silmale
Silmale is a term used in fictional world-building and speculative philosophy to describe a perceptual and social phenomenon associated with eye contact. In common usages, silmale refers to the perceived consequence of sustained mutual gaze, which is said to synchronize emotional states and deepen interpersonal understanding beyond ordinary eye contact. The term is often treated as a concept rather than a physical mechanism.
Etymology: Silmale is a neologism built from constructed-language roots; common in-world explanations derive it from sil-
Definition and scope: Silmale is invoked to explain moments where two or more individuals report a sense
Mechanisms: In-world theories propose neurological resonance, such as mirror neuron systems, combined with ritualized gaze practices
Applications: Writers use silmale to build intimacy, coercion, or power dynamics, as prolonged gaze can signal
Criticism and debate: Some scholars criticize silmale as a literary device that risks essentializing affect, while
See also: eye contact, gaze theory, social cognition, affective resonance.