Liaden Tenets

House

House excerpts

House is an important aspect of the Liaden culture. The Clans are ranked and listed in Book of Clans as high house, mid house or low. Numerous Liaden greetings and phrases included the word house, but always beginning in uppercase - House - if in fact, used with specificity. Such a House is referred to as if a character in its own right. This may possibly be even more true of named houses, such as Jelaza Kazone, Trealla Fantrol, Glavda Empri Clan Justus, etc.

House excerpts

Val Con said gravely. “The solicitude of the House gives gladness.”

“We offer thanks for the grace and care the House has shown us.”

“It is the House’s honor,” the old woman said into the silence, “to guest its ancient ally and friend.”

"Delm Nexon," Petrella said from her chair. "Be welcome in our House."

“all honor due the House”

Val Con was going to give him honored guest of the House, so that’s what she bowed, too, right in sync with him. “Uncle. Be welcome in our House,” Val Con said in the High Liaden mode of delm-to-guest-of-the-House. “Peace upon it,” came the reply, which wasn’t one of the several Miri knew to be rote in the situation, though the Uncle said it like it was rote.

“I have the pleasant duty of informing Captain Waitley, my sister, that her room has been made ready for her, and that the House rejoices at her return.”

“The House has made a suite available to crew members.”

“It would shame the House,” Jeeves said softly, “to have you drive yourself, bereft of security.”

“The House,” Syl Vor said quickly...“The House keeps you safe.”

Luck

See main page the Luck

Balance

• see Balance
• and see Liad — the sociocultural section : Liad#Sociocultural Complexities

The Liaden Code of Proper Conduct

See The Code

Popular Books and Publications

Book of Clans

• The Book of Clans (see The Clans) derived from the Annual Census of Clans
• The Liaden Book of Dragons (see Clan Korval
• The Liaden Code of Proper Conduct: see The Code
• Pilots Guild Handbook (see Pilot Lore)
• the Liaden Scouts World Book (see The Scouts)
• The condensed Space Law
• The revised ven’Tura Tables (see Pilot Lore#Navigational History, and see Aelliana Caylon)
• A Terran’s Guide to Liad (written by Terrans)
• Terran Trading — TerraTrade manuals (if one must deal with the Terran barbarians)

Melant'i

• see melant'i

and see Liad — the sociocultural section : Liad#Sociocultural Complexities

Council of Clans

Governing body for The Clans of Liad and Liaden Worlds. See Council of Clans

• holds the contract which binds Korval to stand as Captain to all passengers
• The Council has been tainted by The Department of the Interior

Number Twelve

Theory Base-12

Theory: Liadens may employ a base-12 numbering system. A dozenal system. They use twelve in countdowns, in the calendar (12 days in a week), in monetary units, in daily life, etc. This is not stated in the texts, yet by inference the number twelve is at least important.

"Eighteen was not a marker year— not like twelve or, indeed, thirty-five— but…”

"There were perhaps a double-dexon— twice a dozen dozen— of Master Traders in all the galaxy."

"leasing them to the Moneyers Guild in twelve-year renewals"

"counted to twelve twelve times"

"his eyes closed for perhaps the count of twelve"

“twelve dozen times more worthy!”

"here were twelves of twelves of them"

"a twelve-sided cameo"

"Syl Vor!" Quin hissed. "Count of twelve!"

"the twelve-day of grief specified in the Code"

"twelve times a wretch”

“At minus twelve seconds we start powerdown.”

“We break Jump within the twelve”

"The weapons came up, the shields went down, the screens went gray, the timer reset itself and began counting down from twelve. . . . eleven . . . ten . . . Spiral Dance shivered."

“Anyone who wishes to place their hand against the Tree’s bark may do so now,” Val Con yos’Phelium said inside the gate. “Please make haste, for if your bus has not cleared our drive within the next twelve minutes, the house will call the local law-keepers and have you taken to the Whosegow.”

"Liaden Currency: 12 dex to a tor, 12 tor to a kais, 12 kais (144 tor) to a cantra"
Laiden week is twelve days, a twelve-day. "One Relumma is equal to 8 twelve-day weeks"

Qe'andra

The job description encompasses account, lawyer, asset and contract manager, record keeping, and all else a qe’andra may do as a clan’s or a person’s man or woman of business. Negotiating contracts is one of their main duties.

The qe’andra are organized in the Accountant’s Guild

An impartial qe’andra is required by guild law to be included in negotiations about disagreements.

The prefix dea' indicates a family line of business administrators, shopkeepers, solicitors, accountants, etc. Examples: Clan dea'Gauss, qe'andra to Korval, Ren Zel dea'Judan Clan Obrelt, shopkeepers; Vertu dea'San, whose clan owns a taxi business

Contract Marriage

Life-mating is rare. More common is the contract marriage— at least on Liad and Liaden Worlds. The purpose is to create a child for the clan. Most typically this is the delm’s decision.

