User:Dial/SandboxII: Difference between revisions

 

Blinking - Since Bolians 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 Bolian is 'crying'. Physical and mental pain both can be cause to this reaction which is hard to control.

 

Bloating - Bolians can bloat their neck (especially the "soft" part where the carotid artery and the throat are; not the part above the neck where the spine is). When a Bolian bloats its 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 Bolian's body.

 

Bluesh - Almost like blushing, Bolians "bluesh", they blush but instead of their faces becoming red they get blue (which is the color of their blood). This is used by me to describe Dial. She or any other char should not use this word. Its most important use is to remind readers that Bolians get blue, not red.

 

Cheek-rub - 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 Bolians that were unable to kiss non-Bolians (mostly Humans demanding that) due to their toxic salvia. When those aliens demanded an alternative gesture, many Bolians started to use the cheeck-rub. In the long run, the original meaning of the gesture was forgotten and its meaning changed amongst Bolians, 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, Bolians do not need to blink either. They close their eyes only to sleep.

 

Covering torso - Like most Humanoid species, Bolians instinctively try to cover their vitally important organs assembled at the torso when they feel threatened. It takes a lot of training to lose those instinctive behaviour.

 

Ducking head - Like most Humanoid species, Bolians 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 those 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 Bolian version of 'crying'. It can be caused by mental or physical pain and is hard to control.

 

Kissing - Kissing has originally never been a Bolian 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, Bolians can only kiss each other. Kissing someone not belonging to their species might kill the other one due to the toxic salvia of Bolians. A species with mucous membranes as robust as Bolian ones might be able to kiss a Bolian, though. However, they would need to make sure before that their spittles don't react with each other.

 

Loosening/Stiffening the neck - Bolians 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 Bolian's mood. The looser, the better/ more comfortable/ accepted/ welcome/ etc. the Bolian feels.

 

Nodding - Bolians 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 you 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 Bolian subcultures have adopted shaking hands or hugging each other from humans as their greetings; there are also other native Bolian 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 Bolians that were unable to kiss non-Bolians (mostly Humans demanding that) due to their toxic salvia. When those aliens demanded an alternative gesture, many Bolians started to use the cheeck-rub. In the long run, the original meaning of the gesture was forgotten and its meaning changed amongst Bolians, 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 Bolian 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 Bolian 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 Bolians. Bolians in general are rather looking at someones neck/throat than his face to look for expressions.

 

Stiffening/Loosening - Bolians 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 Bolian's mood. The looser, the better/ more comfortable/ accepted/ welcome/ etc. the Bolian feels.

 

Tipping at someone's shoulder - Since Bolians from Bolias are very reluctant towards body contact, it is a very special gesture to tip a Bolian's shoulder. A Bolian 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 Bolias and elswhere people just wave their neck to "accept" this gesture, in others they return the gesture (in some regions Bolians would tip the shoulder they were were tipped at; at others the reversed one).

 

Vibrating - If Bloating is often said to be a Bolian 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 Bolian 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).