Saturday, June 18, 2011

Switching Languages

Well, it's not the first time to happen to me, but many times. I feel it is very strange. Sometimes, I also feel that people are strange. I don't really have an answer for this. But, I am never concerned about it. I just accept it as a joke on my part :)

First time it happened to me in my college during my first year of engineering. It was a mechanical lab session where all the students where are asked to solder some pieces metal together in order to form a required shape. I went to the lab assistant asking for more pieces of lead. You know, we had to melt those pieces, using a soldering gun, on the joints. I said, "Sir, box khaali aagide, Lead pieces illa. Nanage innu swalpa beku." in Kannada (The box is empty. There are no Lead pieces. I need some more). He stared at me with a great surprise. His eyes were bigger than they were. Now, I was surprised to see him taken aback wondering what made him to be surprised. I knew something went wrong. But what was it? He cleared his throat and finally he said "Hmm, tum  ek-do minute ke liye wait karo, mein leke aatha hoon." in Hindi (Wait for couple of minutes, I'll get them). This time, I was surprised to see him reply in a different language. I was about to say "OK sir, thank you" in Hindi when I started stammering because my tongue finds its difficult to switch languages quickly. I managed to say "Ada...ba...than...ka..da..", then tried very hard to stop talking and  managed to mute my voice. Later, I kept wondering - I think he understands Kannada, but he is unable to speak it or did he think I didn't know Kannada? What makes him think so? After a short while, I thought latter was true when he was talking to his colleagues in Kannada.

Later today a similar thing happened when I was waiting at a bus stop. It was quite late. I was doubtful whether I could catch a bus this time around. I asked a man who was standing close to me, "Sanjay Nagar ge hoguva bus sigabahude, eega?" in Kannada (Can I get a bus which goes to Sanjay Nagar by any chance now?). His quick reply was in English, "I am waiting for the same bus. We will be lucky if we get one. Time is already up. We might have missed it, but I am still waiting for it hoping that I did not miss it!". I nodded approvingly. This time I made sure my mouth is shut not to speak out anything! I was little surprised. It reminded of the situation which happened during my engineering. Again, after a while, I saw that man talking to a fellow passenger in Kannada.

These are the instances I can remember now. There are many more if I recall. There must be something about me that makes some people decide that I am a non Kannadiga. Am I so different by looks to some people that they fail to recognize me as a native Kannadiga? What's on me? I don't know. I just let it go. As long as it's not bothering me, I enjoy these moments and laugh about it. On a final note, beat this tongue twister:
How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? He would chuck, he would, as much as he could, and chuck as much as a woodchuck would if a woodchuck could chuck wood.

10 comments:

  1. Just 1 thing...ha ha ha....

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  2. TAPPU NINDALLAPPA NINNA COLOUR DAPPA.BVB attenderge northee tara kandidia. bus stand nallirongu hanga kandi think it adre bustand nallironu swalpa show hodana asta.

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  3. My problem is I cannot talk in Hubli kannada with people talking in bangalore kannada, I am no good at both anyway. But I dont know why I stammer or suddenly start to recollect words when switch happens.

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  4. I am impressed that people in India learn so many languages and dialects. Here in the US, we mainly know only English...a little embarrassing, really!

    (I came over from the Writers Post on FB!)

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    1. There are more than 20 languages spoken in India in different states and Hindi being the common across most of them. There's nothing to be embarrassed really if a country speaks one language....LOL

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    2. I want to visit India so much!! I just watched a video about a banyon tree near Calcutta that covers 3.5 acres! I want to see the Golden Temple, and eat all the wonderful food!! Plus, I want to see the really upscale part of Mumbai and stay at one of the really nice hotels!

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    3. Your welcome anytime. :) I'll try to guide u once you have made plans of your visit.

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    4. Thanks! It is high on my priority list!

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  5. This is funny Amit! I did not know there was a language called Kannada. What I want to know - is it pronounced the same as the name of my country, Canada? We have two official languages - English and French - but it would be far more cool if our other official language was Kannada!! hahaha!

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    1. Yeah..it is more or less pronounced similarly. But if you want to know the correct phonetics, check with Google or Wikipedia. Thanks for stopping by :)

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