JOSINÔJÔTAS, the cormorants
Geolocation
Citation
David Jabin, “JOSINÔJÔTAS, the cormorants,” String figures, accessed February 24, 2026, https://stringfigures.huma-num.fr/items/show/118.
- Overall presentation
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Name : JOSINÔJÔTAS, the cormorants
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Creator : David Jabin
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Contributor(s) : Celestino Friesen and Reinelia Pérez, Samaria village, Nivacle Unida comunity, Central Chaco, Paraguay.
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Date : 2019-2020
- Information on the string figure
This string figure represents a group of young neotropic cormorants (Phalacrocorax brasilianus). For some practicioners this figure represents a group of pigeons and is called OFOTAS (Paloma picazuro).
1. Opening A
2. Proximally, insert 1345 into 2 loops.
3. Transfer 2 loops to the wrists.
4. Pass the mouth distal to 1 loops, with the teeth seize 5f.
5. Release 5.
6. Proximally, insert 5 in the teeth loops to transfer this loop to 5. Return to position.
7. With the teeth seize 1n.
8. Release 1.
9. Distally, insert 1 in the teeth loops to transfer this loop to 1. Return to position.
10. With R1and R2 grab both L1f and L5n and release L1 and L5. Twist LW anticlockwise.
Proximally, insert L1 and L5 in their former loops.
11. Repeat 10 with the opposite hand.
12. With R1 and R2, grab L1n and pass it to the dorsal face of the left hand, grab L5f and pass it to the dorsal face of the left hand. The former L1n and L5f are now crossed in dorsal position.
13. Repeat 12 with the opposite hand.
14. With R1 and R2, wrap L1 with L1f and L5 with L5n.
15. Repeat 14 with the opposite hand.
16. With R1 and R2 proximally transfer LW loop to L1 and L5.
17. Repeat 16 with the opposite hand.
18. In the same movement, insert 12345 in the large triangles (in the center of the figure), extend and display the figure vertically.
2. Proximally, insert 1345 into 2 loops.
3. Transfer 2 loops to the wrists.
4. Pass the mouth distal to 1 loops, with the teeth seize 5f.
5. Release 5.
6. Proximally, insert 5 in the teeth loops to transfer this loop to 5. Return to position.
7. With the teeth seize 1n.
8. Release 1.
9. Distally, insert 1 in the teeth loops to transfer this loop to 1. Return to position.
10. With R1and R2 grab both L1f and L5n and release L1 and L5. Twist LW anticlockwise.
Proximally, insert L1 and L5 in their former loops.
11. Repeat 10 with the opposite hand.
12. With R1 and R2, grab L1n and pass it to the dorsal face of the left hand, grab L5f and pass it to the dorsal face of the left hand. The former L1n and L5f are now crossed in dorsal position.
13. Repeat 12 with the opposite hand.
14. With R1 and R2, wrap L1 with L1f and L5 with L5n.
15. Repeat 14 with the opposite hand.
16. With R1 and R2 proximally transfer LW loop to L1 and L5.
17. Repeat 16 with the opposite hand.
18. In the same movement, insert 12345 in the large triangles (in the center of the figure), extend and display the figure vertically.
- Item references
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Key words : String figures, Nivacle, paraguayan Chaco
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Publisher : Laboratory SPHERE (UMR 7219, University of Paris & CNRS)
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Rights : Creative Commons / Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA
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Language : Nivacle, spanish
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Location : Village of Samaria, Boquerón Department, Paraguay, South America.
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Description : Nivacle string figure, method of construction, linguistic data, cultural aspects