Culture Cue: Kerala India, A few useful phrases

Posted April 26th, 2007 by CWright
If you are wondering why you should be reading this post, let me preface by saying that Kerala is one of THE tourist destinations of India, and that its 100% literacy and expanding infrastructure is attracting foreign businesses. You may soon be visiting to work, if not to play.

Malayalis are some of the most inquisitive and friendly people I have ever encountered and just about any and everyone will ask you your 'good name' by which they want to know just your first name. They will ask where your home is too. You'll have to answer this so frequently that an arm banner seems like a good idea. Or a T-shirt.

Should the flow of increasingly personal questions seem interminable, the word 'simply' tossed in an off-hand manner usually works to stop the onslaught. I am not sure what 'simply' means to a Malayali, but it has proven to be highly effective. However, I do miss and appreciate that genuine curiosity and friendly consideration when away from India.

Also I am finding that while you may think you have effectively communicated by hand gestures, that is almost never the case. I recently heard the example of a Malayali in Rome asking for a restaurant by putting his fingers together and raising them to his chin. This is highly offensive to Italians, but any Malayali would have understood, since they eat with their hands. Of course, in the west, we would mime eating with a fork, our hand would be nowhere near our face.

The most important word I have noticed is 'itself'. If you need a report for Wednesday, it is not enough to say due Wednesday. You must add on 'Wednesday itself', or 'tomorrow morning itself' to establish the absolute latest acceptable deadline.

And ladies, do not expect men to open doors or let you enter or exit first. You'll be waiting a long long time. Only occasionally, if they have traveled and worked abroad will that courtesy be extended.