Kiva Language Learning 101: Learning the Words That Matter

[Guest]

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[Jill]

         In perusing the current Entrepreneur postings just now, I happily came across these. 
I was thinking -- even if we only end up learning, say, a few words in a particular language, turns out that Kiva is providing us an opportunity to learn some of the really important ones....

"Upendo" (Swahili for "love")
http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=30507

“Sonqollay”, (Quecha for "my heart")
http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=30650

"La Amistad" (Spanish for "friendship")
http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=28883
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       Language is fun.  It just occurred to me -- that in addition to posting translations for important words and concepts, here --
that we might learn from reading some of the Entrepreneurs' pages,

          We Can Also Use This Thread For Mining The Wealth of Potential Language Learning Pleasure That We Have Right Here
                                         In Our Happily Increasingly International KivaFriends Membership.

     We've already had Natasha, I have no idea where, give us an introduction into Aussie Slang and Common Phrases.
   
     Somewhere else, again, I have no idea where, the question of how other countries convey the befuddlement of the U.S. Americans' "It's Greek to Me" was talked about.  Each of our countries has all kinds of Expressions for which there are probably some pretty amusing counterparts in our brother and sister countries.

              Maybe someone could find those and post them here, and we could keep adding to them.....

                Why not Use This Thread As a Place to Play With and Maybe Even Learn A Little Language?

HooRoo (means "See You Later", I think that Natasha told us.  It's fun.  Try it.  HooRoo HooRoo HooRoo......)
Jill
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Jill (U.S.)**I wonder what they say in Greece when there's something they just can't make sense of--
        It's English to me ?  It's American to me?   
         Just wondering.

Robert (Luxembourg) ** When we don't understand something, we do like the Germans: we say that it's Chinese. Our French neighbours can choose between Hebrew and Chinese.     
http://www.kivafriends.org/index.php/topic,691.0.html

                     
                                                                 
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[Peter S]

"Tuwezeshane" - Swahili for “Let's help each other”
http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=27263

“Tuko pamoja” - Swahili for “we are all in this project together”
http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=7886
(see second journal entry)

"Asasah" - Urdu for "assets"
http://www.kiva.org/about/aboutPartner?id=60

Hooroo..

[Natasha]

Hooroo..

We've already had Natasha, I have no idea where, give us an introduction into Aussie Slang and Common Phrases.
  
 HooRoo (means "See You Later", I think that Natasha told us.  It's fun.  Try it.  HooRoo HooRoo HooRoo......)
Jill

      
G'day!! 

Jill & Peter, you guys made me laugh

Just to ensure that you are pronouncing the phrase correctly, the "H" is silent in "Hooroo"! 

So that you don't have to go searching for the links, I have added them here:
http://www.aussieslang.com/slang/australian-slang-b.asp?page=4
http://www.alldownunder.com/oz-u/slang/greetings.htm
http://www.australianexplorer.com/slang/phrases.htm
http://www.koalanet.com.au/australian-slang.html#H


I suspect that due to spending considerable time away from Australia in my formative years, I find Australian slang both colourful and amusing. I also find it amusing that there are subtle differences between the English dialects of British English, Australian English and American English, particularly when it pertains to the meaning of certain words, which can be relatively innocent to one but obscene to another! When looking through the "Aussie slang" links, I found phrases that aren't common anymore or that I haven't heard. I also noticed that sometimes certain phrases or words can be unique to certain states, although most of the phrases listed are universally understood here.

The first time I ever heard "Hooroo" was as a sign off by an Australian T.V Presenter, Don Burke (Burke's Backyard) and in later years when I started working on site. Although I don't normally use it, I also like the phrase as it is a warm way of saying "goodbye" or "see you later".

So to those of you who may find it amusing and perhaps informative, please enjoy reading through some Australian slang "translations"!

Cheerio,
Natasha

[Jill]

Good Morning, Natasha & Peter,
       Or is there a way to say "Good Morning" with a bit more of an Australian or English flavor?

       As you were posting, Natasha, I was searching the Forum for your Aussie lexicon from the other day.  I don't know how to do the "quotes thing" exactly right, but here it is... edited, just a bit. 

