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Subject: Fwd: Tamil as she is spoke(n)
Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2001 22:20:55 -0500
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From: "L. Suresh Kumar-LSK"
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----- Original Message -----
From: "L. Suresh Kumar-LSK"
To:
Sent: Friday, December 21, 2001 10:03 PM
Subject: Re: Tamil as she is spoke
Dear Friend
The opening line is something I disagree completely.
>Of all the dialects of Tamil in the world, the one spoken in
>Madras is indisputably the most elegant and most popular, to say
>the least.
I guess, the rest of the article is for the amusement of Chennai folks.
Thank you for this interesting mail.
Regards
- Suresh - http://www.egroups.com/messages/lsk/
----- Original Message -----
From:
To: "L. Suresh Kumar-LSK"
Sent: Friday, December 21, 2001 09:25 PM
Subject: Tamil as she is spoke
Subj: 'yaamarinda mozhigalile thamizh mozhiyaipol----
Date: 11/4/2001 6:43:28 AM Eastern Standard Time
From:
To:
CC:
Of all the dialects of Tamil in the world, the one spoken in
Madras is indisputably the most elegant and most popular, to say
the least. While some may argue that the primary reason for this
is the relative simplicity of the dialect, many consider the
"broad-mindedness" the Madras folks have demonstrated in
acclimating to the liberalization policy of the Indian
govurmentu. pinna ennaba, newspaper edtha enga pathalum
liberliseshan... attha vutta TN Seshan!
The aesthetic quality of Madras Tamil comes from the fact that a
classical (and old) language like Tamil is given that
contemporary touch by the constructive intrusions from languages
like Hindi, Telugu, Greek, Italian, Persian and most importantly
English (naduvula konjam uttaks naina). As a result, the language
may sound uncivilized, from the point of view of the Madurai
folks, who seemingly say 'Vaanga.. ponga..' even before 'veesing'
the 'veecharuvaa' and the Coimbatore folks who add this sickening
slur to every statement... and in their obsession with pure Tamil
curb the unfettered evolution of the language, thereby leading to
little or no development of the language itself. For instance,
words like 'bejaar', 'peela', 'saavu graaki' have no sense and no
equivalents in the Southern dialects of tamil. Certainly an
inexplicable loss to Tamil Language!
Now, really getting into the mechanics of the spoken language,
the most important point is the relative position of the lips
while speaking. While most tamil dialects involve a cavity of 2
inches between the lips, Madras tamil involves a much lesser gap
(0.5 to 1.2 Inches). Mastering the exact position is half the
language learnt. Assuming we're using flash cards, let this be
Card# 1.
All words -- more specifically, all verbs need to be consistently
shortened adhering to a set of strict rules. padiththu(read),
mudiththu(complete), sabiththu(curse) will be gracefully
shortened as 'Pachchi', 'muchchi', 'sabchi'. Note the conversion
of the syllable 'da' to 'cha'. This is essentially true for the
entire gamut of emotions to be conveyed in Madras Tamil.
'kondirukkiren' is converted for simplicity to '...nikkeren'. As
a corollary, 'padiththu kondirukkiren' 'pachchi-nikkeren'
'kuliththu kondirukkiren' 'kulchi-nikkeren'
Readers can understand immediately that this was done to save
time, so that in the same period of time a Madras Tamilar can
convey 1.5 times that of a Madurai Tamilar and 5000 times that of
a Coimbatore Tamilar (depending on the length of the drawl...
like 'yaeeeeeeenunga?')
One anomaly to this shortening rule is, some words get suffixed
with the syllable 'ka'. So, summa summaka dhoora dhooraka
Let's say this is Card# 2.
Madras Tamil does not use 'neenga' and 'nee' in different
contexts. In fact, only 'nee' is used. This is not a deliberate
attempt to degrade someone in public, but to offer a level
playing field for everyone. So if the auto-karan asks 'enga
ponum, unakku?' do not feel offended. This is Card# 3.
'da' is used by ALL IIT guys and ALL policemen for quite
different reasons. The tone of 'ennada, license enga, vootlaya?'
and 'what da, where is the Jantha, da?' are self-explanatory.
