The Etymology and The Dialect of Sir!
The Etymology and The Dialect of Sir!
The British! In every country where they have ruled, the British have left their traits in such a way that it reflects on the Culture, Language, Laws and day to day living of the people of those countries where they have ruled and left. They are now known as colonial countries. For that matter India is also called as colonial; a colony of the British, French and Portuguese. But the British had a larger share of their rule and that’s why their roots are still strong and deep.
I just take on one Word ‘SIR’- the etymology and how its being pronounced now in India – the dialect.
Etymology
The study of the origin of words & the way in which their meanings have changed throughout the world
Dialect
A particular form of a language which is peculiar to a specific region or social group.
synonyms: |
regional language, local language, local tongue, local speech, local parlance, variety of language; |
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sir
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dialect
To know more about this and the words, you may refer these links.
The word Sir, now being used all over the world to write business, official & personal letters too; in which we start with the letters Sir in addressing the person to whom we are writing the letter. Its being used to address a person of high esteem or just call him as a person senior in age, cadre, intellectual, education; or even to a stranger.
In India the same word is used for the same purposes to address a person with due respect. You can imagine it and pronounce it as per the spelling given below and literally it is being pronounced like that. It means the same and it carries the same weight and the person being addressed also shall not mistake; there lies the fun.
Now, let us have some fun here, I give below the spellings of the word; see the dialect.
SIR
SAR
SER
SAAR
SAAAR
SARU
SEER
SEERA
SA
S
SARUGARU
SARA
SARAA
SAA
SAAH
SI
SIRJI
SIRJEE
You can add to the list if you know other ways of calling for Sir, let the alphabets be different but it should address the word Sir!
It could have been better if I could show you how people pronounce it through a video. But I am sure all my readers are clever and can imagine it.
Don’t you feel its Funny and Enjoyable?
theshivasponder 
November 4, 2015 at 9:26 am
People say “S”!? Lol, one other word is “boss” which here in Chennai transforms to “bossu” 🙂
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November 4, 2015 at 9:56 am
It would have gone really well with a video. I am sure that you could have found one on YouTube which conveys at least a bit of the funny way things like Sir can be said and the even funnier situations in which it can be said.
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November 4, 2015 at 9:59 am
Geetha!
Thanks so much.
You are an expert at finding videos do look one like that and if you want you can re-blog it on your blog.
That definitely add to its humor.
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November 4, 2015 at 10:05 am
I have a principle of not reblogging on my blog other people’s content because of the copyright on my blog’s content as far as writing is concerned.
I tweet however articles and poetry that I would like to share with others.
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November 4, 2015 at 11:13 am
Great post saar. Superb.
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November 4, 2015 at 12:40 pm
Back in Nigeria it is fun too 🙂 Saah, Sa etc. That was fun. I like the indianized Sirjee
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November 4, 2015 at 1:11 pm
Interesting observations!
I have observed these and various states in India have various accents but they all use SIR!
Thanks for sharing!
Love and light ❤
Anand 🙂
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November 5, 2015 at 1:29 am
Here’s another for your list…that was fun Shiva and you are a joy!
Sire – archaic
a respectful form of address for someone of high social status, especially a king.
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November 5, 2015 at 7:49 am
“Sire-Archaic”
I opened the dictionary on the desk top, sat in front of the computer contemplating to know- ‘Sire-Archaic’.
Deb!
You brought tears in my Eyes, giving me this; shall I say title.
Hugs to You.
Pats on your back. Shall allow you to Pat me also.
You know the other day Obama and Modi hugged and Patted on each others back.
Just like that.
Your Pats are very strong.
You are a woman so I shall pat you very gently.
Love to You.
Shiva
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November 5, 2015 at 11:42 am
Pats to you Sire! Let’s spread more patting and hugging to others and make the world a more loving place! xo 😊
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November 22, 2015 at 5:59 am
Well written, my Dear Shiva! And Very True. It is like, Angrez chalay gaye, Aulaad chhod gaye!
I also dislike the way We Indians have taken SO much to the use this word. I always encourage people to use local words like ‘Aiya’ in Tamil here.
And it is not only the English who have left these things.
Take the word ‘Tehshildaar,’ very much in use in Tamil Nadu in the revenue offices. It is totally foreign to Tamil, and is a residue of the Mughal times. There would be many more!
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November 26, 2015 at 9:20 am
Thank You Swamiji,
Your comment is so true and we Indians have been using those English words; may be rather in a haphazard way.
As you said there are more better and good heart touching words in our own languages that could make one feel better and that would express our relationship with the person addressing and would make the relationships more closer and stronger.
Aiya! Akka! Anna! Awwa! Appa! Swamy! Amma! and the likes.
Namaste Swamiji.
Shiva
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November 26, 2015 at 11:57 am
That is Very Well said, my Dear Shiva! I use English for my Blog as I want to reach as large an Audience as possible. Even here, I use Hindi and Tamil to emphasize. I do the same for Facebook and the Twitter too!
नमस्कार, मेरे भाई! 🙂
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January 8, 2016 at 10:22 am
This post put a smile on my face. Indian English is the best … always!
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May 25, 2016 at 7:53 am
This is interesting. I often wonder why I am called ‘Sir’ so much in the blogging world. A lot of my friends are from India and, well – maybe this goes some way towards shedding light on the matter. Hmm.
KR – Robert.
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September 30, 2016 at 1:42 pm
This fun post, demands comment. When I was young within the Southern California surfing community Dude was a common address. In time the word morphed to many other meanings, but I never investigated the etymology. As a thirty-something adult, a para-professional educator (and honestly, with the the cartoon television series The Simpsons growing popularity), my intended meaning was often lost. Later after conversants misunderstood my friendly casualness (especially within the blogging community) I purposed to not appear flirtatious or inappropriate. Raised to address strangers and elders as “Sir” and “Ms” respectively, years later I admired how a fictional movie character employed, both for decorum’s sake and adopted the habit. Once invited, I address new acquaintances by given names. I sometimes replace Sir or Ms with Dude for fun, only using the former for emphasis to show respect in the conversation. Good post, Man 😉
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September 30, 2016 at 2:09 pm
Roo!
This is a beautiful comment and needs applause. Yes! You are right even I have faced instances here that when you address them with names or the sort you express, they are misunderstood or not taken in the right perspective, so it is better to be cautious. In that case you need not be too formal with me Dude!
Thanks
Can I find you here somewhere in my Blog again.
Shiva 😉
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September 30, 2016 at 2:41 pm
Good Shiva, you have a delightful sense of humor! We share many friends and acquaintances, so I visit here frequently. Present technical challenges restrict my comments and “likes”. These circumstances will change soon.
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September 30, 2016 at 2:53 pm
So let the challenges be cleared for you on this Black Moon Day. I send all those vibrations.
So that was the reason you have not put your like here.
But I am rather scratching my head as to what sorts of Technical Challenges these are, let me not go into it as they are after all challenges and I have enough of them at my office and business. 😉
All the Best to YOU
Shiva
🙂
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February 4, 2017 at 8:55 am
i can just visualise people pronouncing it….LOL.. that was a good one Shiva…
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November 10, 2022 at 9:41 am
Though it’s funny but It’s very much true… I think every state has their own dialect 😃irrespective of Hindi or English words.. But salute to you for this great observation….
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