Punjabi for Beginners

Though Punjabi folks formally greet with a “Sat Sri Akal” (Truth is the Timeless being) but in informal situations we are known to save a lot of time with a brief but profound ‘Kiddan” or “Kiwen” (How?). Brevity however is misleading considering that these compact words pack a bunch of important questions, which may include, but not limited to the following – How are you?, How is your wife?, How are the children? and Where are we getting together for a drink tonight? The answer to such a question is equally brief. “Uwen” is uttered with a slight jerk of the neck, which answers all – I am fine. Wife has gone shopping. Children are making me bankrupt and we are getting together at the same place as yesterday.

Love: Punjabi Style
Amitabh Bachhan misled many young hearts, when he lip-sync’d….Angrezi mein kehte hain, I love you…Punjabi mein…Main tainu pyaar kardan. Though he was correct in his translation but practically speaking, no Punjabi man could ever say “Main tainu pyaar kardan” with a straight face. If someone did manage the feat after a lot of practice, Punjabi women simply refused to believe him. Some were even chased with famous feminine footwear from Patiala. Let’s face it, Punjabi men are more known for their durability rather than the prowess in finer points of amor. Exception again lies in brevity. As many will testify to its truth and power; if uttered at the right time and at just the right frequency – “Sonyon”(O beautiful one !) can do wonders….I mean wonders.

Getting rough with the language
Let’s examine a popular expression of roughness in English….I am going to %&*# you. Now this expression has all the elements – Object, Subject, a verb, an infinitive and even a gerund. Only thing this expression lacks is date and exact time of the day - on wednesday at 0245 hrs. On the contrary, the equivalent Punjabi expressions are generally incomplete. Often just one word “Teri….” (Your) is uttered with a meaningful menace. Rest of the words are just left hanging in the air and actual completion “Something will be done to Your someone” is left to the listener’s imagination. Now there are many occasions when an object (usually one of the listener's family member) does get inserted into the expression. And when that happens, rest assured, mayhem is about to break loose.

Notables
“Chak”
Arguably, “Chak de” is the most well-known of the Punjabi phrases in non-punjabi community. The literal meaning of the phrase is “Lift it” but closest meaning is perhaps “Go for it”. Outside Punjab, the phrase has been made well-known by some large girth Bhangra-pop singers with visual aid from scantily clad back swingers and most recently a Bollywood flick “Chak De India”. However, the use of “Chak” with its variations goes beyond the musical beats and Bollywood fiction. Often used as an inspirational war-cry, when a fight is about to break out – Chak de Phatte (Lift the planks) …….. and a perspiration-al use when same fight is about to end with one party on the losing end – Sada kamm ithe Chak hon lagga (Our fate is about to be done here). If you want to make a Punjabi consume an extra drink even after he just finished the bottle – Sochda ki aan, Chak de? (What are you thinking, Go for it). When a teenage boy confides to his college going cousin,”I think neighbor’s daughter likes me”.....“Chak de kaka Chak de” is invariably the elderly advice.

“Hor”
This puny word has very large implications through its prevalent use and transcendental meaning. For beginners, the word “Hor” has been largely responsible for a significant part of the revenues of phone companies serving international service to Punjab. Starting Friday evening, phrases “Hor Kiddan?” (What else is up), “Hor Kamm Kiddan?” (And how is work), “Main tainu Hor ki dassan” (And what else should I tell you), and a very popular “Hor paise bhej” (Send more money) cross the ocean at very high decibel levels throughout the weekend. And even when there is nothing to say, the trusted filler “Hor Phir” (What more) collides head-on with “Hor Phir” from the other end. Considering that acoustics of this innocuous Punjabi word “Hor” are very similar to particularly popular English pejorative for “lady of the night”, FBI had to start ignoring the weekend flags raised by its wire-tapping computers. They almost missed Eliot Spitzer but he made his tryst with a real “HOR” on a weekday…..Ha! There is also no surprise that my dear friend Mauji has never missed an opportunity to recant his Hor-liners. His favorites…..”Ghare Hor haigi aa?” (Is there more at home) and “Ja, Hor lai aa” (Go, Bring some more) . The tonal character of “Ghare Hor haigi aa” and ‘Ja, Hor lai aa” is supposed to let the listener know what “Hor” is being asked for, however, on occasion, some beginners do ask “Hor ki?” (what more?). And, invariably, this is met with a somewhat agitated return “Sanjeevni Booty, Hor Ki” (Sanjeevni Booty, What else). [Note : Discussion of “Sanjeevni Booty” is beyond the scope of beginners and even many advanced texts]. Until the next installment of this linguistic discourse, I take off with a respectful “Hor Ji, Phir Milan ge” !!!!