Random questions.

[death-mountain.livejournal.com]

So, the other day I came up some questions off the top of my head.
-When you wake up in the morning, how does that work? Do you all wake at once, or one by one?
-Are any of your system members bilingual, or speak a language other than English and no English at all?
-How often do new members show up, or make themselves known?
-When one member is sick, or the body is sick, does everyone else get sick too?
If even a few people would care to satisfy my curiosity, I'd appreciate it. ^_^

Comments

[asterism.livejournal.com]

- Some of us maintain a schedule that follows that of the body. One member in particular has adopted a more noctural schedule and tends to be awake when most others (including the body) are sleeping. Fortunately she's pretty courteous about that, though she does seem confused as to why we waste the night by sleeping through it.

- A few have other languages. One speaks Mandarin as well as English, but in headspace it tends to mentally translate anyway (and she has the ability to back up that mental translation). The main frontrunner does not speak Mandarin, and the body does not have the memory or practice in forming Mandarin sounds, so when she fronts, she can't speak it, and she has severe difficulty in typing it, as well. Another member has a language that is visually based (her species is bioluminescent) and creates meaning based on speed, intensity, rate, color, and position of photophores, combined with body language and possibly a small telepathic component as well. She has a very difficult time with English and needs help in typed communication.

- Interesting question. We're relatively recently realized, so the rate of introduction is probably higher than for an established system. We're rather small, however.

- Sickness tends to affect anyone close to the front. The frontrunner feels it the most and anyone who spends much time close to the front will feel some of the effects, too. Those with limited connection to the body and to the front don't seem to be bothered by it. Some who do come closer to front will avoid it during sickness.

[lb-lee.livejournal.com]

Another member has a language that is visually based (her species is bioluminescent) and creates meaning based on speed, intensity, rate, color, and position of photophores, combined with body language and possibly a small telepathic component as well.

This post is just bringing out all sorts of language-geek joy in us. Don't suppose you could elucidate a little more on her visual language, do you? That stuff is just all kinds of nifty to us.

Using her icon, but it's someone else typing.

[asterism.livejournal.com]

It's a bit difficult to explain in words, in text, because it is such a visual component. Even the researchers who created her species had no idea that their creations would be sentient, let alone have a language.

It takes the basis of mammalian body language (ear position, teeth, posture, movements) and accents them with the lights, creating subtle differences in meaning and tone depending on, say, if the lights are blinking fast or slow, how bright they are, which lights are being used. It's incredibly complex, and for those of us who don't speak crazy lightflashy language (which is essentially all of us...the deeper meanings are known only to her kind, since they require that specific mindset of being luminé to understand), she appears to have limited telepathy that can enforce the meaning on receptive minds. It's like the difference between cave paintings and Renaissance art in the ability to convey meaning and detail.

This is all inside, of course. Outside, very little to none of it translates. She will attempt to adapt her body language into the body, but can't exactly lay back her ears or flex her tail. :P But she does react in interesting ways to light shows. Christmas was a fun time. And at a dance? Hoo-boy. It's like a stimulus overload, like a drug high. We're a bit afraid of what an all-out rave might do to her.

Re: Using her icon, but it's someone else typing.

[lb-lee.livejournal.com]

That sounds amazing to watch, and beautiful is a really different way. Though I admit that when you said she had difficulty adapting Outside, one of us immediately cried, "Glow sticks! Give her glow sticks!" Even though this likely wouldn't work, because you can't turn them on and off.

Re: Using her icon, but it's someone else typing.

[asterism.livejournal.com]

She. Loves. Glowsticks. You have no idea.

And yes, it isn't quite the same, but she loves them anyway.

Re: Using her icon, but it's someone else typing.

[lb-lee.livejournal.com]

*has a delightful mental image of mass glowstick waving* Maybe you can work out a Glow Stick Morse Code, or wrap her in Christmas lights one day, if you think she might enjoy it.