This week: What does it mean? Edited by: THANKFUL SONALI 17 WDC YEARS!  
More Newsletters By This Editor 
 
1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions
| Thinking of a conversation my friend's mother had with her friends ... and why she sneaked in some little untruths about me. |
| ASIN: B083RZ37SZ |
|
Amazon's Price: $ 19.99
Not currently available. |
|
Dear Reader,
Eight years ago, I lost a friend to cancer. I still visit her parents sometimes, and a small incident that occurred on one of my visits set me thinking. To give you a bit of background - my friend's Dad is educated, he's a lawyer. But her Mom comes from a smaller hometown, and has only had some primary schooling, in her mother tongue - Tamil. She taught herself English after marriage. The two of them gave their daughter a basic education, then a higher one. My friend was a software engineer by profession, and an accomplished writer and photographer.
When I visit, I speak to her parents in a mix of Hindi and English.
Well, on one of my visits, two of the mother's friends happened to drop in on their way home from work. They chatted animatedly in Tamil, which I don't understand. So I was sitting and smiling at them, and sometimes, they gave me the context of what they were speaking about, and I nodded and threw in a remark (in English) if I had one to make.
Now, there are words in Indian languages which overlap, so when the friends asked the mother which languages I spoke, I understood that she was telling them that I spoke 'only English'. This isn't true, I speak English, Hindi (which she has heard on several occasions), my mother tongue, Kutchi (which she has heard me speak with my Dad) and Marathi and Gujarati besides. I just don't happen to understand their mother tongue, Tamil. The friends specifically asked 'doesn't she speak her own mother tongue?' The mother replied in the negative, insisting that I spoke only English.
Since it wasn't important to me what those ladies thought (or didn't think) of me, I didn't bother to correct this notion. However, it did get me pondering. Why had the mother told this small falsehood? We've conversed in Hindi, she and I, and she has heard me speak Kutchi with my Dad. Why the, would she say that I spoke only English?
Then it dawned on me. It was her need to have someone in her life (via her daughter) who is so modern, that she doesn't need to know any Indian languages, and that her own mastery of English is such that she can converse with such a person and have such a person visit. It wasn't about whether I knew other languages or not, it was about what progressive friends her daughter had made, and how advanced she was to keep up with them.
It was an interesting revelation. "Sonali speaks only English" isn't about Sonali, or about what she speaks, at all. It's about her friend's mother, and how accomplished she is!
I wonder how often this happens in life -- especially between a parent and child. The subject of the sentence isn't actually whom the sentence is about at all, it's about the speaker.
Just a fun way of thinking about dialogue!
Thanks for listening,
|
By our authors!
| |  | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#2197846 by Not Available. |
All-time favourites!
|
Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
Don't forget to support our sponsor!
| ASIN: B07RKLNKH7 |
Product Type: Kindle Store
|
Amazon's Price: $ 0.99
|
|
Thank you for the responses to "Happy Birthday, Harry Potter!"
eyestar~*  Wow! What a wonderful sharing.  It is interesting how much wisdom can come from fiction. Thanks for your insights.
Quick-Quill  JK certainly filled her books with lots of angst, conflict and resolutions we all face. That's what a good book should do, but subtly.
hbk16 This newsletter is tributed to the famous writer of Harry Poter series JK Rowling.The originality of her writing has rendered it an exclusive movie.
Lilith of House Martell   Thanks for such a wonderful newsletter. Hugs, Lilli
Kalai  Will you believe that I am yet to read Harry Potter series while my daughter loves to watch all the episodes of Harry Potter and also read the books. Somehow I have missed reading them and you have triggered my interest to read and find out the strength of the author in those books. Thanks for sharing.
Here's a trinket to collect, if you haven't already!
|
| ASIN: 1945043032 |
|
Amazon's Price: Price N/A
|
|
To stop receiving this newsletter, click here for your newsletter subscription list. Simply uncheck the box next to any newsletter(s) you wish to cancel and then click to "Submit Changes". You can edit your subscriptions at any time.
|
For Authors: August 28, 2019 Issue [#9724]
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
