|
Imagine you are trekking your way towards the
promised land and your knowledge of Nepali is as good as your
knowledge of Pali, then you sure need help. But then what's this
website for ? Here is first-hand account that will definitely give
a boost in your endeavor towards the promised land. Meet the
Wanderer who is exploring the mystical land of Sikkim, far away
from modern civilization where English is seen but not spoken.
Our Wanderer knows Nepali in bits but it is
effective and helpful. He greets people on way with folded hands
and says "Namaste" (common method of greeting people in
Sikkim) and the people are in his pocket. He is lost somewhere and
he asks for directions:
" Yo jaga ko naam kye ho? " (What's
the name of this place? jaga = place, naam = name, kye=what ).
"Peri Bhanno Hous" (Can you
repeat that? Pheri = repeat)
"<destination> Kaha chaa? " ( Where is
<destination>?" Kaha = where )
" Khati time laag cha ? " ( How
much time will it take? Kati = How much )
Satisfied, our Wanderer thanks them "
Dhanyanwad " (Thank you) and marches on. On his way he comes
across a beautiful monastery and he knows he has to capture it in
his camera. He asks politely to the monks " Ma photo linu
shakchu?" (May I take a photograph? Ma = I, linu shakchu =
take). Thanking them, he trudges on. Feeling hungry he settles on
a road-side restaurant and orders for snacks.
"Ek cup tato chay dinos na" (Get me a
cup of hot tea. Chay=tea, ek=one) Pointing to one of the food
stuff he asks "Yo Kye ho?" (What is this ? Kye = What, yo =
this). He wants hot water " Tato pani " or " Chiso pani
" ( pani = water, chiso = cold, tato = hot). When its time to pay
the bill " Bill lai dinos " ( Please bring the bill. Lai
dinos = please bring). Looking outside he sees a vehicle moving
towards his destination. Rushing outside he halts the vehicle
" Rhoki dinos " (Please halt). The Wanderer asks where the
vehicle is heading for. " Yo <vehicle> kaha zhancha
" ( Where this vehicle is going? Kaha=where). Our Wanderer is
happy to know that it is heading towards his destination. So he
asks for a lift, " Malai <destination> Lanus ".
Wanderer reaches a hotel and asks for a room "
Room kahli cha?" (Do you have a room vacant? kahli =
empty, vacant). Next morning feeling refreshed, he goes around
hunting for souvenirs and strikes up a real bargain." Khati?
" (How much), " Khaseri? " ( How), " Kyena yati maungo?
" ( Why is it so costly? Kyena = Why, maungo = costly), " Daam
gata dino hos " (Please reduce the price. Daam = price, gata =
reduce).
Later Wanderer feels sick " Jiyo
Sancho Chaina " (I am feeling ill) he tells and ask for
the doctor, " Doctor lai Bolia denu hous " (Please call the
doctor. Bolia denu = call for).
Later after recovering, he offers "
Dhanyanwad " to all those who helped him and heads for home.
All the local terms he learned during his stay in Sikkim however
remains strong. When asked about his visit to Sikkim, Our Wanderer
smiles and says " Shaatis! " (incredible).
|
