06-22-2007, 09:11 PM
Folks, sorry for a digression. I had always an interest to know the etymology of "bad words". <!--emo&
--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo--> How did the expressions grow? What were the external and internal influences. So let me start of with a sample and questions.
<b>Thevdiya Payan</b> (in tamil it is used to indicate a b@st@rd): 'Payan' means boy. Thevdiya is derived from 'Thevar Adiyarkal'. Thevar means god, adiyarkal means 'dedicated people'. Yes you guessed it correctly, it refers to the Devadasis. And we all know how the system degenerated to a level where some of them turned to become prostitutes. As a prostitute's son does not know his father (usually), the words are used.
The only <!--emo&
--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif' /><!--endemo--> swear word in Telugu I know is the equivalent to Thevdiya Payan. What is the etymology of the word "Nanja"?
In American English the words 'mo fu...' is prevalent. I am sure everybody knows what it means. Also there is a similar word in Hindi 'Madar.....' And kicking up a notch we also have 'Behan....' Fortunately or unfortunately tamil has similar words 'Okka...' (for sister) and 'Ungama....' (for mother)
Did we get influenced by the British, or did we influence the British? If we influenced the British, how did the Hindi and Tamil languages influence each other, w.r.t to these two words. Or is the "acts" implied by the swear words so universal in nature, that different groups evolved those words separately?
Note: I have heard the tamil words, and guessed that is it what it means. Never was able to confirm the meaning with friends or parents :-) I am not sure if the usage is through out Tamil Nadu. Definitely in 'Madras baashai' it is used. If it is just Madras, then it could point to influence from the Sowkcarpet folks.
I feel understanding the history behind the words, is one form of giving out our narrative. Almost all the time it points to our culture and tradition and way of life. If somebody wrote a book on "bad words" and narrate the history behind it, I would buy it.
--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif' /><!--endemo--> How did the expressions grow? What were the external and internal influences. So let me start of with a sample and questions.<b>Thevdiya Payan</b> (in tamil it is used to indicate a b@st@rd): 'Payan' means boy. Thevdiya is derived from 'Thevar Adiyarkal'. Thevar means god, adiyarkal means 'dedicated people'. Yes you guessed it correctly, it refers to the Devadasis. And we all know how the system degenerated to a level where some of them turned to become prostitutes. As a prostitute's son does not know his father (usually), the words are used.
The only <!--emo&
--><img src='style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif' /><!--endemo--> swear word in Telugu I know is the equivalent to Thevdiya Payan. What is the etymology of the word "Nanja"?In American English the words 'mo fu...' is prevalent. I am sure everybody knows what it means. Also there is a similar word in Hindi 'Madar.....' And kicking up a notch we also have 'Behan....' Fortunately or unfortunately tamil has similar words 'Okka...' (for sister) and 'Ungama....' (for mother)
Did we get influenced by the British, or did we influence the British? If we influenced the British, how did the Hindi and Tamil languages influence each other, w.r.t to these two words. Or is the "acts" implied by the swear words so universal in nature, that different groups evolved those words separately?
Note: I have heard the tamil words, and guessed that is it what it means. Never was able to confirm the meaning with friends or parents :-) I am not sure if the usage is through out Tamil Nadu. Definitely in 'Madras baashai' it is used. If it is just Madras, then it could point to influence from the Sowkcarpet folks.
I feel understanding the history behind the words, is one form of giving out our narrative. Almost all the time it points to our culture and tradition and way of life. If somebody wrote a book on "bad words" and narrate the history behind it, I would buy it.