that flow through the steppes. In the fall the fruit is picked and either eaten raw or made into jam. The juice is made into a fermented beverage.
• Wild basil (Ocimum basilicum) (tula̋si) is grown in the family gardens and used to flavor Human cuisine. It is dried and thus made available throughout the winter. If the harvest is plentiful enough, the leaves can be cooked and served like spinach.

The Xylans

• The Xylans eat much of their food raw although, given enough time and desire, they do sometimes cook their food.
• The Xylans are vegetarians and eat various kinds of nuts, especially the acorn (me̋ðto), as their primary source of protein. The bitter taste of acorns, due to tannins, does not bother the Xylans and they seldom leach the acorns. The time necessary to leach the acorns also interferes with their roving life style.
• A number of wild fruits are available in the forests, but the Xylans are partial to the wild cherry (Prunus avium) (cerműsi). The sap yields an edible gum, but the Xylans would not wound the bark to obtain it, gathering it only from trees naturally wounded.
• The Xylans enjoy chewing wild angelica (Angelica sylvestris) (če̋nði) for its licorice-like flavor.

The Lithans

• The specialized food production for the Ethrans consists of the cultivation of hemp (Cannibis sativa) (kana̋pi) on their valley floors and in terraces and of mushrooms (šőmbi) in their caves.
• Their main source of protein is mushrooms, many varieties of which they grow in their mountain caves.
• A supplementary source of protein is wild game. With the help of their dogs, the Lithans hunt small game such as rabbits, hares, and groundhogs. They also eat yak and tur meat when the animals are too old or injured to be of value to the family. The slaughter of one of these domesticated animals is the occasion for a community-wide feast, such as a wedding.
• Apple trees (Malus sylvestris) (abe̋li) are grown in their valleys for their fruit which is made into jams or pureed, baked in pies, or made into juice or cider. The five-petaled white blossoms are made into an infusion for drinking.
• In their gardens they grow sweet violets (Viola odorata) (ṡűmi) and capers (Capparis spinosa) (gőȝi) to flavor their cuisine.

Cloth production – ǫrsa̋ṡo

• All six of the Loquent Peoples have the skill, at varying levels, to make cloth. With the exception of the Xylans, they know how to ret fibers and weave cloth. Each of them has chosen a particular material out of which they manufacture material for clothing and other purposes.

The Ethrans

• The Ethrans grow flax (Linum usitatissimum) (lı̋ni) and use the fibers to make linen (lı̋no). The production of linen is labor intensive and, of the 720 ministers residing at a citadel, most are employed in the production of linen: planting, harvesting, winnowing (the seeds are valuable), retting, scutching, heckling, spinning, weaving, and dyeing. Retting is the loosening of the fibers from the stalks by soaking. Field retting is used as it produces a higher quality of flax than pond or stream retting; the soaking is produced by dew. Scutching is the removal of the fibers from the stalks. Heckling is combing out the short fibers leaving behind the long soft fibers.
• In every citadel, along with other utility buildings, are a loom shop (ordődo) in which are several looms, a spinning shop (pendődo), and a dyeing shop (tęrdődo).
• At each citadel there is also a modest leather industry. Leather does not wear out as fast as linen so not that much is required. Ethran leather is made from pterhippus hide. Again, there are sheds for tanning (ȝoðdődo) and dyeing the leather.

The Pyrans

• The Pyrans weave reindeer hair for wool. They make leather out of reindeer hide.

The Hydorans

• The Hydorans grow cattails (Typha latifolia) and use the fibers for cloth.

The Humans

• The Humans weave horsehair for wool. They make leather out of horsehide.

The Xylans

• The Xylans make a felt out of the horsehoof fungus (Fomes formentaria) (fugšőmbi). They weave their utility belts out of wythes.

The Lithans

• The Lithans grow hemp (Cannabis sativa) (kana̋pi) and use the fibers for cloth. They weave yak hair for woolen garments and make yak leather, both “fur on” and “fur off”.
• They also use hemp fibers to make cordage, which is an important trade item.

Colors – tę̋ros

• In the Senjecan analysis of colors, there are six primary colors
  • re̋uði, red 620-780 nm.
  • vı̋mi, orange 585-620 nm.
  • xűli, yellow 570-585 nm.
  • ða̋li, green 490-570 nm.
  • hǫ̋xi, blue 420-490 nm.
  • ɱı̋ȝi, purple 400-420 nm.
• There are also six intermediate colors
  • se̋ti, reddish-orange
  • ṡų̋iri, orangish-yellow
  • he̋lɱi, yellowish-green
  • sı̋ni, greenish-blue
  • me̋hi, bluish-purple
  • őrbi, purplish-red
• There is also a name for brown, ba̋di.
• In addition, each of these twelve colors can be modified by two degrees of lightness, łįð- and pel-, and two degrees of darkness, mel- and kąl-. Taking red as an example, there are then five shades of red, from lightest to darkest: pelre̋uði, łįðre̋uði, re̋uði, melre̋uði, and kąlre̋uði.
• There are also the achromatic colors of pa̋ȝi, dull white; ȝą̋xi, shining white; bőri, gray; kőni, dull black; and šőrdi, shining black. White and black are absolute, but gray can be modified in the same way as the chromatic colors.
• There are also a few suppletive words for color
  • k̬e̋rmi - crimson
  • ṅőli - pink
  • tę̋ni - golden brown
  • ża̋ni - light yellow
  • ẋų̋ri - auburn

Taxonomy – lezsą̋ra

• The Ethrans described each living being as belonging to a group consisting of six different levels. The Ethrans thought to name the taxonomic levels after the levels of human kinship. Each species is given two names in the same way as each loquent individual is given two names, a family name (patronymic) and an individual name. These two names correspond to the contemporary use of genus and species.
• The highest level simply divides living beings into the broad categories of animal (ta̋sa) and plant (mų̋la). Note that these levels throughout are merely the names of the concrete objects (which end in –o) placed in the abstract –a declension.
• The six levels to which the individual (še̋da, species) belongs, in descending order and using Homo sapiens as an illustration, are
  • 6. le̋uða (phylum) < le̋uðu, people (Chordata)
  • 5. da̋ma (class) < da̋mu, tribe (Mammalia)
  • 4. űka (order) < űku, clan (Primates)
  • 3. ðą̋ma (family) < ðą̋mu, family (Hominidae)
  • 2. őrpa (tribe) < őrpu, cousin (Hominini)
  • 1. ȝǫ̋ra (genus) < ȝǫ̋ru, sibling (Homo)
• The highest level would be that of Kingdom, in this case Animalia, ta̋sa < ta̋se, animal.
• A more detailed taxonomic list would add a "super-" (up-) and a "sub-" (ner-) to each one. Thus a more complete taxonomic list would look like this:

kingdom	ta̋sa/mų̋la
superphylum	ufle̋uða
phylum/division	le̋uða
subphylum	nerle̋uða
class	da̋ma
subclass	nerda̋ma
infraclass	lųðda̋ma
superorder	űka
order	űka
suborder	nerűka
infraorder	lųðűka
superfamily	ufðą̋ma
family	ðą̋ma
subfamily	nerðą̋ma
tribe	őrpa
genus	ȝǫ̋ra
subgenus	nerȝǫ̋ra
species	šę̋da
subspecies	neršę̋da