Paelian/Language

			Memory 118

For a long time there was not a single language identifiable as the Paelian language but several ones. Since the introduction of warp-drive to the Paelian peoples one these languages has emerged to a language understood by all Paelians. Most of the other languages degenerated to mere dialects of the Paelian "lingua franca". The language that became accepted had no name of its own since Paelians didn't find names for their peoples. All names ever used for language mean translated nothing else but "language".

Paelian language includes a by far higher use of vocals than in many other languages. Vocals are regarded as the more pleasant sounds while consonants are a necessary evil. As a rule most Paelian words never place another consonant after a consonant. At the same time vocals are following other vocals quite often. There are a few words, though, that use consonants following consonants. Expletives and insults for example.

An important aspect of Paelian language is that it completely lacks grammatical genders. In fact no Paelian language ever came up with this idea. Since no genders exist in the Paelian society, Paelians don't understand the necessetiy of grammatical genders at all. Instead they seperate between things and human beings. If Paelians are speaking of other persons, they will simply call them by names and don't have pronouns. If speaking of items, they can use a pronoun for it. Technically this seperation between Paelian beings and things is the closest to a grammatical gender.

Due to Paelian nature of sharing their goods with everybody and only believing in a very limited way into possession - as in case of art for example - their language doesn't provide possessive pronouns or a genitive case. In special cases - like explaining someone's degree of kinship - they would use a case similar to Human dative. However there are Paelian subcultures instinctively not using these forms either because they do think that e.g. the phrase "the husband of" includes the thought of one partner possessing another. To all Paelians this thought is absurd of course but some use this phrase to make clear who is in a partnership with whom.

The three main dialects are Nemean, Neran and Paelian. They differ when it comes to pronounciation, certain words but in general communication between the three of them works quite good.

Neran dialect

Paelian	English	Meaning
Asay(pronounced æsaj)	-	Question tag
Eilibio (pronounced eɪlɪbɪo)	Paper	Eilibioa is a thin paper-like material made from a plant on Nera. It's blue-coloured.
Halayao (pronounced hɑlajao)	Bed/ Bathtub	Sohn Stephans II.
Yasas (pronounced jasas)	-	Positive answer towards a question tag
Moy (pronounced mɔʏ	Well	This word can basically mean anything and nothing. If used without additive words it's similar to the English "well", the French "alors" or the German "also".
Moy atalomo (pronounced mɔʏ ætɔlomo)	-	The word "atalomo" is turning the word "moy" a positive reply.
Moy sideov (pronounced mɔʏ sideɔf)	-	The word "sideov" is added to moy to represent disappointment or sadness.
Moy nanao (pronounced mɔʏ nanao)	-	The word "naono" adds an expression of amazement, astonishment, surprise or confusion to the word "moy". In most cases, it can be considered like "wow".
Moy, moy, moy (pronounced mɔʏ, mɔʏ, mɔʏ)	-	Just like "moy" generally can mean anything, this expression can be used to mark very much joy, a huge surprise but also savere sadness and many other extreme feelings.

Body languages

Paelian body language differs highly from that of other humanoid species. Their anatomy allows them gestures and facial expressions impossible for other species but also prohibits them from some. Just like their languages, all three homeplanets have constructed their own body languages, too.