On average, contract marriages last eighteen Standard Months, and are negotiated between clan officials who decide, after painstaking perusal of gene maps, personality charts and intelligence grids, which of several possible nuptial arrangements are most advantageous to both clans.

See Due Diligence for thorough description of a contract marriage between Chi yos'Phelium and Daav’s father, Fer Gun pen'Uldra.

excerpt, Due Diligence

Lifemating

See full details in Lifemating section at The Dramliz

• Lifemating is a serious matter, encompassing the length of the partners' lives, even if one should die. One of the pair must leave his or her clan of origin and join the clan of the lifemate. At that time the adoptive clan pays a "life-price" base on the individual's profession, age and internal value to the former clan.

Rank Rings

• The delm's ring of office is worn on the third finger of the left hand.
  • When the ring is held in trust, as Nova did for Val Con, it is worn on the second finger of the left hand.

• The thodelm's ring of office is worn on the second finger of the left hand.

• Boss Conrad‘s replica ring — his ring of office — is worn on the second finger of the left hand; the same finger that Korval-pernard'i wears the ring "in trust" for the delm. ("Just so.  Balance is owing." He slid the bogus Ring onto his left hand - onto the second finger of his left hand - and held it up to catch the sullen light.)

• A Liaden trader begins with "a modest ring of silver with four simple stone insets. He'd change the insets, one per trade world, until none were the current crystal quartz but all were changed to topaz, and from topaz, he'd move to garnet, and from garnet, to amethyst insets. The big move of course was the boldest: the large amethyst of the tested and confirmed Master Trader, in platinum or better."
  • The ring of a Master Trader bears "a single large amethyst, carved with the symbol of the Trader’s Guild".
• In the past, pilots who achieved the pinnacle of skill wore a big Jump Ring. see Pilot Lore

Mourning and Death-Rites

• A Clan in mourning ought to be closed to the world for the twelve-day of grief, as specified in the Code.
• A Delm may declare a member as dead to the Clan. While this person may still be living, the Clan will act as if he/she is dead and engage in rites of mourning. This may happen for various reasons, but normally it implies dishonorable behavior on part of the dead person, behavior or deeds that hurt the Clan's melant'i.
  • A Clan is no longer responsible for a dead person’s behavior. There is no connection any more. No Clan nor Council of Clans can balance against a Clan for a dead person's actions.
  • The dead person has to leave Clan property and can't be ordered to do anything for the former Clan. Dead persons are considered to have no melant'i. They are clanless and outside the law. Anyone may treat a dead person as he or she wishes without violating the Code or calling Balance.

Liaden Face Taboos

Emotions which Terrans express on their face, Liadens express via their speech and body movements, with bows, gestures and modes as defined in the Code.

While some of the rules regarding face apply always, there are a number of them that differ depending on the current melant'i of the interacting persons.

• It is considered polite to look at someone with whom you are conversing.
  • “I wish you will raise your head when you speak, Aelliana, and show attention to the person with whom you are conversing. One would suppose you to have less melant'i than a Terran, the way you are forever hiding your face. I can't think how you came to be so rag-mannered.”
• A polite face is expressionless, even if the wearer is undergoing powerful emotions.
  • "“chel'Mara swallowed a sharp return, preserving a courteous countenance with—some—effort.”
• Makeup is not worn and is considered crass when seen on denizens of other planets.
• Touching another's face is very intimate and only allowed between Clan members, lifemates and cha'leket.

Liaden Proverbs

• Happy is one who finds a friend on every port.
• there are more scattered across books

Liaden Bows

Bows describing the relationship of bower and bowee

These may be layered, with a single bow suggesting more than one of the relationships that exist between the people involved.

(see also: Liaden modes of speech)

