Formules de politesse

[Dwayn]

J'ai retrouvé l'extrait, VT 47, p. 9 :

A hand held palm forwards towards another was a gesture of prohibition, commanding silence or halting or ceasing from any action; forbidding advance, ordering retreat or departure; rejection of a plea. The gesture of the Dúnadan, Halbarad (L.R. III 47) was therefore not an Elvish sign, and would have been ill received by them. In such a case their gesture was to open both arms wide, somewhat below shoulder-level, with palms outward: in this case as in the Mannish gesture the open palm signified 'no weapon', but the Elvish gesture added 'not in either hand'.

Un tout petit peu plus loin, il rajoute :

The stone images of the Argonath each held up a hand, palm forwards, but it was the left hand (L.R. I 409). It was a Mannish gesture: the left hand was more hostile; and its use allowed the display in the right hand of a weapon: an axe.

Donc, au moins dans cet écrit, il avait en tête une distinction assez nette entre la gestuelle des Elfes et celle des Hommes (comme il l'indique texto). Après, effectivement, en tant que lecteur, je trouve qu'il y a pas mal de recoupements, malgré tout.

À propos du salut de la main, d'ailleurs, il indique que chez les Elfes :

A hand was never held up in this way in greeting or welcome. In such a case the hand would be raised with palm backwards, and for emphasis with waving of the fingers towards the signaller. In casual greeting in passing, when no further speech was desired, the hand was held edge forward, with or without movement of the fingers.

Il faudrait voir si cette description est contredite par d'autres descriptions dans le SdA