Keywords

The original definition here was "informal oral networks", which was too technical, but perhaps more accurate. In essence, gossip here is a means for the whole community to become aware of news. JB

Whenever someone comes to deliver a message verbally in person.

To capture when an animal "talks" - for example, when the narrator of "Race at Morning" says the lead dog Eagle "said, 'There he goes'" when he saw the deer. Here the narrator translates the dog's baying into words, but that isn't necessary with this term. It's for when communication occurs between species, probably always between an animal and a person. SR

When someone communicates by means of something other than words (written or spoken); for example, the envelope full of money Boyd wants Ike to give his mistress, or the verbena that Drusilla leaves on Bayard's pillow.