REFLECTIONS: 
Old Habits Die Hard !
Whether we liked it or not, we grew up under the Portuguese rule for over 450 years. Even an illiterate knows certain Portuguese words which he/she is not able to justify and sometimes does not even know their meaning.
The name of my first Professora (teacher) was Miss Iria Maria dos Milagres de Costa, and also that Professor Vaglo from Calangute taught us at the Escola Technica in Mapusa. The norm at the time was to call a teacher �professora/professor".
While we are on the subject, let me give you a few more examples on the legacy of Portuguese words in Goa:
While we are on the subject, let me give you a few more examples on the legacy of Portuguese words in Goa:
Here is a small Konkani conversation between two simple Goans:
Ladru: Arre patrao, kosso assa? Kuwait thaun kednam eila?
Pedru: Hanv assa re boro. Punn ek sang, tum mhaka patrao kiteak mhunnta ?
Ladru: Arre, tum Kuwait thaun eila mhunntoch patrao zalo nhoi ? Ani tuvem dhondo suru kortuch, hanv tuka vhoddlo patrao mhunn pachartolom!
Pedru: Vaximbor! Patrao-batrao mhunnpachi goroz nam, mhaka nanvan ulo kor. Sozmoloi ki nam ?
Ladru: Sozmolom re Pedru, punn tum bestoch itlo kiteak taptai?
Pedru: Hanv tuka portun sangtam tum angasorlo koddsor. Vaximbor! Markriad khuimcho. Fujadaput!
Ladru: Borem baba voitam. Hachem aiz firlam xem dista. Ami ghelear bore!
The above conversation contains the following Portuguese words:
PATRAO: It means �boss�. If every Tom, Dick and Harry uses it on anybody, then who is the boss? In Mangalore, Patrao is a surname.
VAXBOR/VAXPER/VAXIBOR/VAXIMBOR: There is no word as such, and the actual Portuguese _expression is: �Vai ti embora� (Go away, or get out of here).
The landlords/landladies used this _expression during the Portuguese regime in Goa whenever they were angry with their subordinates/servants.
MARKRIAD: There is no word as such. The actual Portuguese words are: �Mal criado� meaning �bad servant�. Whenever servants made mistakes, the landlords/landladies shouted at them by saying: �Mal criado�, vai ti embora!
Ladru: Arre patrao, kosso assa? Kuwait thaun kednam eila?
Pedru: Hanv assa re boro. Punn ek sang, tum mhaka patrao kiteak mhunnta ?
Ladru: Arre, tum Kuwait thaun eila mhunntoch patrao zalo nhoi ? Ani tuvem dhondo suru kortuch, hanv tuka vhoddlo patrao mhunn pachartolom!
Pedru: Vaximbor! Patrao-batrao mhunnpachi goroz nam, mhaka nanvan ulo kor. Sozmoloi ki nam ?
Ladru: Sozmolom re Pedru, punn tum bestoch itlo kiteak taptai?
Pedru: Hanv tuka portun sangtam tum angasorlo koddsor. Vaximbor! Markriad khuimcho. Fujadaput!
Ladru: Borem baba voitam. Hachem aiz firlam xem dista. Ami ghelear bore!
The above conversation contains the following Portuguese words:
PATRAO: It means �boss�. If every Tom, Dick and Harry uses it on anybody, then who is the boss? In Mangalore, Patrao is a surname.
VAXBOR/VAXPER/VAXIBOR/VAXIMBOR: There is no word as such, and the actual Portuguese _expression is: �Vai ti embora� (Go away, or get out of here).
The landlords/landladies used this _expression during the Portuguese regime in Goa whenever they were angry with their subordinates/servants.
MARKRIAD: There is no word as such. The actual Portuguese words are: �Mal criado� meaning �bad servant�. Whenever servants made mistakes, the landlords/landladies shouted at them by saying: �Mal criado�, vai ti embora!
The servants in turn carried the _expression home and used it on their families without even knowing its meaning and, surprisingly, many people in Goa till today use the _expression as a bad word when actually it is not.
FUJADAPUT: Here again, there is no word as such. The actual Portuguese words are: �Filho de puta� meaning �son of a b�.� but I wonder how many people know this.
There is a saying: �Old habits die hard!�
FUJADAPUT: Here again, there is no word as such. The actual Portuguese words are: �Filho de puta� meaning �son of a b�.� but I wonder how many people know this.
There is a saying: �Old habits die hard!�
So, it is not that easy to get rid of all those Portuguese words and habits which we inherited from the Portuguese and which have become part of our daily lives.
But don�t worry, they are gradually fading away! So, be patient!
Before I conclude, here is something on the lighter side:
One of the bhattkars in Bardez wanted to change his surname from �LEITAO� (pigling) to �LIMA�. He followed the required procedure and finally received confirmation from the Civil Registrar�s office that his surname was registered as Mr. XYZ LIMA. He threw a big luncheon to celebrate the change in his surname. He invited everybody from his place as well as relatives and friends from outside. Every one spoke in favor of his new surname and told him how wonderful it sounded.
Before I conclude, here is something on the lighter side:
One of the bhattkars in Bardez wanted to change his surname from �LEITAO� (pigling) to �LIMA�. He followed the required procedure and finally received confirmation from the Civil Registrar�s office that his surname was registered as Mr. XYZ LIMA. He threw a big luncheon to celebrate the change in his surname. He invited everybody from his place as well as relatives and friends from outside. Every one spoke in favor of his new surname and told him how wonderful it sounded.
The party came to an end by late evening and everyone left the place by wishing him �Good night Mr. LIMA!� But, a few guys who were tight hung around a little longer. When they left, they wished him:
�Good night Mr. LEITAO!�
Old habits die hard !�
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