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yssida · Joined: 16 Sep 2007 Posts: 253 Location: sa jaan lang

I thought the conlang section needed a post about this, so I took the initiative.

I was just wondering how you guys' conlangs handle death and other taboos and such(which might be sex or anything else).

My language would have many words for death since it isn't really that much taboo, same with sexuality as well. I'm actually planning a culture of 'enlightened' people who will use the language, perhaps theist (with no religion) and even atheist.

How about you all's langs?
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StrangeMagic · Admin Joined: 18 Apr 2007 Posts: 640

This is my culture's reaction to Death

Air

They are buried in clearings near the sacred tree. The more important and honoured you are the closer to the tree you are buried. They are buried together even if they came from warring tribes to show that they are the same species. The head always faces the tree so that the bird soul finds its way to the tree.

Water

The deceased one and their family and friends go down the river if they are close to the sea. The friends and family go on one raft whilst the deceased one is on the other. When they reach the mouth of the river, they burn the raft and cut the rope that attached it. They send the raft to the ocean to symbolise that the dead rejoin the sea, they wave goodbye.

Land

The dead are buried next to a tree. They will say ‘This creature we return to the Earth where s/he once came.” They celebrate their life and give presents to the family.

langover94 · Joined: 21 Aug 2007 Posts: 509 Location: USA

as for my main conlang, there are simply words. there really is no case for "taboo words", they would just be said normally.
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Tolkien_Freak · Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 7:30 pm Post subject:

Same as Langover's.

StrangeMagic · Admin Joined: 18 Apr 2007 Posts: 640

Did I misunderstand your question?

Re-reading it makes more sense now, mine is more about conculture. And if there are taboo subjects, they would just be wispered but they are not special in any way.

eldin raigmore · Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 8:26 pm Post subject:

For my conlang Adpihi, I have the same answer as langover94 and Tolkien_Freak.
There were no taboos that were widespread or recognized outside groups that were small compared to society-at-large, until after the most recent (and only World) War. At that time certain kinds of religious intolerance became illegal and "politically incorrect"; so maybe there'll be some new "taboos", I haven't decided yet.

For my conculture Adpihi, I'm afraid I just haven't decided yet.

My conlang Reptigan will be diachronically a daughter-language of Adpihi, so it may inherit whatever "taboos" Adpihi has, or may not. The conculture of Reptigan will be multi-planet, interstellar, and interspecies, so any customs of death will be probably unique both to the species and to the planet they live on.

Wombat · Joined: 18 Jun 2009 Posts: 11

In the conlang, to die, the verb, is always presented in not-future tense.
In the conculture, a dead body is not buried. Ever. They are given, depending on the culture, a burial at sea or a "sky burial". A pillar is build of wood, maybe between 50 and 60 feet, and their body is put on top of it. As a result, you have graveyards that resemble forests, hollow leafless forests.
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eldin raigmore · Posted: Tue Jun 23, 2009 5:12 pm Post subject:

Wouldn't a tribe "at war" with a nearby other tribe, usually eat their own dead rather than allow the enemy to find out about it? Especially, rather than let the enemy eat them?
Exceptions might be made for certain sicknesses, if they could figure out which were contagious, or sometimes for death by poison. But even then they might want to conceal the death from the enemy.
Unless they're stronger than "the enemy" and want them to know they'll be out for revenge.
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killerken · Joined: 30 Sep 2008 Posts: 134 Location: Florida

I believe the ancient Britons "buried" their dead atop poles. I forget why, though.
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Kiri · Joined: 13 Jun 2009 Posts: 471 Location: Latvia/Italy

Baldash · Joined: 19 May 2009 Posts: 86 Location: Sweden

I would say the same as langover94 and Tolkien_Freak and eldin raigmore. There are no taboos. The speakers favor in fact the naked truth more so than in the Western culture. Lying even in small things is considered immoral, and circumlocutions are usually considered a waste of time.

This is three perfectly natural conversations:

-Do you want to stay for dinner?
-No, I'm going home. I'm hungry and your food tastes shit.
-Okay. See you later!

-Do you want to stay for dinner?
-No. I'm going home to have sex with my wife.
-Okay. Have fun!

-Do you want to stay for dinner?
-No.
-Okay. See you later!

In none of these the inviter will feel offended.

But this, which might be preferred in Western culture, is not accepted in my culture:

-Do you want to stay for dinner?
-No <insert bad excuse here>
-Okay.

achemel · Joined: 29 Mar 2009 Posts: 556 Location: up for debate

I like that. We should find a way to spread it over the world so people can be more honest with each other. (^_^) Though, I suppose you could be a bit too honest *cough* but it'd be for the better I'm sure. Razz

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eldin raigmore · Posted: Tue Jul 07, 2009 6:34 pm Post subject:

Baldash · Joined: 19 May 2009 Posts: 86 Location: Sweden