Inner
Internal Communication
Every body naturally hosts multiple beings, so communication between
them is an important skill to master. Without solid communication,
entities can cause harm to others that share their body, even
without meaning to, and they risk not being able to accomplish their
own goals if they are at odds with someone else's.
External communication between entities is facilitated through means
such as writing notes, leaving signs or objects, or employing the
help of other people from other bodies. These strategies are readily
employed by all people, especially when a body family is young and
internal communication is less reliable.
Internal communication, on the other hand, is a different skill
entirely. It is not always so simple, and it must be practiced
regularly. There are two types of internal communication: implicit
and explicit.
Implicit vs. Explicit
Implicit Communication
Implicit communication does not use language. The full range of
ways to implicitly communicate is vast, but some examples are
synesthesia cues and passive influence.
For synesthesia, entities perceive feelings as other sensations
such as colors or sounds, and they can use these associations to
convey their own thoughts to others. Seeing purple hover in the
edges of their vision could mean someone is unhappy with the
ambient temperature. Whistling and whooshing sounds could reveal
excitement about an upcoming party. The possibilities are
endless.
Passive influence occurs when an entity changes the behavior of
the body to make their thoughts and intentions known. One entity
may suddenly use the body to walk toward a fountain to say that
they really want a drink, actually. It may also be more subtle,
such as influencing the way their hand moves when casting a die.
Explicit Communication
Explicit communication happens when an entity uses language
directly to communicate with others in their body family. While
the body itself is not speaking, entities are speaking to each
other with words or sign language and engaging in conversations.
In any given head, two or more voices may chatter amongst
themselves without anyone else knowing.
Development
Implicit communication develops first. When a body is first born
and entities begin developing, they are not equipped with
language. The individual senses of "I"ness rely on overlaps in
their perception to communicate with each other at first.
Initial acquisition of language does not necessarily coincide with
immediate development of explicit communication, however. Because
early entities have experienced each other for so long, they may
find implicit communication faster and more predictable.
Entities that join the body family after they become more adept at
using language may be better primed for explicit communication,
but because it is not necessary there may not be enough to
persuade them to use it.
Children in the Ghawle Duarchy are given a lot of instruction on
how to internally communicate. There are standard curricula for
teaching fundamental skills that help facilitate internal
communication, such as journaling and cataloging entities.
Purpose
Together, body families need to coordinate to achieve mutual
goals. The ability to impart information to someone else is
integral to that coordination. Body families with poor internal
communication can struggle to do basic things because they may not
realize someone else is trying to do something differently,
essentially overwriting their work at best, or sabotaging it at
worst.