Interesting use of English in India...

Rhett_Bassard

My collection started when I saw matrimonials in the Chennai and Mumbai newspapers seeking potential brides who were "homely", i.e. good homemakers [as opposed to a common definition of ugly]:

And "fair" is a reference to skin color, not an equitable sense of playing nice with others.

Pedro_P

Hmm... Well in the use of the Spanish language do not happen this kind of things... Worse things happen.

• Translation:
«ON SALE: Six slaves, two marriages with two children: one of them one year old and the other one barely one month old.
The Calera La Agustina is rented.
Information will be provided in the office of this newspaper.»

soothsayer

Truly baffling . Coming from an advanced country like Spain! But yes- the charm with the colour of the skin never seems to go away

Pedro_P

soothsayer 8-10-2018 11:35 PM
Truly baffling . Coming from an advanced country like Spain! But yes- the charm with the colour of t ...

This is a typical advertisement for the sale of slaves published in the Peruvian newspaper «El Comercio» mid-nineteenth century at the beginning of the republic of Perú, after its independence from Spain. It is an advertisement written in Spanish.
But if it's skin color, even today racism is manifested in advertising publications both printed and on television.
There is still an underlying disparagement towards native non-Caucasian people, however, at the same time there is in some cases, an inverse racism of the natives towards those who are not. Racism is ultimately a form of ignorance and mental weakness... A racist person is a sick person, which at some point will require some type of psychiatric treatment.

Rhett_Bassard

I later learned that "fair" was HEAVILY advertised in India, i.e. "Fair and Lovely" skin lightening crème.
Racism comes in many shades

Rhett_Bassard

Onto another example of fractured English or as some say, Hinglish.

I used to ride my Bullet past this kinky guy's apartment building:

Pedro_P

Rhett Bassard 9-10-2018 12:50 AM
Onto another example of fractured English or as some say, Hinglish.

I used to ride my B ...

Another example of a flagrantly racist advertisement published in a Lima newspaper.

Translation:
Miss Receptionists are needed. Requirements:
• Have a good presence
• Experience in sales
• Age from 18 to 20 years, fair complexion
• Minimum height 1.60 m
• Reside in the city center.
.
Underlying translation:
• «Have a good presence» means that the person should not be ugly, should be beautiful and comply with the canons of beauty that command great breasts, a big butt, a beautiful face of miss universe.
• Experience in sales means that if you are a woman who knows nothing, but has a beautiful body capable of inducing the purchase of the product, then it does not matter, you will have the job. Your studies do not matter, only her body matters.
• Age from 18 to 20 years and fair complexion, means that you must be a young woman, preferably single, immature and easily manipulated.
Fair complexion = white skin color.
• Minimum height 1.60 m, obviously that height does not include the cleats of the shoes that you wear, if you are a woman with a stature below the average, simply this work is not for you.
• Reside in the city center. That means you should not live in suburban and poor areas of the city.
.
How pathetic, is that the sad and stark reality of racism, a type of mental illness rooted in the minds of deeply ignorant and stupid people, who believe that the color of white skin is associated with a better quality of being human .

PK47

You know homely doesn't always mean homemaker in india, even it's my the first time i am hearing someone take "homely" as "homemaker".It can also mean "good natured".

Rhett_Bassard

PK47 9-10-2018 09:28 AM
You know homely doesn't always mean homemaker in india, even it's my the first time i am hearing som ...

Good feedback. I only know what Madrassi have taught me. Maybe it's a "south India" thing

Rhett_Bassard

"Hotels" are known for their food, not their rooms.
This hotel has good brain masala.
Perhaps "runs" is a reference to the speed of the waiters, but in a culinary sense, many associate "diarrhea" [much like "trots", "squirts" or "Montezuma's Revenge"].