"thank you"

[Janet Bing]

In response to Esther's inquiry below, the situation in Afghanistan years
ago was similar.  There is a Dari word, "tashekor" that translates as
thanks, but thanking people is not common.  A gift or favor requires a
reciprocal gift (a problem when my failing students came bearing gifts.)
When we would thank our cook for something, he would respond somewhat
sarcastically, "Tashekor ba jeb-et ban" or "put your thanks in your
pocket."

Dr. Janet Bing
Graduate Program Director
Applied Linguistics
Department of English
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA 23529-0078

(757) 683-4030
FAX (757) 683-3241



                      Esther Kuntjara
                      <estherk at PETER.PETRA.A        To:       FLING at LISTSERV.LINGUISTLIST.ORG
                      C.ID>                         cc:
                      Sent by: Feminists in         Subject:  "thank you"
                      Linguistics
                      <FLING at LISTSERV.LINGUI
                      STLIST.ORG>


                      10/28/2003 10:55 AM
                      Please respond to List
                      for Feminists in
                      Linguistics






Dear All,
I'm collecting the expression of gratitude ("thank you") in different
languages. Please, tell me such expression in your language and how / when
it is usually used.
To give you an example, this is how "thank you" is expressed in
Indonesian:
"thank you" in Indonesian is "terima kasih" , literally means 'receive
love.' It is usually used :
-when receiving a gift / service / help
- after being given a chance to talk
- at the end of a speech / oration
- when refusing an offer
In reality, however, many Indonesians say 'terima kasih' non-verbally,
such as returning a gift given with another gift as a token of 'thank
you'. Some even refuse or show unwelcome attitude when someone says 'thank
you' after being helped. They think it's their obligation to help. The
expression 'terima kasih' could just mitigate the sincerity of the person
who helps.

Thanks for your help.
Esther