This is not about the 19th century exploits of Englishmen in the southern India. It’s a very short bit about some unusual ways in which the English language is used in South India. I am from the north and I live in the south (and I just love it here). Herewith
· Cool drinks: referred to as cold drinks in other parts of the world. · Cooling glasses: It’s not something, which holds a chilled drink. Its for dark-glasses.
· Co-brother: This has been written about by many people before. But its very apt and very south. For those who don’t know what a Co-brother is: if there are two men married to 2 sisters, then the men are co-brothers. Similarly 2 women, married to 2 brothers are co-sisters. Burt what happens when 2 brothers marry 2 sisters? Anybody’s guess, but certainly a co-mess.
· Own Brother: Since we often have extended / joint families, this “own” is to distinguish from a cousin. The north Indian equivalent is “sagga” bhai as opposed to just bhai. · Petrol bunk: Called petrol pump in the north.
· Tumbler: Another very apt word. A tumbler as opposed to a “glass” is made of metal, usually steel. A “glass’ (of the north Indian variety) may not be always made of glass. Also a tumbler often does not have a flat base, causing it to literally tumble, and hence the reason for using the word I suppose. The tumbler runneth over ! The closest in the north would be a “Lota” which is also the exact and literal translation of tumbler.
· Plantain: This is the southern equivalent for a banana. I have never understood why they use plantain and what IS the difference. So I checked and here are some answers from the Internet. A plantain (according to an American website) has a thicker skin, has more starch, is larger than a banana and is generally used for cooking rather than as a fruit. Banana on the other hand is a fruit, sweeter, smaller and not so thick skinned. But is that what my friends in the south mean when they go bananas or plantains ? And what about those chhutku things that are sold everywhere.. Banana-lets ?
Now what I am really hoping is that the people who read this will send in their own selection of similar words/ phrases.
· Cool drinks: referred to as cold drinks in other parts of the world. · Cooling glasses: It’s not something, which holds a chilled drink. Its for dark-glasses.
· Co-brother: This has been written about by many people before. But its very apt and very south. For those who don’t know what a Co-brother is: if there are two men married to 2 sisters, then the men are co-brothers. Similarly 2 women, married to 2 brothers are co-sisters. Burt what happens when 2 brothers marry 2 sisters? Anybody’s guess, but certainly a co-mess.
· Own Brother: Since we often have extended / joint families, this “own” is to distinguish from a cousin. The north Indian equivalent is “sagga” bhai as opposed to just bhai. · Petrol bunk: Called petrol pump in the north.
· Tumbler: Another very apt word. A tumbler as opposed to a “glass” is made of metal, usually steel. A “glass’ (of the north Indian variety) may not be always made of glass. Also a tumbler often does not have a flat base, causing it to literally tumble, and hence the reason for using the word I suppose. The tumbler runneth over ! The closest in the north would be a “Lota” which is also the exact and literal translation of tumbler.
· Plantain: This is the southern equivalent for a banana. I have never understood why they use plantain and what IS the difference. So I checked and here are some answers from the Internet. A plantain (according to an American website) has a thicker skin, has more starch, is larger than a banana and is generally used for cooking rather than as a fruit. Banana on the other hand is a fruit, sweeter, smaller and not so thick skinned. But is that what my friends in the south mean when they go bananas or plantains ? And what about those chhutku things that are sold everywhere.. Banana-lets ?
Now what I am really hoping is that the people who read this will send in their own selection of similar words/ phrases.
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