Ryukyuri Ocean Language
Octopus, squid and cuttlefish all have unique ways of silent communication.
Each race has their own language that they use but collectively they have developed a sign language based on an intricate combination of tentacle movement and coordination so they can communicate amongst themselves which becomes important during council meetings.
As a part of the sign language, camouflage and colorization is also used as part of their language to communicate among themselves. @Uminchu that spend time with these creatures quickly figure out they are able to relay incredible amounts of information. Imagine how much you could say with seven arms and changing you body color. The combinations are staggering.... When they have council meetings, it is documented that they have their own 'higher' language that they use. @Uminchu say it translates to a more formal pattern of speech, and watching a council meeting, you will notice there are less color and camouflage changes then when say talking amongst friends or lovers. A few @Uminchu have noted and it has been observed randomly that on a few occasions, one or two 'speakers' have used any hand item, whether it be a nearby shell, or stick, broke dead piece of coral, to draw in the sand as part of a discussion. Rarely are the shapes drawn recognizable by the regular layperson, but a few @Uminchu have been able to recognize boats of different types and even predators that infrequent the waters.
In some cases, they use just camouflage and are able to actually produce light effects for nighttime communication. These communications can be seen by divers underwater and while it is an interesting spectacle to the uneducated, for the @Uminchu they can tell what is happening and if anything needs to be done. There is even a dialect the these cephalopod neighbors use specifically for talking to the @Uminchu in their area. Unfortunately, not all the dialects translate well, so in one area the word for clown fish may translate to circus, or boat may translate to hat. The hat mistranslation has led to an amusing sight in one area where all the cephalopods wear hats that they have found blown into the ocean from humanoid creatures. None seem to like sunglasses though...
As a part of the sign language, camouflage and colorization is also used as part of their language to communicate among themselves. @Uminchu that spend time with these creatures quickly figure out they are able to relay incredible amounts of information. Imagine how much you could say with seven arms and changing you body color. The combinations are staggering.... When they have council meetings, it is documented that they have their own 'higher' language that they use. @Uminchu say it translates to a more formal pattern of speech, and watching a council meeting, you will notice there are less color and camouflage changes then when say talking amongst friends or lovers. A few @Uminchu have noted and it has been observed randomly that on a few occasions, one or two 'speakers' have used any hand item, whether it be a nearby shell, or stick, broke dead piece of coral, to draw in the sand as part of a discussion. Rarely are the shapes drawn recognizable by the regular layperson, but a few @Uminchu have been able to recognize boats of different types and even predators that infrequent the waters.
In some cases, they use just camouflage and are able to actually produce light effects for nighttime communication. These communications can be seen by divers underwater and while it is an interesting spectacle to the uneducated, for the @Uminchu they can tell what is happening and if anything needs to be done. There is even a dialect the these cephalopod neighbors use specifically for talking to the @Uminchu in their area. Unfortunately, not all the dialects translate well, so in one area the word for clown fish may translate to circus, or boat may translate to hat. The hat mistranslation has led to an amusing sight in one area where all the cephalopods wear hats that they have found blown into the ocean from humanoid creatures. None seem to like sunglasses though...
Wow, this is such an interesting concept for a language! It's really cool that the different races are able to take full advantage of their natural abilities with tentacles and color changes to be able to communicate. It's also really neat that they're developed enough to have formal and informal registers and dialects with room for miscommunication! I definitely want to know more about the council meetings. Who are the Uminchu and how did they learn the Ocean Language? Are they able to communicate back? Why don't they like sunglasses? Very unique concept, and this was a pleasure to read!