Pe. Antonio da Costa mai...@msn.com Since Goanet has been sharing Konkani words via cyberspace, I thought of a list I have made of all possible relationship terms in Konkani.
When I was typing the lyrics of dulpods for our book *Undra Muja Mama*, I was fascinated with all the terms in the dulpods that described how people are related to each other with very specific term. I found that our language Konkani is the richest in describing the relationships in comparison to at least eight other languages I speak, read or write. Could other readers improve on this list, or correct it? ------------------------------ ------------------------------- RELATIONSHIP TERMINOLOGY ------------------------------------------------------------- English Konkani ------------------------------------------------------------- Man Dadulo Woman Bail Husband Gou/gov/poti Wife Bail/potin Father Bap/bapui/pai/papa/dada Mother Avoi/maim/mama Son Put Daughter Duv Brother Bhav/bau Sister Bhoin Grand-son Natu Grand-daughter Naty/Natiny Great-grandson Ponntu Great-grand daughter Ponntiny Nephew Bacho Niece Bachi Grand-father Azo/Xapai/Papai/Papa grande Grand-mother Aji/Xamaim/Mamaim/Mama grande Paternal Uncle Tiu/Tio/Ti-Tiu Paternal Aunt Ti-Man Maternal Uncle Mamtiu Wife of maternal Uncle Mam-Ti Maternal Aunt Mauxi/Maxan Paternal Cousin Bapul bhav/Bapul bhoin Maternal cousin Maux'bhav/Maux'bhoin Son-in-law Zanvoim Daughter-in-law Sun Husband's brother Der Husband's Sister Nonnonz Brother's wife Bhavoz/Uni Sister's husband Miunnom Husband's bro's wife Zau Wife's Brother Miunnom Wife's Sister Miunnim God-father (for child) Podin/Padrinh' God-mother (for child) Modiny/madrinh' God-father (in relation to parents) Cumpary God-mother (in relation to parents) Cumary Boy Bab/Burgo/Tsolo/cherho Girl Bai/Burgi/Tsoli/Cherhum Child Burgem Father-in-law Sassupai/Saspai Mother-in-law Sasumaim/Sasmaim Step-father Step-mother Step-son and step-daughter -- [Step-mother, in the *English-Konkani Pronouncing Pocket Dictionary*, first published in 1930, copies available at Golden Heart Emporium, Margao, is listed as Mausi. No equivalent for step-father listed there. --FN] NOTE: Antonio da Costa (1943) is a priest, psychotherapist, and musician. He received his musical training in Goa, and Bombay, India and in the USA at the prestigious Julliard School of Music and Columbia University. Inspired by his parents' love for traditional Goan music, he began his work for its preservation from the age of 16 and for several years, broadcast over Radio Goa with the assistance of choral groups he himself founded. He is a co-author (with Jose Pereira and late Micael Martins) of the book on Dulpods *Undra Muja Mama*, on Mandos *Song of Goa* and others. His rendering of Konkani music still gets regularly aired on All India Radio, Panjim, though he is based in the US (Tempe, Arizona). He is from Curtorim. See https://www.flickr.com/photos/fn-goa/6232025986/