• bow between adults
  • "Adult-to-Adult"
• bow between business associates
• bow between clanmembers
  • "bow between Clanmembers"
• bow between comrades
  • "the special bow made between comrades"
  • "the bow between comrades"
  • "bowed as between comrades"
• bow between equals
  • "The bow between equals"
  • "swept the bow between equals"
  • "bowed as between equals"
  • "bowed, equal to equal"
  • "bowed a polite if minimal bow of equal recognition, close enough to a Terran nod as to be indistinguishable except by one raised in an exacting house"
  • "bowed in what the Protocol module tagged as the mode between equals"
  • can be finessed: on one occasion Delm Etgora greeted Delm Korval with the bow between equals augmented with "the trader's hand-sign for 'master'", which Korval acknowledged with a bow "just short of full Equal"; on another occasion Thodelm Tiazan greeted Thodelm yos'Phelium with a bow "a shade deeper than equality of rank demanded, as if maybe Val Con had more time in grade"
• bow between kin
  • "The man bowed lightly - as between kin"
  • "The man bowed greeting between kin"
  • "bowed as kin"
  • "inclined slightly from the waist in the small bow permitted between kin"
  • "a small bow, between kin"
• bow between members of a Guild
  • "he bowed as to a fellow Guildmember"
• bows between pilots
  • "bowed, pilot-to-pilot"
  • "the heavy nod that was an acceptable Liaden greeting between pilots"
• bows between Scouts
  • "he bowed, Scout to Scout"
• bows between those in the same service
  • "bow from one who serves to another who serves"
• bows from doorkeeper to visitor
  • "the kid bowed, very careful, hand over heart, and lisped, 'Who requests entry?'"
• bows from an adult
  • "Adult to Person of Rank"
• bows from an agent
  • "bowed low, as agent to lord"
• bows from an apprentice
  • "apprentice to master"
• bows from a child
  • "child to elder"
  • "child to a favored elder"
  • "Child to Clan Elder"
  • "child to parent"
• bows from Child of the House (who may be an adult)
  • Child of the House to Honored Guest(s)
  • Child of a Delm to an Ally
  • "child-of-the-House-to-visitor"
  • "child-of-the-House-to-guest"
  • "bowed as housechild"
• bows from a clan member
  • "Clanmember to Delm"
  • "Clanmember to First Speaker"
  • "bow between Clanmembers"
• bows from a delm
  • "delm to clanmember"
  • "delm to thodelm"
  • "Delm to Child of an Ally's House"
  • "Delm to Delm"
  • "delm-to-one-not-of-the-clan"
• bows from an elder
  • "Kareen paused on the threshold long enough to incline her head - Elder to Younger"
  • "elder to young person of rank"
  • "elder to junior"
• bows from an elder sibling
  • "an elder brother's affectionate bow"
• bows from an employee
  • "employee to employer"
• bows from an employer
  • "employer to employee"
• bows from an expert
  • "expert to higher ranked generalist"
• bows from one who is greater
  • "from greater to lesser"
• bows from a guest
  • "honor to a child of the house"
  • Guest to House Child
  • "guest-to-one-of-the-House"
  • "guest-to-host, augmented with the hand-sign between kin"
• bows from junior to senior
  • "junior to senior"
  • "bow-to-senior-from-junior"
  • "bowed -- junior to master"
• bows from one who is lesser
  • "from lesser to greater"
• bows from master to student
  • "master to apprentice"
  • "master to adult student"
  • "Master to Novice"
• bows from member of the house to retainer
  • "member of the house to retainer"
• bows from oathbound to lord
  • "bowed, oathbound to lord"
• bows from oathsworn to oathholder
  • "bowed once more - oathsworn to oathholder"
• bows from one who has been invited
  • "bowed as one who has been invited"
• bows from a public servant
  • "the bow of a ranking public servant to person of unknown melant'i"
• bows from retainer to member of the house
  • "retainer to son of the house"
• bows from senior to junior
  • "senior to junior"
  • "Senior Trader to Junior"
• bows from servant to lord
  • "bowed, from servant to lord"
• bows from shopkeeper to customer
  • "a shopkeeper's bow"
• bows from a stranger
  • "Stranger to Outworlder"
• bows from a student
  • "student to mentor, thankful for advice"
  • "Student to Master"
  • "bow of student to teacher"
  • "bowed as student to honored instructor"
  • "bowing from student to instructor"
  • "student-to-master"
• bows from a subordinate
  • "subordinate to superior"
• bows from one of superior rank
  • "bowed, briefly, as one of superior rank to lesser"
• bows from a Terran
  • "bowed stiffly in the Terran mode"
• bows from a thodelm
  • "thodelm to delm"
  • "Head of Line to Delm of another Clan"
• bows from a trader
  • "trader to portmaster"
• bows from a visitor
  • "Visitor to the House"
  • "visitor-to-child-of-the-House"
• bows from younger
  • "bow from a younger to elders"
• bows to an ally
  • Child of a Delm to an Ally
• bows to the ancestors
  • "bowed [...] as one unworthy to the honored ancestors"
• bows to an apprentice
  • "master to apprentice"
• bows to authority
  • "a simple bow to ranking authority"
  • "bowed as one to the ultimate authority"
  • "honor to authority"
  • "the mode used by the most junior servant to the ultimate authority"
• bows to Child of the House
  • "Child of the House of an Ally"
  • "most honored child of the house"
  • "honor to a child of the house"
  • Guest to House Child
  • "Delm to Child of an Ally's House"
  • "visitor-to-child-of-the-House"
• bows to a delm
  • "Delm to Delm"
  • "Clanmember to Delm"
  • "thodelm to delm"
  • "Head of Line to Delm of another Clan"
• bows to an elder
  • "child to elder"
  • "child to a favored elder"
  • "Child to Clan Elder"
  • "bow of youth to age"
    • "Slowly, hands hanging loose, he performed the bow of youth to age" ... "He bent with the suppleness of a dance until his forehead brushed his knee, then unbent as slowly and stood waiting to be acknowledged."
  • "bow from a younger to elders"
• bows to the First Speaker of a clan
  • "Clanmember to First Speaker"
• bows to one who is greater
  • "from lesser to greater"
• bows to a guest
  • "honor to the guest"
  • Child of the House to Honored Guest(s)
  • "Bow to the Guest"
  • "child-of-the-House-to-guest"
  • "honored guest of the House"
  • "welcome to the guest"
• bows to a host
  • "bow to the host"
  • "guest-to-host, augmented with the hand-sign between kin"
• bows to a junior
  • "elder to junior"
• bows to one who is lesser
  • "from greater to lesser"
• bows to a lady
  • "a bow fitting to a lady's honor"
• bows to a lord
  • "bowed low, as agent to lord"
  • "to the lord of the house"
• bows to a Master
  • "Trader to Master"
  • "Honor to the Master" (from one yet a student)
  • "Student to Master"
  • "Esteem for a Master"
  • "quite a creditable bow to the master"
  • "honor-to-a-master"
  • "novice-to-master"
  • "apprentice to master"
  • "bowed -- junior to master"
  • "student-to-master"
  • "bowed to the master's honor"
• bows to a mentor
  • "student to mentor, thankful for advice"
• bows to an outworlder
  • "Stranger to Outworlder"
• "bow to the parents of one's most admired mentor"
• bows to a person of rank
  • "Adult to Person of Rank"
  • "elder to young person of rank"
  • "bow to someone of rank"
• bows to a portmaster
  • "trader to portmaster"
• bow to ranking authority
  • "a simple bow to ranking authority"
• bows to a superior
  • "subordinate to superior"
• bows to a teacher
  • "bow of student to teacher"
• bows to a thodelm
  • "Subordinate Person to Head of Line"
  • "respect to the thodelm"
  • "greeting-a-thodelm-not-one's-own" (includes a particular hand gesture)
• bows to the ultimate authority
  • "bowed as one to the ultimate authority"
• bows to a victor
  • "bowed vanquished to victor"
• bows to a visitor
  • "child-of-the-House-to-visitor"
• some kind of bow from inferior to superior, not precisely specified
  • "bowed, hand over heart, as he had seen the scout give to their captain"

