ALHU T'ACLÔ', giant lizard back

Geolocation

Relations

Item Relations

This Item Same string figure procedure: Item: TENGMA, the house

Graphical representation of this item’s relations

Citation

David Jabin, “ALHU T'ACLÔ', giant lizard back,” String figures, accessed February 24, 2026, https://stringfigures.huma-num.fr/items/show/91.
  • Overall presentation

  • Name : ALHU T'ACLÔ', giant lizard back

  • Creator : David Jabin

  • Contributor(s) : Rosita Friesen and Reinelia Pérez

  • Date : 2019-2020


  • Information on the string figure

    • General presentation of the string figure

    This string figure represents the back of of giant lizard (Salvator merianae) known as teju guasu in guarani language. This lizard can reach the size of 1,40 m and is a delicacy for Nivacle people and other groups of the Chaco. Nivacle people are called "People of the giant lizard) by the neigboring Manjui people.

    Construction method (ISFA)

    1. Opening A
    2. Proximally, insert 1345 into 2 loops.
    3. Transfer 2 loops to the wrists
    4. Pass the mouth away from you through the little triangle made by Wn and 1f. With the teeth, seize both 5n and Wf were they cross.
    5. Release 5
    6. Distally, insert 2 in the both teeth loops and transfer this loops to 2. Return to position.
    7. With R1 and R2 grab L1 loop and take it away from the finger. Rotate horizontally this loop 180 anticlockwise and proximally transfer it to both L1 and L5. Return to position.
    8. Repeat 7 on the R hand.
    9. Proximally insert 1 in both 2 loops (near the finger).
    10. Navaho 1(the lower 1 loop).
    11. Release W loops.
    12. Extend with both 2 pointing horizontally one to each other and with 1 and 5 pointing down.
  • Item references

  • Key words : String figures, Nivacle, paraguayan Chaco

  • Publisher : Laboratory SPHERE (UMR 7219, University of Paris & CNRS)

  • Rights : Creative Commons / Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA

  • Format : jpeg, mp4, text

  • Language : Nivacle, spanish

  • Location : Village of Samaria, Nivacle Unida Comunity, Boquerón Department, , Paraguay, South America.

  • Description : Nivacle string figure, method of construction, linguistic data, cultural aspects

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