Dear Cecil, There are many words that don't have exact meanings in other languages. I wonder if DIFLO, TEFAM, MALTI, KONNFO, MELGOR, MEVNNO, DOSKO, TIKLEM, MISKUTT, MUTTAME, BHORLA (slang), KURKURIT (slang), ETC have exact terms in other languages. We don't have one-word Konkani meanings for many English words.
You've done well in coining GHOR-BHAV/GHOR-BHOINN. Congrats! Let's go ahead and add a few more interesting words to Konkani. Cheers! On Sun, Mar 15, 2015 at 10:46 AM, Cecil Pinto <cecilpi...@gmail.com> wrote: > GHOR BHAV > > Very often it happens here in Goa that when all siblings have settled > abroad, or are working abroad, one brother (or sister) either takes on or > is given the responsibility of looking after the aging parents and the > family house and property. Is there a term for such a brother who stays > back? Maybe on the lines of 'ghor zanvuim' (house son-in-law). Can he be > called "ghor bhav" or "ghor bhoinn". Have I just coined a term that will > soon come into popular usage? Do you know of any ghor bhavs? > > > ---------- > This post above from me on Facebook elicited interesting comments and > responses. Below is a selection. Does anyone here on GoaNet have any > opinions on the term/matter? > ---------- > > Irineu: > There have been cases but the term you coined has not been known. Should we > credit you with the term? > > Cecil: > You don't have to credit me when you use it while speaking but if you use > it while writing you have to put- (c) Cecil Pinto. This is only till > October 2015 after which I will generously declare it Public Domain and > everyone can use it without acknowledging my coining of the term. Example > of usage, "My ghor bhav [(c) - Cecil Pinto] Edwin said Mummy insisted on > being taken by taxi for all the ladainhas and so to please send some more > money." > > Joy: > Very true, something to ponder on. It is a sacrifice > > Cecil: Joy, I don't know about sacrifice. In some cases the siblings abroad > contributed handsomely towards the upkeep of parents and house and the ghor > bhav [(c) - Cecil Pinto] would have an additional source of income which > allowed him to live a better lifestyle. > > Margarida: > gosh Cecil so many of these around Goa....they sacrificed and stayed > behind....but when it comes to division of property....they all come back > ouncing on the GHOR BHAU anim BHOIN.... > > Cecil: > Margarida although I like the sound of 'ghor rakhno' it sounds somewhat > like a cowherd's job. I COIN A NEOLOGISM AND SUDDENLY EVERYBODY IS A > LEXICOGRAPHER AND WANTS TO COIN SIMILAR TERMS AND TAKE CREDIT! Bah! > > Anthony: > padiser bhau vo bhoin as unsucessfull to settle else where ! > > Cecil: > Anthony, not always was the ghor bhav [(c) - Cecil Pinto] 'padisher'. Very > often he had no desire to go abroad - for example someone like me. He > often, by his presence in Goa, provided an opportunity to his siblings to > enjoy a better lifestyle abroad without having to worry about matters back > home. > > Joy: > Cecil Pinto, understand personification! Ghor mazor is a term commonly used > in konkani referring to people tied down to the house responsibility > > Cecil: > Joy, please understand I am a cunning linguist. The term 'ghor mazor' > refers to someone who likes to stay at home. It has no connection with > 'responsibility'. Till today the term 'ghor mazor' has only been used > online once and so it qualifies as a Googlewhack because if you put it > without quotes in Google it produces only one result. > http://issuu.com/goa-streets/docs/web_f8d57a34d71b21/20 . Now look at the > usage there. It was in a Q&A to an agony aunt column which was written at > the time by Jose Lourenco and has a sexual connotation. > > Gabe: > The one who stays behind should inherit lock stock and barrel imho. > > Michelle: > My brother is ghor bhav (c) cecil pinto) but he does not look after anyone. > My mum looks after him. > > Arsenio: > Ghor iramo > > Cecil: > Arsenio, irmao is an elder brother. A ghor bhav [(c) - Cecil Pinto] is not > always the eldest brother. > > Cecil: > Side topic: The word 'irmao' is a loan word from the Portuguese language > and means brother. In Konkani it conventionally means elder brother or is > used as a term of respect for a unrelated elder male. Some people argue > that it means 'brother' and not 'elder brother'. I am not sure of this. The > fact that you will never call a younger male 'irmao' says something, no? > > Savika: > Cecil Pinto....this is unfair to those who collectively share > responsibility towards their parents....and an encouragement to those that > are waiting to shed responsibility to a prime person in the family.... > > Cecil: > What is unfair Savika? The practice? Why? It works for so many people. What > is your exact objection? > > Savika: > Cecil Pinto, Yes the words that you want to coin 'ghor bhav' (sounds > horrible ).....In my circles so far everyone takes ownership of elderly > parents.... > > Cecil: > Savika you must be inhabiting very rarefied circles. You mean to say nobody > in your 'circles' lives or works abroad and has elderly parents here in > Goa? None of them has siblings here who take care of the parents? Now > taking 'ownership' and actually taking physical care of parents are two > different things. Nobody denies 'ownership' of their parents. But due to > circumstances if they are abroad they keep in touc with their parents and > send enough remittances to them, and the caretaker sibling/s, to live a > comfortable life. What is wrong with this? Everyone's happy. > > Savika: > Cecil Pinto....my 'circles' are definitely more mature than yours....I know > people who take their parents with them abroad too and are treating them > well......u just want opinion on your term....don't term them....These so > called bhav or bhoinn that takes care of parents when other siblings are > away.....They don't need a term....period! Why are you forcing it on them? > > Cecil: > So Savika, are you implying that people who cannot take their parents with > them abroad should not go abroad? What if the parents don't want to go > abroad? What then? If the people abroad can afford to send money for their > parents upkeep in Goa by a sibling is that a bad thing? I am not forcing > any term on anybody. A term becomes a term with popular usage. But for the > time being forget my term and explain why you think that people who are > abroad and yet take care of their parents in Goa, via a sibling, are not > taking 'ownership' of their parents. There are thousands of 'ghor bhavs' > and 'ghor bhoinns' in Goa who I have a great respect for. This does not > mean I have any disrespect for their siblings abroad who provide the needed > finances for their parents and house upkeep if necessary. Are you implying > that people who cannot take their parents with them abroad should not go > abroad? What if the parents don't want to go abroad? What then? If the > people abroad can afford to send money for their parents upkeep in Goa by a > sibling is that a bad thing? I am not forcing any term on anybody. A term > becomes a term with popular usage. But for the time being forget my term > and explain why you think that people who are abroad and yet take care of > their parents in Goa, via a sibling, are not taking 'ownership' of their > parents. There are thousands of 'ghor bhavs' and 'ghor bhoinns' in Goa who > I have a great respect for. This does not mean I have any disrespect for > their siblings abroad who provide the needed finances for their parents and > house upkeep if necessary. Please proffer cohesive arguments for your > prejudices instead of talking of 'mature circles' and what not. > > ----------------- > > > There were also comments (mostly private) saying that I should not discuss > this topic in public. I realize I have hit some sort of a raw nerve. I > didn't coin 'ghor bhav' as a derogatory term. Why are some people taking it > that way? But why should anything be swept under the carpet? Lets discuss > it openly and improve our outlook. No? > > Cheers! > > Cecil > > =========== >
