Comments on: Singapore, Mumbai, Hubli, Belgaum

By: Martha

Martha — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 02:46:51 +0000

so yeah, I just now got around to reading this, but I must comment on the implication that we spoke no kannada - do not forget that we learned that most useful phrase (if you are one of two americans of non-indian heritage at a wedding in Hubli or Belgaum) . . . . “Kannada no burla” (I don’t speak kannada). of course, I don’t think that’s how you spell it.

By: Abby

Abby — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 15:46:11 +0000

when are you coming home? and when will you post some pictures from your trip?

By: BDEaston

BDEaston — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 02:17:35 +0000

OMGWTFBBQ!?! No updates? It’s… um, it’s some one’s birthday… Jes… no that’s not it, gisus, no… Oh, yeah Gio. But really, who cares about that guy? Or Jesus for that mater… Just, you know, post something.

Oh, and congratulations on not getting last in the league.

By: Colin

Colin — Sat, 16 Dec 2006 03:12:51 +0000

Punam will be the first to tell you that she doesn’t speak Kannada very well. Learning from her would be fraught with hazards!

For example, we were at her cousin’s wedding, and she was introducing me to some of her relatives. In English, you’d say something like “This is my husband, Colin.” The word ‘this’ doesn’t have to agree with anything. But Kannada appears to require gender agreement on its indexicals, and there are separate linguistic genders for animate and inanimate referents (or at least this is my current understanding). So when Punam went to say “This is my husband,” and used the inanimate form, resulting in her saying something like “This thing here is my husband…”, it got a laugh and a correction from the many aunties who were listening.

By: Abby

Abby — Fri, 15 Dec 2006 16:29:45 +0000

Martha ended up going?!?! I’m so jealous! And Col, for as liguistically gifted as you are, and for how long you and Punam have been together, exactly HOW is it that you DON’T speak Kannada?