       By the way, somehow, your Australian candy bar, Violet Crumbles, has made it all the way to the Red Apple Grocery Store in Poulsbo, Washington.  They truly are delicious, with the most enticing wonderful bright shiny purple wrapper.  When one of my oldest childhood friends, now living near San Diego, was going through some really scary health worries, I packaged up a whole whole bunch of those Violet Crumbles, figuring they would travel a bit better than a bowl of chicken soup.  They proved to be "just the thing!"

Natasha: Wow just so that you guys don't look like "dills" or "drop kicks", allow me to translate some "dinky-di", "ridgy-didge" Aussie "lingo" for you (of course not all of us speak this way of course, in fact some of these phrases I haven't heard in a while,)..

"She'll be right", usually used as "she'll be right, mate" is a form of assurance, "it will work out" or "it will be ok"

For those who had no idea what I was referring to in terms of food, allow me to explain..

Vegemite - a spread that is pretty self explanatory. Works well with toast! A perennial favourite with school children usually accompanied with cheese in a "sanger" (sandwich)

Violet Crumbles - "chokkies" ie chocolates that have honey comb in the middle

Tim-Tams - "bikkies" ie. biscuits covered in chocolate with a smooth malt filling that come in variations including the alcoholic kind!

Fruit Tingles -  fruit flavoured "lollies" (sweets, candy) that are apparently a favourite of Princess Mary of Denmark

So from me now “Hooroo!” (see you later),
http://www.kivafriends.org/index.php/topic,1144.10.html

        and Natasha, lest any of us, perish the thought, unwittingly begin to take on the pathetic appearance of those dills or drop kicks,
please do keep the occasional delight of a dinky di**  or ridgy-didge coming.
         
        and Peter, your own British inimitable way of turning a phrase is much too rich for you to deprive us of the pleasure of a bit of that, as well.  And Everybody Else, whether from different countries, or colorful regions of the same countries,
This Is The Place!

** Reminds me of a rather unforgettable Maxfield Parrish gem, I think it was called Dinky Doo.  I'll have to go see if I can find it.  One or two of you may want to cover your eyes if I can.....

[Jill]

          Dinky***-Di, Dinky-Doo, Dinky Bird, all dinkies look alike to me.
Those of you who would be inclined to yip and snip, cover your eyes or leave the room.
For your information, this is Maxfield Parrish, one of our finest illustrators.
             Now, presenting.... for your (Art) Language Learning Pleasure..... Dinky Bird:

*** Dare I ask what a Dinky is, or are some things just better left to the imagination?
Anyway, I looked all over, but I couldn't  find one....

                                             

[Natasha]

please do keep the occasional delight of a dinky di**  or ridgy-didge coming.
         
        ** Reminds me of a rather unforgettable Maxfield Parrish gem, I think it was called Dinky Doo.  I'll have to go see if I can find it.  One or two of you may want to cover your eyes if I can.....

Hey Jill,

Yes I think violet crumbles are delicious too!

I not sure what Maxfield Parrish meant by "dinky" but in Aussie Slang, "dinky-di" means "true", "real", "genuine".  For example, if you say someone is a "dinky-di Australian", then it is similar to saying that they are "true blue" or a "fair dinkum Aussie".

I really like John Williamson's (an Australian country singer) explanation of "true blue"...

"A Pom in Coventry reckons the saying came from a mulberry orchard in his town. (Mulberries apparently were used in the old days to dye the blue coats of British Soldiers). And it was this one particular orchard that had the 'true blue' colour that the army preferred. Well, perhaps this is why in the USA 'True Blue' is more connected to the armed forces and their patriotism.

In Australia, however, it has come to mean the cream of 'fair dinkums'. I receive many letters from bereaved families telling me how they used this song to bury their "True Blue" Dad or Mum, Son or Daughter. And this helps me explain that it means all of the following:

1. An honest person to be trusted
2. His/her word is his/her bond
3. The person loves Australia and respects the nature of the land
4. Feels Australian and is proud of it
5. Cares about others. A really good mate
6. Something that is truly, unmistakably Australian. (Like "shouting" a beer in a pub or a kelpie dog)

The list could go on. I guess the same principles apply to any nation. But we happened to coin the phrase first".
http://www.johnwilliamson.com.au/html/body_trueblue.html


And here are the lyrics to the famous song "True Blue" by John Williamson. I included both versions of the song, so you can listen if you prefer!

