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Chasing a skirt!

Not so recently, some of us bore my uncle's tirade - meant for the editor of  "The H...", the newspaper maamaaji reads. Apparently, there's this regular column, wherein, readers are invited to contribute pics showing gaffes in signboards, etc. - especially the gaffes in angrezi.

"Why laugh at some poor, illiterate signboard painter for his mistakes? If he was as educated as those people at the news office, he wouldn't be painting boards. And, it's not like the newspaper wallahs don't make mistakes at all.........."  - the gist of my maama's speech.

Of course, I didn't quite agree with him. I think, the laugh is more for the end result than at the poor painter. At that moment, I didn't say so because I was in no mood to start a discussion. However, after that incident, I think of my uncle whenever I see a gaffe in angrezi.... and that is very often!

Recently, there was this pamphlet with our newspaper, announcing some sale in town. As I ran an absent-minded eye before crumpling it, I saw this....



Obviously, there was a spelling mistake. Now, I was curious - because I couldn't think of the right word. Since I don't like to be ignorant, I decided to ask google, the all-knowing one......

This pamphlet must have been printed locally. And, in this part of the country,  the letter "P" is popularly pronounced "Ph" / "F".  ( Eg :  'Phrize" for "Prize").
So, I decided to google "Riprown Skirt".... No result.

I tried "Ripron Skirt"....and, google asked me if I meant "Rapron Skirt".

There it was! The current trend in skirts looks a lot like the "Wrap-around Skirt", popular during my primary school days long, long ago....  an open ended skirt with cords on the upper ends for fastening.

Wonder if  "Wrap-around" has been shortened to "Rapron"!

In that case, I have a suggestion....

  At the risk of being clobbered by my VeshTi/ Lungi wearing acquaintances, I propose that these items of clothing should be called "Rapron Skirts" in angrezi!!



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Comments

  1. Ashoka Bhagamandala29 March, 2013

    You are a real writer...your blog is in myreading list. I enjoy a lot. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Soumya30 March, 2013

      That sounded good.... thank you :)

      Delete
  2. Arun Shimoga30 March, 2013

    I think I should share my experience in English writing. I had an intern, almost a decade ago, when I was in Shimoga. She was in her final year Journalism. I asked her to write about a festival that was being held in that region. In her copy she had used a word 'drowing-rice'. I could not guess what she wanted to say. I did not have any option except to ask her to explain the word. She said she meant to say 'drawing rice', that is, 'Chitraanna'.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sandhya01 April, 2013

    You are right - wrap-a-round seems to have become rapron!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. SADASHIVA01 April, 2013

    English is the funniest language and I doubt whether anybody can "claim" to have mastered it..But yes it gives great moment for simple humor and a great "relaxer" ..Well written Soumya..!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Subru02 April, 2013

    Hello Soumya, very nice article indeed! Thanks and keep writing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Soumya02 April, 2013

      @ Sandhya... Maybe, merry-go-round should be 'rigron'!!

      @ Sadashivanna... True, thanks :)

      @ Bhava.... Thanks :)

      Delete
  6. vandy19 April, 2013

    Hi Saumya,ur post made me dig out my long forgotten 'refrown' from the trunk.:)
    "Why laugh at the painter..." very well said.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Soumya19 April, 2013

      One very nice thing about the 'Refrown' is that one doesn't have to worry about the fit!!

      Delete
  7. vandy19 April, 2013

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete

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