Columnists
Gitmit, Gitmit -
Linguistic Overload:
Janam Da Firangee,
Sikhi Main Mangee
FATEHPAL SINGH TARNEY
gitmit (Punjabi - noun): unintelligible talk, especially if it is in a foreign language; incomprehensible babble. Often referred to someone talking in English amidst Punjabi-speaking company. [Dictionary]
In the American military, prior to arriving in Vietnam, I was assigned to a series of language courses in the Vietnamese language.
Once in the country, I had a keen interest in the Vietnamese people, their history and culture and my language skills improved quite quickly.
After the war and returning to civilian life, I had no occasion to use the language and it gradually disappeared from my brain. I was dealing with severe post-traumatic stress issues from the war and I suspect that any reminders of the language simply triggered bad memories for me.
Back in college, I developed an interest in what was then Portuguese Africa and in Brazil and began studying the Portuguese language. I was making great progress in my fluency when I moved to south Florida. In those days, there were few if any Brazilians. On account of the large Cuban population, I began learning Spanish. Spanish and Portuguese are related, I suppose, in much the same way as Hindi and Punjabi. In other words, there are many similar, if not identical words.
As time went on, my Spanish improved markedly whilst my Portuguese diminished. I joke with my Brazilian friends that as soon as I had forgotten my Portuguese, a half million Brazilians decided to come to south Florida!
For over three decades, I have been learning more and more Punjabi. However, mein siraf thhorri jehi punjabi boldaa haan. There are times when I feel like the Chinese acrobat twirling a series of plates on four sticks; trying to keep them all spinning, handling: English, Punjabi, Spanish and some Portuguese.
For example, we have a housekeeper from Colombia. I have been known to greet her with “Muy buenos dias, ki haal hai?”
It occurred to me some time ago, that Punjabi is a far more precise language than English. Take, for instance, kinship terms. Yes, Punjabis often use the terms “Uncle ji” and “Aunty ji” in the generic sense as a respectful way of referring to adults, including non-relatives. However, there are also those very specific names for various brothers and sisters of one's parents … plus their respective spouses.
We have Taaiaa ji atay Taa-ee ji; Chaacha ji atay Chaachi ji; Maaserr ji atay Maassi ji; Maama ji atay Maami ji; Bhua ji atay Phupherr ji and so forth.
I have given some thought to other words. The English word “hot,” is interesting and instructive. This word can mean: temperature, spicy, attractive, and popular [trendy, fashionable].
Once again, in Punjabi we have very specific words: garam [hot temperature], masaaledaar / karaarra [spicy], sundar, khubsoorat, and even pataaka [smashingly pretty, attractive, etc.- in slang].
I asked a wonderful Punjabi Sikh friend to assist me with this column and suggest some Punjabi words for popular / trendy / fashionable. He came up with three possibilities: parchaalat, rivaaj atay pasand.
We are both asking for input from other Punjabi speakers on this.
Kirpa karke madad karo ji!
April 20, 2015
Conversation about this article
1: T. Sher Singh (Mount Forest, Ontario, Canada), April 21, 2015, 4:47 PM.
I believe that one of the greatest blessings we enjoy in life, past meeting our basic necessities comfortably, is the gift of language. Not just any particular language, but the cornucopia of tongues and all the literature and culture that accompanies each one of them. The more languages we make part of our lives, the richer we are. As you are, Fatehpal ji.
2: Sharan Kaur (Chandigarh, Punjab), April 21, 2015, 10:13 PM.
My favourite words -- unique to Punjabi, not necessarily in their linguistic origin but in the manner and meaning in which they are used -- fall within three categories. 1) Terms of endearment, such as 'sohna/sohni' (beautiful one) and 'mitthaa/mitthee' (sweet one). 2) Terms of abuse or swear words, but used to express either disdain or affection! For example, 'khotaa' (donkey), 'ulloo' (owl). 3) The extensive use of honorifics to convey respect and affection in ordinary, day-to-day parlance. Examples: 'ji', 'sahib/sahiba', 'sardar/sardarni', 'janaab'.
3: Sangat Singh (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), April 22, 2015, 12:04 AM.
Fatehpal Singh ji, what a delightful gallimaufry. Every time you pick your pen, you make it richer. Punjabi spoken in various dialects is unique. The only place it is all well preserved is in Guru Granth Sahib when Guru Sahiban spoke in their own and local dialects and not in any gitmit.
4: Kamal Singh (India), April 22, 2015, 6:24 AM.
I do not know the origins of these words, but they are close to the usage for popular / trendy / fashionable: mashhoor, reet. Mostly we use the word 'chull' in a sentence to describe current trends/fashion; like 'Ujj kull ehi chull reha hai'. Also, I believe we require an organized effort to add more words in the Punjabi language. Since we tend to describe things rather than create a new word. For example, the x-ray is described as 'undar di photo' (I do not think we have a word for 'photo' either.) And 'galvanize' (as in coating iron) is 'chitti chaddar'.
5: Ishnan Kaur (Brampton, Ontario, Canada), April 23, 2015, 11:46 AM.
Here's a lovely Punjabi term: 'Rudh Khalak". My mother used that term for my brothers when they came in after a day of playing outside. For a translation, picture Linus (from Peanuts) swathed in a cloud of dust. Now I use it (affectionately, of course!) for my husband. His retort (equally affectionate, I think): "Anparr Khatoon". Only in Punjabi!
6: Jagjit Kaur (Jalandhar, Punjab), April 23, 2015, 2:31 PM.
Ishnan Kaur ji has triggered my own memories and brought to the fore some of my favourite terms of endearment from yesteryear. I did not get to understand their literal meanings until much later in life and was, at first, shocked, and then amused, remembering who they came from and the context. Prima facie, they are vicious and cruel, but remember, they are used mostly by mothers with their children, and proved to be instant vents for anger and frustration and no more. Two that come to mind right away are: "teri jhaanni bal jaae" and "khasma nu khaa" or the variation - "khasma khaani/khaana".
7: Jiwand Singh (Manchester, United Kingdom), April 23, 2015, 4:23 PM.
My personal favourite is when I hear a Punjabi father chiding his son with the insult, "Oye, khottey da puttar" -- or "Oye, ulloo da patthaa." The first means "Hey, son of a donkey!" The second translates into "The progeny of an owl." [Both the owl and the donkey, on the subcontinent, symbolize stupidity.]