Tongue Flashing

"I'm told the darting of their tongues is a form of communication, but it seems to me to be nothing but an excuse for a horribly vulgar and base way of behaving. I have no wish to see another's tongue, no matter how blue it might be."

— Extract from Travelling To Victory: An Exploration of Victalis System
by Peacekeeper V'Kly

History

Tongue flashing is the modern version of a primitive form of communication, believed to be the first communication used by early Suuu as they evolved into the people they are today. It is performed by the Suuu moving their naturally blue tongues. The shade of blue reflects UV light which can be seen by other Suuu from a distance, and was initially used to communicate long-range warnings.

Phonology

Tongue flashing is a purely visual language, which is based on three elements:

1. The position of the tongue in the mouth
2. The length of time the tongue is visible for
3. The pattern which the tongue performs

Position of Tongue

For basic use, the mouth can be broken up into nine parts. The diagram below shows the different areas and meanings connected with them. Each box shows first the meaning when the tongue is displayed for a short time (known as a flash, no longer than 1 second), and the second is when it is displayed for a long time (known as a flip, a count of 1).

High Left

Look to the left
Look ahead

High

Danger imminent
Go away

High Right

Look to the right
Look behind you

Left

Run
Attack

Middle

Question
Statement

Right

Stop
Be Still

Low Left

Yes
Hungry

Low

Danger has passed
Come closer

Low Right

No
Thirsty

Length of Time

The length of time that a tongue is displayed changes the meaning of the position of the tongue. There are regional variances within this, but generally, the meaning changes in the same way. There are four different timeframes, each with a different name:

• Flash - less than 1 second
• Flip - count of 1
• Flop - count of 2
• Glide - count of 3

Patterns

There are also patterns that vary by region. These are additional to the position of the tongue and rather than changing the meaning they add complexity to what is being communicated. Examples of patterns include:

• Flickering in one place
• Poking in and out of the mouth
• Curled over/rolled
• Waving in one place

Syntax

The order in which the words are selected can also impact the message which is being communicated.

Orders

Orders are given with one or two flashes or flips. They are messages which need to be communicated in a hurry and therefore have no special preposition, unlike Statements or Questions.

Statements

Statements all start with a Middle Flip and then follow the Verb - Subject - Object formula. These can be made negative by adding a Low Right Flash (No) either immediately after the verb or after the subject or object depending on the requirement.

Sentence	TF Syntax
Kuuusuu ate a bird	Statement ate Kuuusuu a bird
Kuuusuu didn't eat a bird	Statement ate not Kuuusuu a bird
It wasn't Kuuusuu who ate a bird	Statement ate Kuuusuu not a bird
What Kuuusuu ate wasn't a bird	Statement ate Kuuusuu a bird not

Questions

Questions all start with a Middle Flash and then follow the same Verb - Subject - Object formula as a statement. They can use both the positive (Low Left Flash) and the negative (Low Right Flash) to formulate a more complex question.

Sentence	TF Syntax
Did Kuuusuu eat a bird?	Question Ate Kuuusuu a bird
Was what Kuuusuu ate a bird?	Question ate Kuuusuu a bird yes
Was it Kuuusuu who ate a bird?	Question ate Kuuusuu yes a bird
Did someone other than Kuuusuu eat a bird?	Question ate Kuuusuu no a bird

Cultural Significance

There was a time when Tongue Flashing was the primary form of communication, but with the development of spoken language and the reduction in the number of threats to Suuu as a whole, it has fallen out of regular use.
That said, it is sometimes used to add texture and layers to what is being communicated verbally. It is also popular with teenagers as a way of communicating something behind the back of their caregivers.

Tourists who visit Succeed are invited to try Tongue Flash Chews as they allow them to change the colour of their tongues so that they too can try Tongue Flashing. This was part of an initiative to reinvigorate the language and ensure it didn't get lost and forgotten.

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Related Articles

Culture	Suuu, Peacekeeper
Locations	Succeed, The Victalis System, Victalis Command, Peacekeeper Territories
Items	Tongue Flash Chews

Type

Visual

Used by

Suuu

Localisation

Succeed

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