The Hinglorati are delighting in the return of Dick & Garlick, a Bombayite’s lingoblog which had gone on a six-month hiatus. D&G dissects neologisms in Hinglish, Indian English, Bonglish, Tamlish and other lingual collisions, some apt, others just hilarious. Here’s D&G on ‘Vitamin M‘:
Vitamin M: An Indian English colloquialism in which the M stands for money. It can be used as a nudge-nudge-hint-hint euphemism for bribes and speed money, or to cynically acknowledge the factor that makes the world go round. A phrase for greasy babus and elderly Uncles…“We are all craving too much for Vitamin M,” says a bright, cool kid. `M’? Money of course! (The Hindu, Jan 6, 2003)
On being called a vern. This one even works in American English because of the Ernest Goes to Camp movies (‘Hey Vern?’):
‘Vernac’ is Bombay college lingo for a student schooled in an Indian regional language, a slang abbreviation of the word ‘vernacular’… Like its North Indian equivalent, HMT (Hindi Medium Type), vernac can be used to dismiss someone as a country bumpkin, as provincial, unfashionable, or unsophisticated… in the 90s, they labelled the starlet Mamata Kulkarni a ‘vern’ and frequently mocked her Maharashtrian accent.
On ‘hazaar fucked‘:
… she claims that ‘hazaar fucked’, that classic expression from English, August is ‘one of the phrases that, along with Yeh Dil Maange More and We Are Like That Only, ushered in the rise of Hinglish’…“… Hazaar fucked. Urdu and American,” Agastya laughed, “a thousand fucked, really fucked. I’m sure nowhere else could languages be mixed and spoken with such ease.” (Upamanyu Chatterjee, English, August)
I have no hesitation recommending the blog, but someone with the ontological talents of R. Devraj shouldn’t use a title evoking a German cannibal 🙂
I wish ‘vernac’ or HMT labels were limited to college students. The sad reality of India is that educated person is defined !!! ONLY !!! by his/her ability to speak English. Which IMO is just residual effects of “The Raj”. Effect of complete mental subjugation of Indian masses by the British.
As a result of this SLAVE LIKE behaviour, many youngsters who have studied in ‘vernac’ medium or are HMT, get passed up by hiring companies, no matter how smart they are. Its absolutely stupid to teach people concepts of science in an alien language but thats what is going on in India. That is the reason why India will NEVER EVER realize its full potential.
and BTW in my opinion Mamta Kulkarni was 1000 times better looking than that English Medium Type Kajol. Only stupid slaves discount anyone based on the language they speak (Its much worse when that language happens to be that of the majority)
Tanglish is the preferred tag for the adulterated version of Tamil, and the closest vern equivalent would probably be ‘country’ (and ‘coundry’ in Manglish). As in, ‘country bumpkin’.
PS: Hazaar Fucked could also be Ron Jeremy’s Bollywood screen name.
Sorry, but Herr Hannibal was not an inspiration. If you really want to know, Dick & Garlick is the literal translation of a very colourful Mumbaiyya expression. Full marks if you can guess the original.
What is…lund mein lassan?
no, lauda lasun (or lassan); only a true bombayite (or mumbaikar would know)
Lund – Penis Lassan – Garlic
Or understand why it’s a relevant title: it’s the Mumbai equivalent of ‘stuff and nonsense’.