The Nature of The Second Self - Tajaran Linguistics

[DeteledSawI]

Lore Impact - Small/Medium (does not change cultural lore, only adds to it)
Species - Tajara
Short Description

Humans act differently around different people. Talking to your friends is different from talking to your boss. Tajara evolved a cultural belief of the "Second Self" as another personality--or, to some extents, a different person entirely--that acts differently than the "First Self", who is the "core" personality.
 

How will this be reflected on-station?

With a detailed explaination and guide on how and why Tajara speak the way they do, players will be able to embody Tajaran culture more fluently through how they talk to others and amongst themselves.
 

Does this addition do anything not achieved by what already exists?

Yes, since there is no established reasoning (to my knowledge) why Tajara speak like the Khajiit from Skyrim.
 

Do you understand that the project may change over time in ways you may not foresee once it is handed over to the Lore Team? 

Yes. Maybe one day I will be on it!
 

Long Description

As long as the Tajara have existed, they have always spoken of themselves in the third person, even in their own language. This is not an inability to speak in the first person but the product of a much more complex cultural evolution regarding how the Tajara see themselves originating with S'rendarr and Messa, from both the celestials alone and the religion regarding them.

 

Quote

"Hiding one's feelings, keeping private matters private, and acting with reservation are expected of every Tajara, young or old." - S'rendarr and Messa, the Dichotomy of S'rendarr

 

All Tajara regardless of their religion learn about the grammatical oddity of the First and Second Selves, a concept thought to have originated from the twin suns of Adhomai sometime in the race's prehistory. They speak of themselves in the third person because of the second self, a metaphorical liason who literally speaks on behalf of the first self, or the Tajara's personal and true identity.

The insular culture of the Tajara manifests itself in this way. Rather than simply "acting" respectfully, as humans would say, a Tajara takes on a wholly secondary identity seperate from their own that is used in all formalities. The second self is referred to by honorifics, such as Mr. or Mrs., or even Mother and Father, as only the first self is referred to by name.

When Tajara speak to each other, they almost always do so through their second selves. Here is an example of back-and-forth speech done only through the second self:

"His greetings to the madam."
In this line, Person A speaks to Person B's second self through his own. They are talking to each other's first selves indirectly.
"Hadii's grace, sir. She is the chef here. Does he have business with her?"
Person B refers to her first self by her title of chef.

There are also examples of mixing the second and first selves in speech, continued here with the first-self-centric speech marked in orange:

"No, I simply wanted to be introduced to her. My name is Abdal Akhtarov."
Person A steps into the first self but is still speaking to Person B through her second self. This is an invitation to personal conversation, done respectfully by not involving the Person B's first self directly. 
"Hello, Mr. Akhtarov. I am Aisha. Does he wish to speak elsewhere?"
Person B is still speaking to Person A's second self, respectfully referring to him by his familial name as she does not know his title(s), then agreeing to his invitation.

Speech among families is similar, but differs based on the relationship of the two parties. Among parent and child, the child will speak as their first self, and the parent as their second self--being a mother or father is treated like a job or duty carried by the formal and professional second self, separate from who "you", the first self, really are.

The second self is also sometimes described and imagined as a manifestation of one's conscience. When one feels guilty for something, or has second thoughts about doing something bad, that is sometimes attributed to the second self acting to keep or restore one's honor. It is thought of as a guiding force, much like a miniature version of one's parents, hence the connection.

In essence, when one generally speaks with the Tajara, they are speaking to the second self, as if the subject were not before oneself but rather in an adjacent, private room. To invite yourself in, ask for an invitation, or to even address them specifically while they are not present is considered an invasion of that privacy, so to speak--not in a legal but a cultural and societal sense.

 

 

This is essentially a first draft and I may not have gotten everything I mean or envision for this idea out properly. If you have questions or misunderstand something, I would love to talk in detail and be a little more involved before it is hopefully taken to the lore team to polish. Something that would include would be giving Tajaran words/names to the First Self and Second Self.

Also, I think this would make a good book to match the article or section of lore this (maybe) gets added to.