oekáváním

Oekáváním is a term used in speculative linguistics and world-building to describe a nonverbal communication technique that relies primarily on gaze and eye-related cues to convey meaning. The term is not attested in real-world languages, but it is used in fictional settings and academic exercises to explore how cultures encode information through vision.

The coinage draws on Slavic roots related to the eye (oko) and the gerund suffix -áváním, yielding the sense "the act of using the eyes." In this context it denotes a systematic practice rather than a single gesture, emphasizing sequence, timing, and cultural convention rather than explicit words.

Practically, oekáváním encompasses patterns of gaze, slow blinking, pupil dilation, and micro-expressions that participants interpret to determine intention, truth, or emotional state. It is described as highly context-dependent, with formalized sequences in some settings and looser norms in others. Competence is said to require training and situational insight.

In fiction, oekáváním may function in courts, negotiations, or rituals, where misinterpretation can lead to social penalties or strategic disadvantage. Some world-builders depict schooling or guilds that teach masteries of gaze, timing, and ethical considerations around privacy and consent in observant cultures.

See also: nonverbal communication, gaze, eye contact, body language.