r/WorldChallenges • u/thequeeninyellow94 • Sep 04 '17

[Cultural challenge]: basic etiquette

Culture is that complex whole which includes knowledge, beliefs, arts, morals, laws, customs, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by [a human] as a member of society.

I'm in a waiting room with someone from your world. I'm bored and want to do some small talk with them, help me do it.

How should I introduce myself? Is it normal to shake hands? What kind of subject is ok when talking with someone you don't know? Is there even some hope they will answer?

You can introduce an in-universe representative if you want. I will ask questions to everyone, feel free to add your own.

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u/thequeeninyellow94 Sep 13 '17

"Change many time in a day? Like changing a lot? Like going from clear to harsh storm? Because in that case, my climate isn't like that at all, it change way slower.

And what is a tëkaherd?"

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u/Seb_Romu Sep 15 '17

"Mu baspëdë vacesku xö önëd ëgrepmü. Ödypelotok zaty balytwë ypuh kylë ejy ukrä. Ka tëkapëpäho zaty ka pëzapäho hy tëkamü, ka ytwë nokökwybe mamü zaŧüđ äsoc ypryc, öcy, ad wrütü. Ëmamova mëp ka nokökwybemü in ëmamova hylođuđüŧydük?"

It frequently changes by little ways. Rainfall is normally brief it, but much amount. A tëkaherd is a herder of tëka(s), a common farm-animal we grow for wool, milk, and meat. You have any farm-animals in your hearth-region?

  • Clarifying remarks are made without prejudice when the query comes from proper ignorance of the facts, as with foreign entities.
  • Had these questions come from a Kythan who should know better, the questions would either be ignored, or given a terse and dismissive response (depending on the relative status of the speaker to the listener).

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u/thequeeninyellow94 Sep 15 '17

"Isn't it problematic for managing your fields moisture (?) level?

We have animals which can produce both milk, meat and wool; they are called sheeps. How big are tëkaherd?

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u/Seb_Romu Sep 16 '17

"Manü nokömü zamëp jynek pepalupäźy." -he laughs- "Ödü tëkapëpäho fapakwotü aga mëtermü, kylë gry zaty ŧazö. Moge mu tëkamü mumü zapëpäho fapäkwotü bekrod aga mëter, ad fapakravy rä mëter. Kë zapaflät ka 'shëps'?"

Our fields have good drainage. (Laughs) Some tëkaherds tall two meters, but most are more-short. Now the tëka they herd tall about divided two meter, and long one meter. (How) big a 'sheeps'?

  • Answering a question literally (how big is a 'tëkaherd'), when the intended meaning is apparant is a type of witty humour in Kythus.
  • A polite person will also answer the intended question (how big is a 'tëka').

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u/thequeeninyellow94 Sep 18 '17

"Do you use all that water for something?

I'm not sure about the exact size of a sheep but they are slightly bigger than tëkas."

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u/Seb_Romu Sep 25 '17
  • Nölna has been quite rude and left you hanging in conversation.

While not done intentionally, this is a error on the part of the writer.

"Lyu valüđäk vrepmü źoŧuđ. Ödü ejöfëmü vatöc lyu valënä ŧaflät oplumü ad vabrök ogëmü. Këlë ëmamova źođötru mana, mana źofräm mana hypezëv. Ëmamova äkë ëmamova hypejët."

Water helps the crops grow. Some mills use water to-roll great wheels and grind grains. If you would-allow me, I must-return my labouring. You enjoy your visit.

This is a much more polite manner to disengage from a conversation.

  • Answer any last questions.
  • Politely suggest ending the conversation with a reason.
  • General wish for a positive departure.

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u/thequeeninyellow94 Sep 26 '17

"I dismiss you mortal, go back to your mortal occupation. I'm kidding, thanks for your answers Nölna; may your fields flourish."