DIL SE ..
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MORE ABOUT GREETINGS AND GESTURES |
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Raam, raam!
God, god! ·
Jay siya raam!
Victory holy god! ·
Raam jii kii jay!
God ‘sir’ of victory!
Unfortunately, the raam
greetings have now taken on a political meeting, since they have been
adopted by the Hindu fundamentalist party.
The word jay is very popular. At the river Ganges listen for people
saying ganga maai kii jay! (Gangs
mother of victory). This doesn’t translate well literally, so think of
it as being France kii jay! (Vice
la France!) ; Jay
rhymes with day, and maai is one
of several ways of saying mum or mother, you will probably hear
children screaming amaai!
In addition to the (non-religious) general greeting, Thiik
hay, there are several variations on this. For example:
Kyaa baat hay? What’s up? (Literally, what thing
is?) To which the reply is bas, thiik nahiin,
nothing, kyaa haal (chaal) hay?
(Literally, what condition is?). To which the reply is bas,
Thiik hay or Thiik Thaak.
Another reply, when things aren’t too good, is chelta
hay, (life) moves, i.e. I ‘m
surviving. Note that haal
and chaal rhyme with pal
not hall here, chaal has
no special meaning and is included only for the sound of it; similarly,
the Thaak in Thiik Thaak.
You come across namaste. It
is the standard word of Hindu greeting, and also describes the gesture,
which goes with it – of putting the hands together as if in prayer.
Whereas many men will offer to shake hands with you instead, women are
more hesitant. Muslims may use a gesture to accompany a salaam,
touching the forehead with the right hand. There are various other signs
and body language to look out for, Indians use their hands as much as the
Italians do when talking, and so should you. ·
Turning the palm upward, with gingers outstretched, and
raising one or both hands is done to add emphasis: for example when
someone says Vah! Kyaa baat hay?
(Literally, wow! what thing is?) I.e. brilliant ! ·
The head waggle. This often accompanies Achchhaa?
And expresses acknowledgement, not agreement. ·
Men will stick out the little finger of their left hand,
meaning I’m going for a pee ‘. ·
Men tapping the side of their nose mean girls or
prostitutes (Indian
women have their noses pierced) ·
Twisting a moustache upwards is often done by ‘
important ‘ people, especially the police, to show off (only certain
high – caste men are allowed to have a full moustache). It is also done
by other people to mock a bara-suhb,
a (big sir) or (big shot) ·
When measuring things, Indians may stretch out one hand
(palm up) and make a karate-chopping motion with the other, saying iska
kaimra itna lamba hay, (it’s this long) (literally, his
camera this much long is). ·
To get rid of beggars, people will make a dismissive
upward flick with their left hand or fingers. This is a contemptuous
gesture that you may not want to copy. ·
Holding both your ears is a sign of remorse. Children may
be told to do this. |