Hey True Blue, don't say you've gone
Say you've knocked off for a smoko
And you'll be back later on
Hey True Blue, Hey True Blue
 
Give it to me straight
Face to face
Are you really disappearing,
Just another dying race,
Hey True Blue.
 
True Blue, is it me and you?
Is it Mum and Dad, is it a cockatoo?
Is it standing by your mate
When he's in a fight?
Or will she be right?
True Blue, I'm asking you...
 
Hey True Blue, can you bear the load?
Will you tie it up with wire,
Just to keep the show on the road?
Hey True Blue, Hey True Blue, now be Fair Dinkum 

Is your heart still there?
If they sell us out like sponge cake
Do you really care?
Hey True Blue.
 
True Blue, is it me and you?
Is it Mum and Dad, is it a cockatoo?
Is it standing by your mate
When she's in a fight?
Or will she be right?
True Blue, I'm asking you...
True Blue, is it me and you?
Is it Mum and Dad, is it a cockatoo?
Is it standing by your mate
When he's in a fight?
Or will she be right?
True Blue ... True Blue.
 
True Blue: Steadfast loyal Australian who displays the Aussie ideals of a fair go for all, mateship, having a go, and solving problems.

Smoko: To 'knock off for a smoko' is to have a break for a coffee, tea or cigarette.

Fair Dinkum: Virtually the same as True Blue - honest, reliable, trustworthy, dinki-di; someone who has embraced the Aussie attitudes to everything, especially mateship. 'Are you fair dinkum?' means 'are you telling the truth?'

[Peter S]

Tujikwamue - Swahili for “progressing from one stage to another”
http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=26456

"Amka" - Swahili word meaning ‘Arise’
http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=27615

Qory Qaytu - meaning "Golden Thread" in Quechua
http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=29565

"Al Ata" - meaning "the sharing" in Arabic
http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=businesses&action=about&id=19959

"Lakeza" - meaning “grace” in Lwo/Luo
http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/2007/08/06/greetings-from-uganda/

‘Hluvuku’ - meaning "development" in the Ronga dialect of Bantu
http://fellowsblog.kiva.org/2007/07/23/oi-de-mocambique/

"Ahimsa"  - a Sanskrit word meaning "kindness to all life" or "non-harming"
http://www.kiva.org/lender/laurieandbw1951

. . . and Peter, your own British inimitable way of turning a phrase is much too rich for you to deprive us of the pleasure of a bit of that, as well. . .

Would you Adam and Eve it, ain't got no lemon, got to scarper down the frog to sausage a gregory at the iron.

[Jill]

Would you Adam and Eve it........ sausage a gregory ...

        No, Peter, I never would have Adam and Eve’d it *** that your posting a bit of English slang on my new Learning Language thread would provide me the loveliest of excuses to wallpaper the forum with pictures of my alltime love of all loves, that Gregory you wanted to sausage, 

who, in his Atticus Finch (To Kill A Mockingbird) incarnation, was probably responsible for more young American idealists choosing law as a career than any other human being, fictional or real.

Heard on Johnny Vaughan’s radio show recently. A shifty looking man asked a shop assistant if he could ‘sausage a Gregory’. The shop assistant looked bemused and the man repeated his request –
 ‘Can I sausage a Gregory?’ It turned out he was using cockney rhyming slang - he wanted to cash (sausage and mash) a cheque (Gregory Peck)
http://thejargonbasement.com/sausaging-a-gregory/

*** Cockney Rhyming Slang uses "Adam and Eve" to mean "believe" (e.g. "Would you Adam and Eve it?", meaning "Would you believe it?").
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_and_Eve

                                                             
                                                             

[Jill]

Hey Natasha,
      I just now listened to True Blue.   I have a couple of questions.
First:  Is it .... (is it just going to be), me and Peter and you,      or
         Is it a cockatoo?

My next question: I watched both videos closely, looking all over, but couldn't find, so wanted to know
Where Was Russell Crowe?!

        Well, best knock off for a smoko.
        Aussiespeak is very fun.  Thanks.
        HooRoo, HooRoo.

[Diane R]

I've been learning a lot from this thread.  Thank you, everyone, for helping expand our horizons.

hugs all 'round,
--Diane.