Other bows

• acceptance
  • "Tan Sim's bow of acceptance"
  • "acceptance of the word of an expert"
  • "acceptance of a joint necessity"
  • "a pretty bow of thanks, and of acceptance"
  • "acceptance of a necessity"
  • "accepting necessity and challenge"
  • "The Scout bowed the acceptance of the honor"
  • "acceptance of honor given"
  • "accepting the word of one of another clan"
  • "a bow of her own, accepting his admiration"
  • "a low bow, accepting a debt too deep to repay"
  • a bow, "very deep and with flourishes", which accompanies the verbal statement "I will be the instrument of your will"
  • "acceptance of respect and recognition of the--honor, was it, of being thus acknowledged?"
  • "rose to bow acceptance"
  • "bow of accepting necessary burdens"
  • "his own bow was crisp with acceptance"
  • "bowed acceptance"
  • "grateful acceptance of the delm's word"
  • "inclined her head in the Liaden I-accept-This"
  • "a bow that she thought meant he accepted responsibility"
  • "bowed lightly, accepting her judgment in this"
  • "inclined her head at just the correct angle for a gracious acceptance of his thanks"
• accepting a challenge
  • "He bowed, formally, accepting the challenge of an equal"
• accepting a treasure
  • "bowed as one accepting a treasure"
• acknowledgment
  • a small bow of acknowledgment, used in conversation to indicate that one has taken in what the other speaker has said, appears many times throughout the series; it is not uncommonly compared or contrasted with the nod that a Terran might use for the same purpose
  • "bowed, acknowledging that he had heard her"
  • "bowed, acknowledging that he'd heard"
  • "bowed, acknowledging receipt of information"
  • "bow of acknowledgment"
  • "returned Win Ton's bow with one of acknowledgment"
  • "The gentleman inclined gravely from the waist, not so much a bow as an acknowledgment of having heard"
• acknowledgment of a concern
  • "the Scout used a bow indicating 'I understand your concern'"
• acknowledgment of a debt
  • "bowed as one who was cognizant of debt"
  • "acknowledging what?--personal debt, personal respect?--to the clan of an ally or friend of his clan?"
  • "bowed in acknowledgment of the debt"
  • "bowed, as one acknowledging a debt"
  • "the bow between equals, with an additional tip of the head, which acknowledged that a debt was owed"
• acknowledgment of a debt-partner
  • "bowed as one acknowledging a debt-partner"
• acknowledgment of a debt too deep to repay
  • "a low bow, accepting a debt too deep to repay"
  • "the bow of one who acknowledges an unpayable debt"
  • "bow of one owing a debt beyond paying"
  • "the bow was of one acknowledging a debt too great to Balance"
  • "swept a bow, as one acknowledging an unpayable debt"
  • "bowed as one acknowledging a debt which can never be repaid"
• acknowledgment of a debt truly owed
  • "Jethri took a deep breath, began the count in his head, moved the right arm--so--on the same beat extending the left leg--so--and bent from the waist, forehead on an interception course with the left knee. At the count of fourteen, he stopped moving, holding the pose for six beats, then reversed the count, coming slowly to his full height, right hand and left leg withdrawing to their more usual positions--and he was at rest."
• acknowledgment of a delm's right to order things
  • "acknowledging a delm's right to order things"
• acknowledgment of a difficult task well performed
  • "Jethri bowed acknowledgment, offering honour for a difficult task well performed."
• acknowledgment of a hit
  • "acknowledgment of a hit"
  • "acknowledging a hit"
• acknowledgment of a point made
  • "acknowledged the point with another bow"
• acknowledgment of a student's triumph
  • "Master tel'Ondor [...] bowed, acknowledging a student's triumph."
• acknowledgment of a reciprocal trade opportunity
  • "acknowledging a reciprocal trade opportunity"
• acknowledgment of an insufficiency in the bow itself
  • "his best bow yet, with a reasonable flourish and an understanding that his sleeves were not long enough to give emphasis"
• acknowledgment of an introduction
  • "bowed acknowledgement of the introduction"
  • "They exchanged bows, each accepting the other's introduction"
  • "accepting an introduction to an equal"
• acknowledgment of an oath of service
  • "bowed, acknowledging his receipt of her oath"
• "acknowledgment of one acting out of the interest of others"
• acknowledgment of thanks offered
  • "bowed, graciously acknowledging the offered thanks"
• acknowledgment of truth received
  • "Bar Jan bowed the acknowledgment of truth received."
• acknowledgment of receiving more honor than one deserves(?)
  • "It was a pure marvel, this bow, swept as if the work leathers were the most costly of High House evening dress. One long arm curved aside and up, holding the imaginary cloak gracefully away as the sleek dark head brushed one elegant out-thrust leg."
• admission of error
  • "admission of [...] error of judgment"
  • "error"
  • "bowed as one who has discovered oneself in error"
• admission of failure
  • "admission of failure"
• affection
  • "affection for close kin"
