Differences

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--- language:imperial:contemporary:vocabulary [2024/01/30 13:58] – shyriath
+++ language:imperial:contemporary:vocabulary [2024/02/15 11:34] (current) – shyriath
@@ Line 70: / Line 70: @@
   * **rehnama**/**alhrama** - //illustrious/////humble//: these terms are used in describing an asymmetrical relationship based on social position. A //rehnama// is one of a higher class or rank than oneself or has a positive public reputation: they are someone who one considers to be due respect and deference. The use of the term's counterpart, //alhrama//, is technically correct in all cases, but in practice occupies a continuum with //sayel// for the inferior position, based on the nature of the distance between the two participants. //Alhrama// is used for those who have an official position of subservience, who are a greater social distance beneath the //rehnama//, or generally when the difference between the two is being emphasized (ex. queen/vassal, teacher/student, decorated war hero/peasant), whereas informal or less dramatic social differences tend to contrast //rehnama// with //sayel// (musician/fan, supervisor and a worker they are close to, etc.). While relationships of these kinds do not necessarily have a sexual dimension, //rehnamar// are often in a position to elicit sex from their followers, if sexual orientation and marital status permit. //Rehnama//-based distinctions are generally considered impersonal, since they do not depend on how well, or even whether, the participants know each other; as a result, it is possible for the terms to represent the public face of a relationship while others are used in private, though this is more difficult the more //alhrama//-like the inferior's position is.
   * **tham** - //friend//: a //tham// is someone who one knows well enough to consider them pleasant, or at least non-threatening, to be around or talk to. The term is somewhat looser than the English word //friend//; //thamar// are perfectly happy to socialize when they meet, but may or may not go out of their way to spend significant time with each other and do not usually feel in a position to ask unconditional favors of each other. A **tham** relationship is generally a minimum requirement for [[takma:behaviors#grooming]] of more than the most perfunctory sort, or for sexual contact beyond the purely transactional.
-  * **arrai**/**davlakye** - //companion/////bond-sister//: those who are //aryir// are, in human terms, close friends. They carry a significant share of each others' trust, they spend time together and pursue various activities together, they are comfortable with one-on-one grooming, and they provide aid without guarantee of repayment. Forming //arrai// relationships is generally easier with and between men, for whom they form the cores of most [[takma:behaviors#male bands]]. The often competitive nature of relationships between females means that the ability to relax one's guard sufficiently to form this kind of bond with another woman is a relatively rare and treasured thing, and although it is accepted as a variant of //arrai//, when it does occur it is usually said of the women in question that they are //davlakyer//. It is generally felt that an //arrai//-level bond is necessary for romantic love or for a successful marriage, though the two are not necessarily expected to be found together.
+  * **arrai**/**davlakye** - //companion/////bond-sister//: those who are //aryir// are, in human terms, close friends. They carry a significant share of each others' trust, they spend time together and pursue various activities together, they are comfortable with one-on-one grooming, and they provide aid without guarantee of repayment. Forming //arrai// relationships is generally easier with and between men, for whom they form the cores of most [[takma:behaviors#male bands]]. The often competitive nature of relationships between females means that the ability to relax one's guard sufficiently to form this kind of bond with another woman is a relatively rare and treasured thing, and although it is accepted as a variant of //arrai//, when it does occur it is usually said of the women in question that they are //davlakyer//. It is generally felt that an //arrai//-level bond is necessary for romantic love or for a successful marriage, though the latter two are not necessarily expected to be found together.
 ==== Sexual and romantic ====
-Imperial terms of this type tend to be heteronormative
+These relationship terms run in parallel to the social ones. Though, as noted, there may be correspondences with particular sorts of social bond, they are often somewhat flexible.
+Terms of this type tend to be [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heteronormativity|heteronormative]]/[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cisnormativity|cisnormative]], as most cultures that use Imperial extensively have this outlook. Where one or both participants are not the "correct" ones, they will, if acknowledged at all, generally be referred to by the terms most closely corresponding with their behavioral roles in the relationship. Those cultures with less restrictive outlooks may employ local terms, but generally do not have wider currency of use.
 {{tag>wip}}