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Dear Readers,
While All Things Pakistan has remained alive and online, it has been dormant since June 11, 2011 - when, on the blog's 5th anniversary, we decided that it was time to move on. We have been heartened by your messages and the fact that a steady traffic has continued to enjoy the archived content on ATP. While the blog itself will remain dormant, we are now beginning to add occasional (but infrequent) new material by the original authors of the blog, mostly to archive what they may now publish elsewhere. We will also be updating older posts to make sure that new readers who stumble onto this site still find it useful.
We hope you will continue to find ATP a useful venue to reflect upon and express your Pakistaniat. - Editors
Pakistaniat
Poetry
Places
People
Dear Mr. Najam
It is interesting of an engineer to talk on matters of linguistic relevance. I should let you know, with all due respect, that this work should be left to the linguists. The Pakistani variety of English is called in fact, Pake. Linguists would not dare to write on the subject of engineering unless it is to provide definitions. I wonder how anyone can be so daring as to venture into the realms of a subject they have no qualifications or training on.
I agree that English and Asian language variants such as Pinglish, Urdish or Engdu are not uncommon forms of communication within in certain parts of Asia. However as frequently as these language variants may be used on a daily basis, due care and attention must still be applied when using Standard English within these regions. Official documents or public notices still need to read correctly in English. One way in achieving this is by using a language translation agency who translate any text from one language to another using language professionals. This ensures that the target language reads perfectly and does not stray into colloquial territory.
“gitter-mitter”, a quote from illustrious Madam Noor Jehan. Means, “attempts to” communicate in English.
“git-pit”, same as above, my old favorite. I am not sure where I heard it first, but I am quite sure it is older than me!
“Police Encounter” means he is dead during a shoot out with police (staged or otherwise). (Reminds me of Mr. Sahootra (?sp), (our math teacher of the distant school years) who used to say, “kaka jee, some are wise, others are otherwise!”)
“Playboy” used to mean a sportsman. (I loved this one growing up.)
“Bodybuilder” could either be a bodybuilder or a weightlifter.
“Pedestal” means a pedestal fan.
“Godown” is a warehouse.
“Urdu Speaking” those who migrated from India.
“A Punjabi” when in Punjab means someone from rural Punjab.
“Sindhi” means anywhere in Sindh but Karachi
“Kachi / Pakki Petition” Without or with court fees, respectively
“Stayed the recovery(or whatever)” Restraining order of the court for the recovery( or whatever).
“Teddy” (I am not sure how this one is spelled) Someone who wears skin tight clothes.
“You go, I come” Well, not much here, except that it is an abbreviated and a delightful way to say, ‘you go ahead, I will follow you soon’.
“Shooting” is not firing of guns but movie making.
“Class” education grade level.
“Practical” is a science experiment during school years.
“current conjuncture” current situation or circumstances.
“fought the election” contested in the elections.
“Cantt” is cantonment but not necessarily of military quarters and not temporary either.
“Chips Floor” Marbled floor (polished pieces).
“Take into confidence” held discussions.
“transparency” made public
“big brother or sister” older brother or sister.
“stand by” united and together
“to look into the ……” investigate
“some choice persons” few people (we like)
“certain elements in the…” few people (we do not like) in the ….
Nice post revealing a number of extracts from the Pakistani English. The topic is very interesting in that it reveals many aspects regarding the features of the PE which is used in the Pakistani context. The main issue is that in our country people use it in accordance with their own context whereas the basic principle for using second language is to know the conventions of society in ehich it is used. I am also conducting research on the topic “The Use of vocabulary in PE” . While I was collecting data for it I came across with an expression which was very very funny.
The politicians hurled “naked abuses” against each other. I thought of abuses as an entity which exist, sometimes, wearing clothes…….:)