  • "He bowed gratitude and affection"
  • "the bow of affection and esteem"
  • "affection and honored esteem"
• affirmation
  • "Jethri bowed a more formal affirmation"
• agreement
  • "he did remember to bow again, in light agreement"
• appeasement
  • "the undertone of appeasement indicating that he understood he was treading on the goodwill of another by merely appearing in front of him in an untimely way"
• appreciation
  • "appreciation"
  • "appreciation"
• approval
  • "approval"
  • "a very credible bow of approval"
  • "Approval-of-the-Student"
• Balance, declaration that one is seeking
  • "bowed once more... as one seeking Balance"
• congratulation
  • "swept a bow of congratulation"
• contrition
  • "a simple bow of contrition"
• declaration of dedication
  • "declaration of absolute dedication to the project at hand"
• delight in seeing a paramour
  • "delight in seeing a paramour"
• dismissal
  • "bowing slightly in dismissal"
• duty required
  • "bow of duty required"
• duty, parting from one called by
  • "the slight inclination of the upper body that Padi insisted was polite and necessary when parting from someone whom duty called"
• esteem
  • "the bow of affectionate esteem"
  • "the bow of honored esteem"
  • "the bow of affection and esteem"
  • "affection and honored esteem"
  • "Esteem for a Master"
• equality
  • "with a tough of seeing anerror, onher part, corrected"
• farewell
  • "farewell"
• "from one who is honored to be permitted to act for a master of the art"
• fuller information forthcoming
  • "bowed slightly, indicating fuller information forthcoming"
• granting permission
  • "The hall master inclined his head, granting her permission"
  • "Er Thom bowed slightly, granting permission to wonder"
  • "inclined his head slightly--courteous permission to continue"
  • "permission to admit error"
• gratitude
  • "he bowed his gratitude"
  • "He bowed gratitude and affection"
  • "Gratitude for service well-given"
  • "Gratitude Toward the Guest" (as might be used after the guest has offered a gift)
  • "She bowed, as one who as been granted a great boon."
  • "She bowed gratitude to the house."
  • "bow of gratitude"
  • "bowed gratitude"
  • "bowed as one grateful for a kindness"
  • "bowed as one grateful for instruction"
  • "bowed -- respect and gratitude"
• greeting
  • "greeting to one long missed"
  • "bow of greeting"
  • "bowed greeting"
• honor
  • "bowed full honor"
  • "bowed in full honor"
  • "bowed to Villy's honor"
• honor to the aged
  • "honor to the aged"
• honor to the captain
  • "honor to the captain"
  • "bowed, precisely, to the captain's honor"
  • closely resembles 'honor to the delm', with the difference that it is not so deep nor held so long
• honor to the delm
  • "bow to the delm's honor"
  • "respect for the delm"
  • "honor-to-the-delm"
  • "honor to the delm"
  • "bowed, gracefully, and with the proper hand expression: honor to the delm"
  • the bow is held for six heartbeats
• honor to a delm not one's own
  • "returning his bow with one of respect to a delm not one's own"
  • "bowed, all correct and very High House: Honor to a delm not one's own"
  • "honor-to-the-delm-of-a-clan-not-one's-own
  • "honor to a delm not one's own"
• honor to an elder
  • "honor to an elder"
• honor to the foster parent of one's child
  • "bowed honor for his son's foster-father"
• honor to a lady
  • "a bow fitting to a lady's honor"
• honor to a lord not one's own
  • "Master tel'Ondor bowed, low and extravagant, Honor to a Lord Not One's Own"
• honor to a master
  • "bowed to the master's honor"
• honor to a master trader
  • "honor due to a master of trade with many years experience"
• honor to one's mother
  • "bowed to his mother's honor"
• honor to the nadelm
• honor to one providing the Clan with a child
  • "Honor to One Providing a Clan-Child"
• honor to the owner
  • "bowed honor to the owner" (of the ship he was being invited aboard)
• honor to a pilot
  • "bowed to the pilot's honor"
• honor to the savior of one's life
  • "he bowed, deeply, giving all honor to one who had saved his life"
• honor to a teacher
  • "honor to the teacher"
  • "bowed as one of her students might bow to her: Respect and honor to the instructor"
  • "respect to an instructor"
  • "respect to the teacher"
  • "bowed to the honor of the teacher"
• honor to a trust-holder
  • "honor to the trust-holder"
• honor to the wise
  • "honor to the wise"
  • "a bow of extreme irony, reading the hand motions, a bow to one most wise"
• I see you
• imparting news
  • "bowed formally, as one imparting news of kin"
  • "bow of one who brings news of a death in the House"
  • "bowed gently, as the bearer of unfortunate news"
• information, offering
  • "bowed as one offering information"
  • "offer of information"
  • "bowed as one with additional information to impart"
• instruction, offering
  • "bow of direct instruction"
  • "Cousin instructing cousin"
• instruction, requesting
  • "bow requesting instruction from kin"
• instruction, receiving
  • "bow of one instructed to instructor"
• introduction
  • "bowed with precision, right palm flat against her chest"
  • "swept a bow of introduction"
