Paper short abstract:

Through ethnographic off the Pacific coast of Colombia and the North Atlantic, this paper explores how rhythmical movements affect the bodies, perception, and interactions of people working at sea. A biocultural analysis of nausea elucidates potential physiology behind perspectival exchanges.

Paper long abstract:

In his classical paper on Enskilment at sea, Palsson suggested a parallel between nausea and cultural shock and demonstrated how nausea and the development of sjáveiki or sealegs constituted fundamental steps in experiencing as part of the community of people at sea. Through ethnographic work on boats off the Pacific coast of Colombia and the North Atlantic, this paper dwells deeper and explores how rhythmical movements affect the bodies of people working at sea, their perception, and interactions. Analyzing experiences of nausea and the development of sealegs, and their underlying physiology, this research elucidates the role of rhythmical movements articulating respiration, neuroendocrine responses, perception, and interactions with others human or not human and with the environment, suggesting a potential physiology underlying perspectival exchanges observed in Amerindian perspectivism.