The knots in the language
05/12/2012
Within the nautical vocabulary, the knots have their own name, sometimes somewhat shocking.
Each country, in most cases, names the nodes that do not match those of other countries.
Sometimes, the knots are known internationally with the name of Spanish, Portuguese, Cuban, etc. In this way, we have among others, the Cuban gaza, the Spanish guide Ace or the Spanish Bowline, known in Spain with the name trailer knot.
Therefore, this gives rise to the existence of the extensive vocabulary that gives its name to more than 4,000 cataloged knots, in addition to the different marine tasks that are carried out with them.
In ancient Egypt, knots were recorded that with different meanings were used as usual procedure to transmit messages from one place to another by a messenger.
In the pre-Columbian culture of America, the Quechua Indians of the Incas of Peru, who at that time did not know any type of writing, not even a hieroglyphic sign, used knots made from strands of vegetable fiber to convey a message. This original procedure used for the messages, took it to effect, following a simple code that allowed them to communicate from one village to another. This communication system called "quipus", can be compared to a simple language in which using knots in a certain order, it was possible to make sense of the most important things that the members of that ancient tribe of the Inca nation wanted to communicate.
Much of the information that we provide below has been provided by Francisco Rebollo or extracted from publications, to which we greatly appreciate your collaboration and friendship.