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sake_shinigami2021-02-01 03:53 am
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The Art of Japanese Culture through Untranslatable Words; Monday, Fourth Period [02/01].
"Welcome back, ducklings ♥," Shunsui greeted them from his spot on in the circle, gesturing for the students to join him and help themselves to partake in the usual offerings of hot cocoa or tea. "No trips or elaborate set-ups today; today, we will mostly be discussing, which is ironic, as the word we will be discussing today focuses heavily on non-verbal communication. Because of that, allow me to waste no more words than necessary and get right into it:
haragei
腹芸
visceral, indirect, non-verbal communication
"Directly translated, haragei actually means 'art of the stomach,' though that does not mean I am looking to have my next class about cooking ♥. In fact, the concept is more along the lines of what we call in English as a gut reaction, but, again, not quite. It is like a sixth sense, but specifically with communication. It is when two people...or sometimes more...can communicate and exchange thoughts and feelings with eachother 'belly to belly'...that is, from a deep sense deep within their cores without the use of words. The Japanese tend to rely heavily on non-verbal clues and emotional context when communicating with each other, sometimes favoring them over words in anything from conversations with friends to dealing with new business associates or enemies on the field ♥."
That got a particular grin out of Shunsui, because how many times had he been in battles where someone was being accused of talking too much? Or conversely never enough?
"Facial expressions, timing, small sounds, and even silence can all convey various messages, mask true emotions, and influence where a conversation may go, and it is all haragei, the art of the stomach ♥. Well-placed silences can show approval of an idea as well as wanting to avoid a direct confrontation over it. A small hissing sound," which he demonstrated in a clearly indecisive fashion, "to indicate one's discomfort or uncertainty. A nod, a gesture of a hand," his own hand swept in the air briefly, "the minute increase of a smile or the shrug of a shoulder ♥. We can say so much without ever uttering a single word, and that is haragei ♥.
"And as you can surely guess," Shunsui smiled, dipping his head for a moment, and letting a small silence settle in to suggest that he didn't necessarily need to use words to tell them what he was about to, because they were fair clever and could see this coming, no doubt, "I'd like you to try and use elements of haragei in your interactions this week, or at least be aware of some of your own personal ways of expressing it. And, until then, let's try and see if we can think of other examples of haragei in use, in your own cultures and experiences, as well ♥."
腹芸
visceral, indirect, non-verbal communication
"Directly translated, haragei actually means 'art of the stomach,' though that does not mean I am looking to have my next class about cooking ♥. In fact, the concept is more along the lines of what we call in English as a gut reaction, but, again, not quite. It is like a sixth sense, but specifically with communication. It is when two people...or sometimes more...can communicate and exchange thoughts and feelings with eachother 'belly to belly'...that is, from a deep sense deep within their cores without the use of words. The Japanese tend to rely heavily on non-verbal clues and emotional context when communicating with each other, sometimes favoring them over words in anything from conversations with friends to dealing with new business associates or enemies on the field ♥."
That got a particular grin out of Shunsui, because how many times had he been in battles where someone was being accused of talking too much? Or conversely never enough?
"Facial expressions, timing, small sounds, and even silence can all convey various messages, mask true emotions, and influence where a conversation may go, and it is all haragei, the art of the stomach ♥. Well-placed silences can show approval of an idea as well as wanting to avoid a direct confrontation over it. A small hissing sound," which he demonstrated in a clearly indecisive fashion, "to indicate one's discomfort or uncertainty. A nod, a gesture of a hand," his own hand swept in the air briefly, "the minute increase of a smile or the shrug of a shoulder ♥. We can say so much without ever uttering a single word, and that is haragei ♥.
"And as you can surely guess," Shunsui smiled, dipping his head for a moment, and letting a small silence settle in to suggest that he didn't necessarily need to use words to tell them what he was about to, because they were fair clever and could see this coming, no doubt, "I'd like you to try and use elements of haragei in your interactions this week, or at least be aware of some of your own personal ways of expressing it. And, until then, let's try and see if we can think of other examples of haragei in use, in your own cultures and experiences, as well ♥."