Learning English the American way
I have read an excellent article in Khabar on
American vs. British English language usage [“My Word: Cookies over Biscuits,” by Shashi Tharoor, January 2018].
Unlike Tharoor (left) [who came to the USA in 1975
to study for his Master’s and Master of Arts in Law
and Diplomacy from Tufts University, and is now
in India], I graduated in science from Gujarat
University in 1979 and immigrated to the USA in
2006. From day one in the USA, I saw plenty of
queer usages of English words on highway signs and
in conversation.
For example, we see road signs on bridges saying
“Do Not Pass.” As an Indian, our mind thinks
“Stop Over There and Do Not Enter” until we learn
that American “pass” is used to mean the British
“overtake.”
When someone goes to the post office here to buy
a “ticket” or “postal ticket,” the post office clerk will
look them up and down because “ticket” here is the
note given by a police officer for a driving violation.
One should use the word “stamp” instead.
A funny thing in America is the usage of the
words “lake” and “hill.” In our understanding, a lake
is substantially large, and a hill is more than 100
to 200 feet high. Here, in my short 7-mile daily commute,
there are fourteen signs for hills—which are
less than 10 feet high—and there are three lakes—
which are less than a quarter square mile in area!
You can also be surprised to see that the word “lake”
is used for Lake Michigan—which is as big as a sea!
Other words which one cannot guess are “gas”
for “petrol,” car “trunk” for car “dicky,” and “glasses”
for “spectacles.” A “correctional center” or “prison”
is a “jail.”
One more funny thing we can experience in
America is the good-natured use of the words
“girlfriend” or “honey,” which can sometimes be
used in a friendly or kind way, even to address a
95-year-old lady!
Mahesh Patel
by email
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Khabar: A magazine for
anyone, and everyone
I started reading Khabar magazine several years
ago. Although the targeted audiences are South
Asians living in the greater Atlanta area, I recommend
that people of all cultures, ethnicities, religious
backgrounds, races, etc. read this magazine. It is a
terrific magazine.
Khabar provides news and information that
reaches out to more than just Hindus, but also
Buddhists, Christians, Jews, Muslims, and many
others. The monthly calendar is loaded with
upcoming events, workshops, publications, and
religious gatherings.
I think there is a general theme to Khabar, and
that theme is the importance of being unbiased
and nonjudgmental. Readers are encouraged to
read the articles and draw their own conclusions.
Of one thing I am sure—you will become better educated
and possess more information than you might
think possible.
Tim Parrish
Clarksville, Tennessee
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Shashi Kapoor:
A fine tribute
Thank you for such a wonderfully written article
on Shashi Kapoor [“Tribute: SHASHI KAPOOR: Underrated,Underchallenged, but Deeply Loved,” by AjayVishwanathan, January 2018]. I had always admired
his subdued style of portrayal but had no idea of his
multifaceted personality. They don’t make stars like
Shashi anymore.
Vijay Purbhe
online comment
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