  • "bow of introduction"
  • "bowed in the mode of introduction"
  • "She bowed, hand over heart."
  • "plain bow of introduction"
  • "a completely unadorned bow of introduction"
  • "He lay his hand over his heart in a formal gesture."
  • "bowed very slightly, fingers over heart"
  • "bowed crisply, hand over heart"
  • "bow of introduction, between equals"
  • A variant of the bow exists that is just an inclination of the head, used when, for instance, one's arms a full of something that might be dropped and damaged in the course of a full bow.
• invitation
  • "She bowed a polite invitation"
  • "bowed an invitation"
• joint endeavor
  • "bow of joint endeavor"
• joy
  • "swept the bow of greeting the other had shown him, supplemented with the gesture that meant 'joy'"
• joy of seeing a comrade
  • "joy of seeing a comrade"
• "no, thank you"
• obedience
  • "obedience"
  • "obedience to a master"
  • "obedience to an elder"
  • "acquiescence to the Delm's Word"; "Mode required that a petitioner accept the Delm's Word with a bow. Daav did so, forehead brushing knees"
  • "obedience to the Master Trader's word"
  • "a bow of absolute obedience"
  • "Willing Obedience to the Delm"
• offer to act as second in a duel
  • "volunteered his services as his duel second with a quick bow"
• offering a suggestion for consideration
  • "bow for a mother's consideration"
• orders received
  • "The mechanic bowed, indicating understanding of her orders."
• "pleasure at making acquaintance"
• "prepared to press for his own necessities and those of his employer"
• promising an accurate account
  • "bowed slightly, promising an accurate account of a problematic situation"
• rebuttal
  • "Pen Rel bowed an intricate rebuttal."
• regret
  • "bow of deep regret"
  • "bowed regret, tinged with sorrow"
• relinquishing a task
  • "bow of a colleague relinquishing activity to an equal"
• request
  • "bow of respectful request to equals"
• requesting assurance
  • "He bowed a bow requesting assurance"
• requesting calm
  • "request for calm"
• request to agree to dignity
  • "request to agree to dignity"
• requesting elucidation
  • "bow requesting elucidation"
• requesting forgiveness
  • "There are six ways to ask forgiveness--six different postures, six different phrases, and six different bows--and none of the six is what a Terran would call an apology."
  • "bow of apology"
  • "a request for forgiveness"
  • "a bow requesting forgiveness of a comrade"
• request to speak
  • "the bow was a quick, clean request to speak"
• respect
  • "respect to an elder"
  • "respect to the position"
  • "respect well-earned"
  • "Still grinning, she bowed respect to the device and its motto"
  • "The bow he accorded her was of respect."
  • "bowing respect"
  • "She bowed a simple bow of respect to the group of them"
  • "Respect to Scholarship"
  • "Her class rose as one student and bowed respect."
  • "bowed as one of her students might bow to her: Respect and honor to the instructor"
  • "respect to an instructor"
  • "fond respect"
  • "bow of profound respect"
  • "respect to a master"
  • "bowed low - excessive respect for one far exceeding the bower's humble estate"
  • "respect for the elders" (used when hearing of a respected elder's death)
  • "respect to the teacher"
  • "bowed -- respect and gratitude"
  • "bow of respect"
• service, accepting (e.g. from a shop attendant)
  • "bowed as one who was pleased to accept service"
• sorrow
  • "a bow of sorrow"
  • "bowed regret, tinged with sorrow"
• submission
  • "submission"
• thanks
  • "Jethri bowed his thanks"
  • "bowed his thanks"
  • "a pretty bow of thanks, and of acceptance"
  • "student to mentor, thankful for advice"
  • "thanks for the quiet correction of a social infelicity"
  • "bowing thanks"
  • "bowed thanks"
  • "thanks to a master"
  • "a wordless formal thanks"
• bow to the victor
  • "to the victor"
  • "vanquished to victor"
• welcome
  • "a bow of civil welcome"
  • "welcome"
  • "welcome to an event equal"
  • "welcome to a favored acquaintance"
  • "a civil welcome to the House"
  • "welcome between equals"
  • "welcome to the guest"
  • "welcome to the visitor"
  • "formal bow of welcome"
• will expressed and understood
  • "the bow of will expressed and understood"
• wonder
  • "bowed as one who has beheld a wonder"
• bow to the wronged
  • "to the wronged"
• yes
  • "bowed a simple yes"
• "a rapid multifaceted bow, which read out in short as by the Delm's order, a respectful reply to a supplicant welcome to the house and its comforts"
• "pleased acknowledgment of the presence of a previously known trusted equal [...] with an added fillip that might have been congratulations on attaining a ... dream?"
• "respect-to-the-master-from-a-former-student-willing-yet-to-learn"
• "companions-joyfully-reunited-away-from-home [...] trying to cram in a sense of much owed, too"
• "dancing on the companion theme, but adding to it the sense of revered friend and leader"
• "A simple bow of comrades then from him, with a hand flourish at the end that emphasized a Balance due her"
• "adding a concise and elegant gesture which acknowledged also a pillow-friend"