Incidentally, all words beginning with 'vee' can be
unconditionally substituted with 'voo'. So 'Veedu' 'voodu'
'Vittuvidu' 'vuttudu'.
Coming back to 'da', a euphemism for that would be 'ba'. So a
'ennada' would be made to sound much less offensive with
'ennaba'. Other less effective words, principally used among
friends include 'naina', 'vaadhyaare', machi',
'berther'(brother), 'allo'(hello)... the list is endless. When it
comes to expressing intimacy and friendship, Madras Tamil is the
best in the world. This is Card# 4.
'enna'(what?) in Madras is 'yeenaa?'. So, combining equations (2)
and (5), (sorry ba, 12th Maths madhiree aaychee) 'yeenaa
pachchinikkera?', 'yeenaa kachinikkera?'. This is Card# 5.
The syllable 'zha'(as in tamizh) becomes 'ya'. So, 'vaazhai
pazham' is 'vaaya payam', 'vaazhkai' is 'vaaykai', 'vazhukki' is
'vaykki'. Off the record, 'zha' is a pain in the butt. More than
95% of Tamil Nadu substitutes it with 'ya' or 'la'. This is Card#
6.
When it comes to borrowing words from other languages
'Madrassukku nigar Madrasse'. English words can be used in any
context without feeling alien. 'wrongu', 'rightu', 'yechuse me',
'adjist', 'abase', 'abscond', 'beetiful', 'super', 'fruitu',
'pilim', 'figureu' and so on. Hindi has its contributions like
'bejaar'. Telugu: 'naina', 'baava', 'eppudu', 'cheppu' etc. Many
such languages have their representations all of which cannot be
listed here. Also singular and plurals in English are inversed.
So, even one lady becomes 'ladees', one friend becomes 'priends',
a vegetable puff becomes 'puphs' etc. Note: Never forget (1) and
(3) even while using other languages.
Miscellany: Superlatives are mostly functions of time and fame.
But some superlatives like 'Lord Labakdas' ,'Amrican citizen',
'Columbus', 'pisathu', 'pistha' can be used at any time,
anywhere, guaranteed. The etymology of these words are unknown.
Slangs are very important in Madras. Especially while drunk,
during 'kozha adi sandai' and in the 'paal booth'. 'saavu
graaki', 'somaari', 'kasmalum' can be used as and when required.
(Tamil spoken at Ethiraj, Stella Maris is entirely different and
is beyond the scope of this article.)
At this point it would be apt to mention that though this
cookbook would carry you through your daily chores in Madras,
time and experience alone would increase your expertise in Madras
Tamil - the Language of the 'Lords'.
policy of the Indian govurmentu. pinna ennaba, newspaper edtha
enga pathalum liberliseshan... attha vutta TN Seshan!
The aesthetic quality of Madras Tamil comes from the fact that a
classical (and old) language like Tamil is given that
contemporary touch by the constructive intrusions from languages
like Hindi, Telugu, Greek, Italian, Persian and most importantly
English (naduvula konjam uttaks naina). As a result, the language
may sound uncivilized, from the point of view of the Madurai
folks, who seemingly say 'Vaanga.. ponga..' even before 'veesing'
the 'veecharuvaa' and the Coimbatore folks who add this sickening
slur to every statement... and in their obsession with pure Tamil
curb the unfettered evolution of the language, thereby leading to
little or no development of the language itself. For instance,
words like 'bejaar', 'peela', 'saavu graaki' have no sense and no
equivalents in the Southern dialects of tamil. Certainly an
inexplicable loss to Tamil Language!
Now, really getting into the mechanics of the spoken language,
the most important point is the relative position of the lips
while speaking. While most tamil dialects involve a cavity of 2
inches between the lips, Madras tamil involves a much lesser gap
(0.5 to 1.2 Inches). Mastering the exact position is half the
language learnt. Assuming we're using flash cards, let this be
Card# 1.
All words -- more specifically, all verbs need to be consistently
shortened adhering to a set of strict rules. padiththu(read),
mudiththu(complete), sabiththu(curse) will be gracefully
shortened as 'Pachchi', 'muchchi', 'sabchi'. Note the conversion
of the syllable 'da' to 'cha'. This is essentially true for the
entire gamut of emotions to be conveyed in Madras Tamil.
