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Hesius (Ar)
Lykourgos (Brundisium)
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Passage Hand
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Year 10,174 Contasta Ar


Tal



This my short narrative on greeting another Gorean.
I make no pronouncements on these matters, but report them as I find them.
Arrive at your own conclusions.

I wish you well,
Fogaban



The word Tal is the common Gorean greeting. Sometimes it is also described being accompanied by lifting the right arm, palm inward.

But is this the only acceptable Gorean greeting? Especially when it come to Free Men greeting Free Women.

In other words, is using any other form of greeting degrading or showing disrespect for the Free Woman? More simply, is using "Greetings" or "Hello" just . . . wrong?

Many might have their own opinion, but ~The Gorean Cave~ is not an opinion website, it is a Gorean fact website.

So, what do the books show us?


Starting with Tal, to establish this as a common greeting;

Tal, common Gorean greeting
"Tal," I said, lifting my right arm, palm inward, in a common Gorean greeting.
Outlaw of Gor     Book 2     Page 28

Tal, I might say, in greeting,
Nomads of Gor     Book 4     Page 8

He stood before the table of Cernus and though Cernus was Ubar of his city he merely lifted his hand in common Gorean greeting, palm inward. "Tal," said he.
Assassin of Gor     Book 5     Page 322

Now, specifically cases where a Free Man greeted a Free Woman;

Hello - Used 1 Time
I turned about and, to my surprise saw that Elizabeth had entered the compartment. How long she had been listening, I did not know.
"Hello," I said, smiling.
Assassin of Gor     Book 5     Page 70

Tal - Used 2 Times
"Tal," I said, quietly, that I might not startle her too much, lifting my arm in gentle salute.
Outlaw of Gor     Book 2     Page 55

"Tal," said she.
"Tal," said I.
Explorers of Gor     Book 13     Page 47

Tal, Lady - Used 3 Times

"Tal, Lady," said I to her.
Savages of Gor     Book 17     Page 88

"Tal, noble lady," said he.
Players of Gor     Book 20     Page 123

"Tal, Lady Bina," said he.
Kur of Gor     Book 28     Page 333

Greetings - Used 11 Times
"Greetings, Lady Vivina," said I to her.
Raiders of Gor     Book 6     Page 232

"Greetings, Hura, said Marlenus.
Hunters of Gor     Book 8     Page 158

"Greetings, Lady," said Tup Ladletender. He had emerged from between the huts.
Slave Girl of Gor     Book 11     Page 235

"Disgusting!" said the free woman, on the tharlarion, in the hunting costume.
"Greetings," I said.
Beasts of Gor     Book 12     Page 123

"Greetings, Lady Tima," I said.
Rogue of Gor     Book 15     Page 23

"Greetings, Bloketu. Greetings, Iwoso," said Cuwignaka, grinning.
Blood Brothers of Gor     Book 18     Page 60

"Greetings, Oiputake," I said.
Blood Brothers of Gor     Book 18     Page 469

"Greetings, Sheila," he said, "Tatrix of Corcyrus."
Kajira of Gor     Book 19     Page 182

"Greetings, Lady Sheila, Tatrix of Corcyrus."
Kajira of Gor     Book 19     Page 183

"Greetings," I said to her.
Mercenaries of Gor     Book 21     Page 199

"Greetings," I said to her.
Mercenaries of Gor     Book 21     Page 231


One could surmise that Tal is the one and only way a Free Man should ever greet a Free Woman.

One could surmise that, by the quantity of times used, the term Greetings is the more appropriate word to use.

But that would be your opinion.



For further reference, Fidelio Matador, Owner and Administrator of Glorious Ar in Second Life submitted these quotes:


Good morning - Used 1 time speaking to a Free Woman
He leaned down from the saddle. "Good morning, little Aphris," he said cheerily.
Nomads of Gor     Book 4     Page 119

Good night - Used 1 time speaking to a Free Woman
"Good night," I said to her.
"Good night," she said.
I watched her pull her blanket about her. She suddenly shuddered. "Oh!" she said. Then she pulled the blanket more tightly about her shoulders. We would not chain her. She was not a slave. She was a free woman. She might leave, if she wished.
Mercenaries of Gor     Book 21     Page 122

Good day - Used 1 time speaking to a Free Man
"Good day, Master," smiled Targo, bowing as well as he could from the waist, hastily taking account of the unlikely stranger who stood before him.
Outlaw of Gor     Book 2     Page 191

Good morning - Used 2 times speaking to a slave
"Good morning," I said to her.
"Good morning, Master," she said.
Guardsman of Gor     Book 16     Page 294

"Good morning, Miss Williamson," he said.
"Good morning," I whispered. As he had used my name I was not at all sure it was really mine. It had sounded different, somehow. I suddenly feared that I might have any name, almost like a dog.
Dancer of Gor     Book 22     Page 58

Good evening - Used 2 times speaking to a slave
"Good evening, Miss Brinton," said a voice.
I stopped, stunned.
At the same time I felt a man's hands close on my arms from behind.
Captive of Gor     Book 7     Page 26

"Good evening, Miss Brinton," said the man. He had spoken in English.
"You!" I cried.
"Hello, Cookie," he said.
Captive of Gor     Book 7     Page 142

Good night - Used 1 times speaking to a slave
"Thank you for the blanket, Master," I said.
"Crawl into the kennel," he said. "And lie down."
I did so, and he covered me with the blanket, rather gently, I thought.
"Good night, Doreen," he said.
"Good night, Master," I said.
Dancer of Gor     Book 22     Pages 218 - 219

Hello - Used 1 times speaking to a sleen
"Be friendly," said Imnak. "Do not be a sour fellow. Do not be morose. Be outgoing!"
"Hello, Sleen!" I called.
"Good," said Imnak. "That is a start."
Beasts of Gor     Book 12     Page 282





Concluding thought:
Tal is far from being the only acceptable form of greetings or simply expressing salutations.



























 



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