(Of related interest: Ch 24 of Crystal Soldier includes descriptions of two pre-Liaden bows, one meaning "I owe you" and the other "It is my pleasure to be of service".)

Liaden hand gestures

May be seen alone or augmenting a bow. Pilots engage in a form of sign language but this is separate from the set of gestured performed in polite society.

• acceptance
  • "the flourish which brought his acceptance close to that of accepting a comrade's necessity"
• acknowledgment
  • "moved a hand in acknowledgement of truth spoken"
  • "moved a hand in acknowledgment" (of a lesson)
• all debts paid
  • "The bow between equals, with the hand sign that conveyed all debts were paid.
• asking for information
  • "moving both hands in the formal gesture of asking"
• asking for permission to speak
  • "Asking permission with a flicker of fingers"
• dedication to duty
  • "a movement of the hand indicating both irony and dedication to duty"
• esteem
  • "a particularly low bow, augmented by the hand-sign for 'greatest esteem'"
• go ahead
  • "moved his hand in the 'sure, go ahead' gesture"
  • "He moved his free hand in the gesture that meant 'go on'."
• gratitude
  • "another soft, buoyant bow, slightly deeper and augmented with the hand-sign for gratitude"
  • "She returned the bow, augmenting it with a hand-gesture conveying gratitude to the instructor"
• greeting kin
  • "the hand-gesture one used toward newly-met kin"
• interest
  • "moving his hand in an expression of interest"
• introduction
  • "bowed with precision, right palm flat against her chest"
  • "She bowed, hand over heart."
  • "He lay his hand over his heart in a formal gesture."
  • "bowed very slightly, fingers over heart"
  • "bowed crisply, hand over heart"
• in this together
  • "a taste of "in this line together" with that motion of his hand"
• irony
  • "a movement of the hand indicating both irony and dedication to duty"
• kin (augmenting a more general bow)
  • "guest-to-host, augmented with the hand-sign between kin"
• necessity
  • "his free hand describing the Liaden bow-sign for necessity"
• offering service
  • "the stylized hand-sign that offered instant, willing, and unquestioning service"
• peace (a request)
  • "fingers smoothing the air in the gesture that roughly meant 'peace'"
  • "gestured peace"
  • "He raised a hand, signifying peace."
• requesting a favor
  • "He gave her full measure in the bow, made the sign of an equal requesting favor with his unladen hand."
• regret
  • "The hall master [...] showed his hands, palm up, in a gesture meaning, vaguely, 'alas'."
  • "turning his palms up mock despair"
  • "he moved a shoulder in regret"
• release
  • "hand, palm up, in the gesture of release"
• respect
  • "with a hand flourish indicating profound respect"
• service offered
  • "turning his hand palm up in the gesture that meant, roughly, 'service'"
• understanding
  • "a light bow, all but buoyant; with the easy move of the left hand that signaled understanding"
• welcome
  • "moving her hand in the gesture of welcome"

