Aren't you glad that laughter is so good for people? If nothing else, I can feel that I'm making the people around me healthier. You know there's a story coming. . .
Sometimes after work, I have an informal Tamil lesson from one of my Indian co-workers. Today I practiced some of the words on my way in to the office, while referring to my "cheat sheet." When I came in the door, I tried one phrase (basically "How are you?") out on the receptionist. I had to say it several times before she could figure out what language I was speaking, let alone understand the phrase. Not a resounding success.
I decided to try again with my teacher. Surely he would understand. Still took at least three repetitions, before he replied, while shaking with laughter, "I was doing fine before you got here."
Desperate for success, I tried again with another co-worker. Totally confused looks were my only reward. I gave up temporarily, needing to go do something that offered me some chance of success.
After lunch I pulled out my cheat sheet again, reminding myself to slow down and focus on speaking clearly. My third victim from the morning's fiasco was even willing to stand and chat with me, in English, but throwing around a few of my Tamil vocabulary words. As the three younger guys on the team returned from lunch, something came over me. I believed that I, even I, could speak Tamil and be understood. "Sappitingala?" ("Have you had your lunch?") I threw out, slowly and clearly. Yes (or maybe it was Yeah), came back the answer, accompanied by smiles and even applause. I probably shouldn't admit it, but I took a slight bow.
A little success made me crave more. (Heard in an unidentified Indian house in Chennai, "Didn't it sound like that foreign woman was asking someone over and over whether she had had her dinner, as she walked by?") I greeted my landlady this evening in English, so as not to immediately startle her, but followed it slowly and deliberately with "Sappitingala?" (The question also applies to dinner.) "Illai," she answered with a smile, and watched to see whether I understood her answer. I did!
3 comments:
Okay, Smartie, I suppose you're going to claim to be bi-lingual now!! So how do you say, "Have you had your breakfast?"
Sappitingala??
That's correct. So you know Tamil, too? Wow. The conversations we'll have when I get home!
And my answer to your question is aamaam (yes).
Well done and congratulations on your attempts !!
Now, what was the response by your friends to your attempts? (besides total confusion of what was coming out of your mouth). I bet they were pleased that you had tried and told you how good you were doing. That was my experience in a similar situation. I rarely got the sounds out right but they always seemed excited that I was trying.
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