Things I Learnt in 2020

I went into the article expecting it be full of usual banal platitudes, but it's a cute little list of random stuff. I was also pleasantly surprised to see 'ek number' on the list though.

Re: Things I Learnt in 2020

#5

Post by valarauko » Wed, Dec 30, 2020, 9:24 PM UTC

FlyingSnake wrote: post #4

I went into the article expecting it be full of usual banal platitudes, but it's a cute little list of random stuff. I was also pleasantly surprised to see 'ek number' on the list though.

As an Indian who's lived almost 4 decades in India, I have never heard of "ek number" as the response to a joke, or even ever used in the stated context of the joke being rated no 1. The closest I can think of is the phrase being directed at the joker, not the joke; a sort of "Oh, you're a first rate a-hole for cracking that joke". It's a terminated "Ek number ka ... (haraami?)", which is the only form I've ever heard this phrase.

Re: Things I Learnt in 2020

#6

Post by FlyingSnake » Wed, Dec 30, 2020, 9:28 PM UTC

valarauko wrote: post #5

FlyingSnake wrote: post #4

I went into the article expecting it be full of usual banal platitudes, but it's a cute little list of random stuff. I was also pleasantly surprised to see 'ek number' on the list though.

As an Indian who's lived almost 4 decades in India, I have never heard of "ek number" as the response to a joke, or even ever used in the stated context of the joke being rated no 1. The closest I can think of is the phrase being directed at the joker, not the joke; a sort of "Oh, you're a first rate a-hole for cracking that joke". It's a terminated "Ek number ka ... (haraami?)", which is the only form I've ever hear…

‘Ek number’ is more of a Maharashtra thing IMO. You’ll hear it quite frequently in MH state

Re: Things I Learnt in 2020

#7

Post by valarauko » Wed, Dec 30, 2020, 9:37 PM UTC

FlyingSnake wrote: post #6

valarauko wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As an Indian who's lived almost 4 decades in India, I have never heard of "ek number" as the response to a joke, or even ever used in the stated context of the joke being rated no 1. The closest I can think of is the phrase being directed at the joker, not the joke; a sort of "Oh, you're a first rate a-hole for cracking that joke". It's a terminated "Ek number ka ... (haraami?)", which is the only form I've ever hear…

‘Ek number’ is more of a Maharashtra thing IMO. You’ll hear it quite frequently in MH state

I speak Marathi, but haven't ever lived in Maharashtra. In Hindi, it wasn't uncommon to hear "ek number ka ...", but to me the context was always a negging directed at the audacity of the joker, and never as a rating of the joke itself. I also haven't heard anybody use "ek number .." in Hindi in any form in a very long time. It's possible the phrase evolved different contexts and implications in the two languages.

Re: Things I Learnt in 2020

#8

Post by tunesmith » Wed, Dec 30, 2020, 9:50 PM UTC

Some data scientist should try that food triad exercise mentioned in the link.

Re: Things I Learnt in 2020

#9

Post by FlyingSnake » Wed, Dec 30, 2020, 10:15 PM UTC

valarauko wrote: post #7

FlyingSnake wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

‘Ek number’ is more of a Maharashtra thing IMO. You’ll hear it quite frequently in MH state

I speak Marathi, but haven't ever lived in Maharashtra. In Hindi, it wasn't uncommon to hear "ek number ka ...", but to me the context was always a negging directed at the audacity of the joker, and never as a rating of the joke itself. I also haven't heard anybody use "ek number .." in Hindi in any form in a very long time. It's possible the phrase evolved different contexts and implications in the two languages.

I speak Marathi as well as Hindi and probably use that term daily just like what that article mentioned. AFAICT most of my friends and family also use that term frequently. Example usage could be “ek number Bhau...” when complimenting some post on WhatsApp

Re: Things I Learnt in 2020

#10

Post by r00fus » Wed, Dec 30, 2020, 10:23 PM UTC

Ogden's basic English - interesting find. I wonder if the word list for OBE can be used as "most basic words" for practicing other languages?

Would such a "unit vector" for basic speech be similar in other languages?