Thursday, November 22, 2012


Every language has developed its own characteristic ways of expressing. The other day, I was feeling drowsy, and was in a state of reverie. Suddenly, a striking paradox flashed in my mind. Two OPPOSITE words could be used to describe the same phenomenon! In Kannada, a regional language of South India, we use the phrase, “nidde bardithay.”  It means, “Sleep is COMING.” On the other hand, the antonym of ‘come’, ‘go’ is also used when I want to sleep. I say, “nidde hogthini” which means, “I am GOING to sleep”! Two opposite verbs are used to convey the same meaning. Similar expressions can be found in most Indian languages. I am curious to see if my Western readers can quote similar expressions in their languages.     

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