Neran gestures and facial expressions

Gesture/ Facial expression	Meaning
Blinking eyes	Since Paelians naturally don't blink, opening and closing eyes is a indication for a high level of stress (although the very opposite can happen to: Eyes staying widely open). It appears oftenly in combination with shaking one's head and breathing fast. In this case it would indicate that the Paelian is 'crying'. Physical and mental pain both can be cause to this reaction which is hard to control.
Bloating	Paelians can bloat their neck (especially the "soft" part where the carotid artery and the throat are; not the part around the spine). When a Paelian bloats the neck/throat, it basically looks like a frog's vocal sac but smaller. It is also seperated by the ridge which is situated vertically upon a Paelian's body.
Bluesh	Almost like blushing, Paelians "bluesh", which means that their faces become blue instead of red (due to the color of their blood). The word was made up by the Starfleet Captain that was present at first contact with the Paelians. It is used by others to describe Paelians blushing ever since.
Cheek-rub	The gesture roughly translated as cheek-rub is a gesture of trust and relatedness. As a romantic or erotic gesture it was initially used by Paelians that were unable to kiss non-Paelians (mostly Humans demanding that) due to their toxic salvia. When those aliens demanded an alternative gesture, many Paelians started to use the cheeck-rub. In the long run, the original meaning of the gesture was forgotten and its meaning changed amongst Paelians, too.
Closing eyes	This is a gesture oftenly considered equal to human sighing. It can be used to stress relief, sorrow or pity. But the similarity between the two gestures goes even further. Just like humans don't need to sigh, Paelians do not need to blink either. They close their eyes only to sleep.
Covering torso	Like most Humanoid species, Paelians instinctively try to cover their vitally important organs assembled at the torso when they feel threatened. It takes a lot of training to lose this instinctive behaviour.
Ducking head	Like most Humanoid species, Paelians instinctively try to duck their head when they feel threatened. Although ducking the head limits the field of view very much, it can save the head and thus the brain from injury. It takes a lot of training to lose this instinctive behaviour.
Fast Breathing	Increased frequency of breath might show exhaustion. But in company of blinking eyes and shaking one's head, this resembles the Paelian version of 'crying'. It can be caused by mental or physical pain and is hard to control.
Kissing	Kissing has originally never been a Paelian gesture but was slowly becoming a part of their body language when Terranisation took place (after First Contact and establishing a membership in the Federation). However, Paelians can only kiss each other. Kissing someone not belonging to their species might kill the other one due to the toxic salvia of Paelians. A species with mucous membranes as robust as Paelian ones might be able to kiss a Paelian, though. However, they would need to make sure before that their spittles don't react with each other.
Loosening/Stiffening the neck	Paelians can also simply make their throat/neck appear stiff, loose or waving. They have very much control of their skin at this area, far more control than they have of their facial expressions. Basically you can say: The stiffer the neck, the less open/ happy/ good/ etc. is the Paelian's mood. The looser, the better/ more comfortable/ accepted/ welcome/ etc. the Paelian feels.
Nodding	Paelians nod to greet other people. 5 times is very impolite, 4 or 6 times is okay when greeting foreigners, 3 or 7 are used to greet superiors or authorities (but also to show respect), 2 or 8 is a greeting for friends and colleagues as well as subordinates, 1 or 9 times is reserved for close friends. As one can imagine, the long-lasting greetings are used rarely; mostly at very, very formal occasions. Beloved ones like husband or wife or life-long friends are not greeted with a nodding but by some kind of body contact (some Paelian subcultures have adopted shaking hands or hugging each other from humans as their greetings; there are also other native Paelian greetings).
Rubbing someone's cheek	The gesture roughly translated as cheek-rub is a very traditional gesture of trust and relatedness. As a romantic or erotic gesture it was initially used by Paelians that were unable to kiss non-Paelians (mostly Humans demanding that) due to their toxic salvia. When those aliens demanded an alternative gesture, many Paelians started to use the cheeck-rub. In the long run, the original meaning of the gesture was forgotten and its meaning changed amongst Paelians, too.
Shaking head	General expression of confusion. It resembles the Human gesture of shrugging one's shoulders. It is used oftenly in combination with the Paelian word Moy in a tone that illustrates confusion (Humans and other peoples might not notice the tone that is exclusively for confusion because it is very close to the speaker's normal voice.). In combination with fast breathing and blinking eyes, this gesture would indicate that the Paelian is 'crying'. Physical and mental pain both can be cause to this reaction which is hard to control.
Smiling	"Smiling" is an expression of seriousness. It looks very similar to the human expression but is used seldomly by Paelian. Paelians in general are rather looking at someones neck/throat than his face to look for expressions.
Stiffening/Loosening	Paelians can also simply make their throat/neck appear stiff, loose or waving. They have very much control of their skin at this area, far more control than they have of their facial expressions. Basically one can say: The stiffer the neck, the less open/ happy/ good/ etc. is the Paelian's mood. The looser, the better/ more comfortable/ accepted/ welcome/ etc. the Paelian feels.
Tipping at someone's shoulder	Since Paelians from Nera are very reluctant towards body contact, it is a very special gesture to tip a Paelian's shoulder. A Paelian would touch with his/her right hand (or some fingers of the hand, depending on the place of birth) the left shoulder or reversed. If done correctly, it can be regarded as a gesture of great gratitude. If done wrongly, it can be considered very rude. A social code defining if this gesture is used only amongst friends or could also be used to thank strangers was never established. Therefore this gesture causes misunderstandings from time to time. Another problem with this gesture is that it has stayed unclear how to respond. In some communities on Nera and elswhere people just wave their neck to "accept" this gesture, in others they return the gesture (in some regions Paelians would tip the shoulder they were were tipped at; at others the reversed one).
Vibrating	If Bloating is often said to be a Paelian laughing, the waving of the neck's skin and vibrating are often interpreted as grinning. There are at least as many varieties of waving/vibrating the neck as there are smiles. Sometimes the meaning varies a bit like human smiles vary in its meaning (which does not mean, that the variety of meanings is the same).
Waving	If Bloating is often said to be a Paelian laughing, the waving of the neck's skin and vibrating are often interpreted as grinning. There are at least as many varieties of waving/vibrating the neck as there are smiles. Sometimes the meaning varies a bit like human smiles vary in its meaning (which does not mean, that the variety of meanings is the same).