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Memani Prose & Poetry
(by Abdur Razzak Thaplawala)

 

 

 

 

MEMANI KEHAVATOON (memani proverbs)

 

In our day to day conversation in Memoni, we often use some proverbs. Most of these proverbs are of Gujrati origin. In Pakistan, many proverbs of Urdu origin are also used.

An attempt has been made in these pages to write some popular Memoni proverbs in Roman script mainly for the benefit of our brothers and sisters living abroad. The following methodology has been adopted.

  • Memoni Proverb is written in Roman Script preceded by the alphabet ORG meaning original.

  • English translation of important words used in the proverb   follows the Memoni proverb. This does not only give word by word English equivalent of Memoni word but also shows that the construction of a sentence in English language is different from that of a sentence composed in Memoni. It is preceded by alphabets WDS denoting a substitute for “word”.

  • This is followed by a translation of the proverb in English denoted by alphabets TRN meaning translation. Attempt has been made to make a literal translation.

  • It is followed by an explanation which has been denoted by  the alphabets EXP. At some places ‘Equivalent English’ proverb has been added with a prefix EP.

          By: Abdur Razzaq Thaplawala

 

It is now for the readers – especially those living overseas to tell us, if this attempt has been successful or not and will it help them in improving their understanding of Memoni? We all know that the alphabets of the English 
language have different phonetic sounds when used in different words. The following are the examples of different phonetic sounds of some of the alphabets:

 

 

A Fat, Advice, Father, Army, Appear
I Bid, Private, Import, Bird
U Mute, Run, Put
E Me, Bed, Elect
O Open, Money, Mouse
C Cat, Centre
G Game, Ginning
N Nine, King
S Ship, Station
Y Myster, Tyre, Young

 

A very relevant example of different phonetic sounds is the sound of ‘O’ in the word “MEMON’. Apparently, there is no justification of using ‘O’ between ‘M’ and ‘N’ if we look at the word Memon in Urdu or Gujrati. We are therefore starting use of ‘a’ for ‘o’ in “Memon” or “Memoni”.

 

To cover these different phonetic sound, we have to adopt specific sound for these alphabets to write Memoni in Roman script. I have developed some simple rules for this purpose.  

While reading Memoni proverb in Roman script, you have to remember the rules which are given below:

 

A Will be used for its sound in FATHER or for Its sound in Appear, fear etc. We will use ‘E’ for ‘A’ sound in FAT, MAP etc. For ‘As”  sound in ARMY, we will use ‘AA’
E Will be used for its sound in ‘BED’ and not for its sound in ‘ME. For sound in “ME” we will  use double E i.e.  MEE. 
U Will be used for its sound in “BUT” and not for “PUT”. For its sound  in PUT, we will use “OO”.
C Will be used for its sound in “Circle” or “City” and not “Cat”. For sound of C in CAT we will  use ‘K’.
G Will be used for its sound in “Game” and not for sound in “Ginning”. For sound of ‘G’ in GINNING we will use ‘J’.
I Will be for its sound in INK, TIMBER etc but not for its sound in KITE, TIME etc. For this sound, we will use ‘Y’.
N Will be used for its sound in NAME, MANAGER etc and also for Gujrati alphabet. For NASAL sound of ‘N’ within a word (NOON GUNNA IN URDU), we will use capital ‘N’ e.g. INK, huNger froNt etc.
Y Will be used for its sound in TYRE and TYCOON etc as well as for its sound in YOUNG, YES etc when used in the beginning of a word. For its sound in MYSTRY, SYMPATHY etc, we will use ‘I’.

 

Proverbs

 

(1)

ORG Aany gajar bano, biyo kurelaay na chabbe ?
WDS You – corrot – become – the other- why - not - eat (YOU)
TRN Why should the other man not eat you if you become a carrot.
EXP If you act foolishly, others will take advantage of you.
   

(2)

ORG Asaan to koro cover ayaoon jidda jo Address thIye huda hali winooN
WDS We - blank - envelop - are – where - addressed - there  - (we) go –  away
TRN I am like a blank envelope which will go to the address written on it.
EXP I am a simple man ready to do what is ordered to me. 
E.P. I dance to the tune that is played.

(3)

ORG Aado khaaay ney waasay paee wiyo
WDS Ginjer - eat - and – pusue up -
TRN

He is following up vigorously after eating Ginjer
EXP

He vigorously follows up his assignments,              ambitions or revenge.
E.P.  

(4)

ORG Andhy maiN kanoo raja
WDS Blinds –In – One eyed – King  
TRN A one eyed person is like a King among blinds.  
EXP A man with a little knowledge or expertise is considered very knowledgeable among people with no knowledge or expertise at all.
E.P. In the country of the blinds, the one eyed man is the King.

(5)

ORG Andhay watay roonu nay akhiyon  khoynu  
WDS Blind – before – weeping - and –eyes- loosing
TRN To shade tears before a blind is like loosing your eyes.
EXP It is useless to explain a problem to a fool.  
E.P.  

click here for more Memani Proverbs