'kondirukkiren' is converted for simplicity to '...nikkeren'. As
a corollary, 'padiththu kondirukkiren' 'pachchi-nikkeren'
'kuliththu kondirukkiren' 'kulchi-nikkeren'
Readers can understand immediately that this was done to save
time, so that in the same period of time a Madras Tamilar can
convey 1.5 times that of a Madurai Tamilar and 5000 times that of
a Coimbatore Tamilar (depending on the length of the drawl...
like 'yaeeeeeeenunga?')
One anomaly to this shortening rule is, some words get suffixed
with the syllable 'ka'. So, summa summaka dhoora dhooraka
Let's say this is Card# 2.
Madras Tamil does not use 'neenga' and 'nee' in different
contexts. In fact, only 'nee' is used. This is not a deliberate
attempt to degrade someone in public, but to offer a level
playing field for everyone. So if the auto-karan asks 'enga
ponum, unakku?' do not feel offended. This is Card# 3.
'da' is used by ALL IIT guys and ALL policemen for quite
different reasons. The tone of 'ennada, license enga, vootlaya?'
and 'what da, where is the Jantha, da?' are self-explanatory.
Incidentally, all words beginning with 'vee' can be
unconditionally substituted with 'voo'. So 'Veedu' 'voodu'
'Vittuvidu' 'vuttudu'.
Coming back to 'da', a euphemism for that would be 'ba'. So a
'ennada' would be made to sound much less offensive with
'ennaba'. Other less effective words, principally used among
friends include 'naina', 'vaadhyaare', machi',
'berther'(brother), 'allo'(hello)... the list is endless. When it
comes to expressing intimacy and friendship, Madras Tamil is the
best in the world. This is Card# 4.
'enna'(what?) in Madras is 'yeenaa?'. So, combining equations (2)
and (5), (sorry ba, 12th Maths madhiree aaychee) 'yeenaa
pachchinikkera?', 'yeenaa kachinikkera?'. This is Card# 5.
The syllable 'zha'(as in tamizh) becomes 'ya'. So, 'vaazhai
pazham' is 'vaaya payam', 'vaazhkai' is 'vaaykai', 'vazhukki' is
'vaykki'. Off the record, 'zha' is a pain in the butt. More than
95% of Tamil Nadu substitutes it with 'ya' or 'la'. This is Card# 6.
When it comes to borrowing words from other languages
'Madrassukku nigar Madrasse'. English words can be used in any
context without feeling alien. 'wrongu', 'rightu', 'yechuse me',
'adjist', 'abase', 'abscond', 'beetiful', 'super', 'fruitu',
'pilim', 'figureu' and so on. Hindi has its contributions like
'bejaar'. Telugu: 'naina', 'baava', 'eppudu', 'cheppu' etc. Many
such languages have their representations all of which cannot be
listed here. Also singular and plurals in English are inversed.
So, even one lady becomes 'ladees', one friend becomes 'priends',
a vegetable puff becomes 'puphs' etc. Note: Never forget (1) and
(3) even while using other languages.
Miscellany:
Superlatives are mostly functions of time and fame. But some
superlatives like 'Lord Labakdas' ,'Amrican citizen', 'Columbus',
'pisathu', 'pistha' can be used at any time, anywhere,
guaranteed. The etymology of these words are unknown.
Slangs are very important in Madras. Especially while drunk,
during 'kozha adi sandai' and in the 'paal booth'. 'saavu
graaki', 'somaari', 'kasmalum' can be used as and when required.
(Tamil spoken at Ethiraj, Stella Maris is entirely different and
is beyond the scope of this article.)
At this point it would be apt to mention that though this
cookbook would carry you through your daily chores in Madras,
time and experience alone would increase your expertise in Madras
Tamil - the Language of the 'Lords'. Of all the dialects of Tamil
in the world, the one spoken in Madras is indisputably the most
elegant and most popular, to say the least. While some may argue
that the primary reason for this is the relative simplicity of
the dialect, many consider the "broad-mindedness" the Madras
folks have demonstrated in acclimating to the liberalization.
