I've got a delegate from corporate coming to socal and I'd like to greet him in his native language.
there are no fewer than 18 languages spoken in india with many different dialects of each.
do you know which he speaks?
Time to suck up to the new lords I suppose.
;)
[bow_down]
:-\
???
I believe the most common is.
"dell customer service, can I help you today"
Quote from: acalles on October 25, 2009, 11:38:51 AM
I believe the most common is.
"dell customer service, can I help you today"
I don't care who you are, that's funny!
The most common greeting is "Namaste". Generally Indians speak 2-3 languages. Hindi-the national tongue, a regional language, and English. I know that in Madras state (south east) they speak Tamil. I don't know about other areas.
Thanks anyway he cancelled this afternoon.
with your right hand out....palm facing him.... say "how"
Dot, not feather...
Quote from: Mr. Exact on October 25, 2009, 03:19:02 PM
Dot, not feather...
assumed...
nowhere does the OP say what kind of Indian. ;D
That's a newb mistake on this forum.
Quote from: ducpainter on October 25, 2009, 03:21:23 PM
assumed...
nowhere does the OP say what kind of Indian. ;D
More of an educated guess than an assumption. Especially since I was right. Just ask Steve..
Quote from: Mr. Exact on October 25, 2009, 04:44:50 PM
More of an educated guess than an assumption. Especially since I was right. Just ask Steve..
being right is waaaay over rated. ;D
I'm not asking Steve...you assumed...
admit it. [evil]
See the name buddy?
<------ ;D
Quote from: NAKID on October 25, 2009, 04:52:44 PM
See the name buddy?
<------ ;D
...and your point would be? [laugh] [laugh] [laugh]
Namaste is generic enough, being from the largest language group, and many have adopted it as well (i.e. punjabi).. Also Namash and Namashkar for north indians.. Namaskaram or Namaskaaramandi if they are south indian (malayalam and telugu)
I've found if you get it remotely close enough, most Indian will be very pleased. Culturally, native Indians are very receptive and warm people and open to foreigners trying their languages.
I had a doctor who was Keralan and laughed pretty heartily when i said namaskaram to him, he was pretty impressed, it made his day to hear someone (esp a "gora) saying something like that.
if indians take over, I will be much happier than if the communist chinese do ... just sayin'
Bollywood > Mao's Little Red Book
Quote from: blac9 on October 25, 2009, 01:53:41 PM
The most common greeting is "Namaste". Generally Indians speak 2-3 languages. Hindi-the national tongue, a regional language, and English. I know that in Madras state (south east) they speak Tamil. I don't know about other areas.
it means "i respect the god within you" ... derives from the buddhist belief that life is god. not sure
how that would go over with a hindu.
Quote from: abby normal on October 26, 2009, 05:35:14 AM
it means "i respect the god within you" ... derives from the buddhist belief that life is god. not sure how that would go over with a hindu.
with all due respect, i think you've been going to too many bay area yoga classes
"namaste" ("नमसà¥à¤¤à¥‡") is from Sanskrit and means, simply, "bow to you"
from "nama" (नम) meaning "to bow" or "salute" and "te" (ते) which is the objective form of "you"
you can look it up here
http://spokensanskrit.de/ (http://spokensanskrit.de/)
if you enter "bow" in english, you get some form of "nama" for all the verb forms (i.e. namati, praNamati, etc)
you can also enter "namaste" and see what you get.. two definitions, one is the common vernacular and the other is the literal translation.
Quote from: NAKID on October 25, 2009, 04:52:44 PM
See the name buddy?
<------ ;D
Quote from: ducpainter on October 25, 2009, 05:06:37 PM
...and your point would be? [laugh] [laugh] [laugh]
His point would be he's naked you still wanna argue. [laugh]
huh?
;D
damn you Nate
Quote from: ducpainter on October 27, 2009, 05:10:29 PM
[sise=2pt]remember the persistence part?[/size] ;D
Pssst, it's spelled "size"....
huh? ;D [laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [laugh]
It's not nice to edit someone else's posts...
Quote from: Mr. Exact on October 27, 2009, 05:28:30 PM
It's not nice to edit someone else's posts...
What and who ever gave you the idea I was nice?