Speak Your Roots

Tag: colloquialisms

  • Ïoh motion

    The phrase "Ïoh motion" is an example of a humorous Khasi colloquialism where the Khasi word "Ïoh" has been combined with the English word "motion".

    "Ïoh" means to get and "motion" (literally momentum) symbolically refers to the motivation for something. "Ïoh motion" may be described as a sense of enthusiasm and the impetus a person feels in order to do something. For instance, feeling happy and motivated after a good conversation or after having a delicious meal 😂😂 Thus, "Ïoh motion" is usually associated with doing and completing a task at hand.

    In a Khasi sentence, it may be used thus:

    "Ani hadien ba ïa kren bad i Pa, nga ïoh motion ban pyndep syndon ïa ka shna kali."

    "Ïoh motion" is an interesting example of "Khalish", the combination of English and Khasi, in a way that the English is modified to suit the Khasi language.

    It is interesting how the merging of indigenous languages with English is happening around the world and shows the development and evolution of language. For Shillong, Meghalaya this is present mainly in urban areas where people use English daily in their communication with others.

    Khalish in particular leads to funny phrases and jokes which have a distinct ring and flavour to them. Though there will be many critiques, this phenomenon is here to stay and seems inevitable in the evolution of language.

  • Blooh Tayaw

    "Blooh tayaw" toh i rukom klam yong ki Puar iwa mut ya iwon iwon i kám iwa u bru sñiawsuk u u leh, kat kam i jingsñiaw yong o.

    Ye i u ong kamni: "I lai khwe tœ toh i blooh tayaw wot u sœ!"

    Tanqwa toh u kûnmo wa klam ki ki ini i ktien du hawa klam ke hi eh.

    "Blooh tayaw" ka dei ka jingong Pnar kaba lah ban pynkylla sha ka Khasi kum ka "Mluh taïew". Kane ka mut ïa kano kano ka kam kaba u briew u sngewtynnat ban leh kat kum ka jingsngew jong u.

    Ngi lah ban pyndonkam kumne: "Ka leit khwai te ka dei ka blooh tayaw jong u keiñ!"

    Tangba dei ban kynmaw ba kane ka jingong ka dei tang ka rukom kren kai bad haba kren biria.

    "Blooh tayaw" is a Pnar phrase which means any task or hobby a person is fond of and likes to do. It is literally translated as "a weekly salt".

    We can say for instance that if someone is fond of angling, then that is his "blooh tayaw".

    It should be remembered that this phrase is used only in colloquial and casual conversation and not in formal speech.

    Here is a Pnar phrase which is a witty way of referring to a person's hobby or something that he likes to do 🚴⛹️💃🤹 "Blooh tayaw" thus becomes a significant part of someone's way of life and personality. 😄😄

    🟡 Pnar, Khasi and English explication given by @speakyourroots