Liaden modes of speech

The Liaden language comes in several varieties. High Liaden is for formal and public occasions; Low Liaden is used between kin and loved ones. There is also "the children's language", about which we know only that it exists, but we can speculate that perhaps it's for children too young to be able to grasp the shades of melant'i that are essential to speaking the adult forms. It might also be spoken by an adult caregiver to soothe a restless child.

• "the highest possible dialect; that used to address strangers or those barely acknowledged as kin"
• "the dialect of Ultimate Authority"/"the mode of Ultimate Authority"
• ultimate authority to rankless person
• "mode of Authority" (which interestingly includes the capacity to say "please")
• addressing a delm not one's own
• addressing a guest of the House
• addressing one not of one's Clan (only used by delms?)
• addressing a stranger
  • "the mid-mode reserved for strangers whose menlant'i is yet unclear"
  • "Stranger to the House"
• announcement
• between adults
• between adult siblings
• authority to petitioner (High Liaden) (see also delm to petitioner)
• between business associates
• between comrades ("almost friendly")
• between equals
• between equal adults ("about as friendly as the High Tongue got")
• between friends (Low Tongue)
• between intimates
• between kin
• between long-term allies
• between lovers
• between nonkin ("very cool")
• between pilots ("approached the Low Tongue")
• between strangers
• between traders
• mode of acceptance
• adult to person of rank
• child of the House to an elder
• clanmember to delm
• the Command mode (which includes varieties such as Delm to Clanmember and Thodelm to Linemember)
• delm to clanmember (high tongue) (a High Command mode, not used for conversation)
• delm to guest of the House (high tongue)
• delm to petitioners ("high High Liaden, and not a bit of warmth in it") (see also authority to petitioner)
  • also called "the-delm-speaks"
• delm to subordinate line
• Delm's Mode (the mode in which a delm Sees a new clan member)
• doorkeeper (to visitor of yet-unknown melant'i) (High Tongue)
• elder crew to younger
• elder kin to junior
• elder sibling to child
• elder sibling to younger
• elder to youngling of a different Clan
• elder to youth (high tongue)
• employer to employee (or, per Miri, "boss to hired hand")
• mode of expert
• mode of formal morning greeting to those not of one's clan
• greater to lesser
• guest to host
• host to guest
• "as one informed to the uninformed"
• mode of introduction
• junior to senior
• lesser to greater
• lord instructing oathsworn
• lord to servant
• Master to Junior
• Master to Master
• meeting the kin of kin
• mercantile
• oathbound to lord
• oathholder to oathbound
• obedience to the delm
• Outsider
• parent to child
• petitioner to authority
• pilot to passenger / captain to passenger
• ranking person to lesser (High Tongue)
• mode of respect to the delm (from a clanmember)
• senior to junior
• servant to lord
  • "mode used by the most junior servant to the ultimate authority"
• student to teacher / student to instructor
• subordinate line to the delm
• superior to inferior
• superior to low hire
• teacher to student / instructor to student / Mode of Instruction
• "a soothing subtle mode used by family and servants in dealing with children"
• student to honored instructor
• thodelm to hireling
• thodelm to linemember (a High Command mode, not used for conversation)
• transgressor to delm
• visitor to Child of the House
• visitor to the house
• younger to elder
• No discernible mode - one that cannot be determined, usually because the speaker is in a very sorry state or is an non-proficient speaker
  • "halting and modeless" (due to lack of proficiency)
  • "which mode was a bit difficult to determine at this volume"
  • "she repeated, so flatly as to be entirely modeless"
  • "the mode was uncertain"
  • "his voice flat, and without mode"