Legacy of a world gone by

By Laila Nasry 

Antique furniture of teak and rosewood handpicked from the Indian regions of Kuch, Rajasthan, Cochin, Saurashtra and Travancore will be the focus at an unusual exhibition and sale, to be held this week. Baroque pillars with marble bases, small oriental doorways with painstakingly perfect work (made so that the people entering would have to bend their heads in respect), chunky balustrades adorned with Arabic calligraphy are just a few of the items going on view.

There's more. Ornate chests known as pittatras each unique in woodwork, locks and carvings, that could be used as storage space or make ideal coffee tables and couches, 'Thulasi stands' originally used to rest water pots and fancy pieces embossed with tiles indicative of the British influence in India are also on show. Then there are little benches, a playhorse cart and a grandfather clock cupboard. 

'Hermitage', the organisation behind this exhibition was launched a year ago by Yasmin Akbarally and Safiya Hussein. This is their third exhibition and as on previous occasions the exhibition and sale apart from antiques also includes works of art by popular artists, from those of internationally reputed names like Andre Maire, Otto Scheinhammer and Vietnamese master Nguyen Anh and contemporary Sri Lankans like Anoop Vega, Jayantha Samarasundara, Basil Cooray, Ruma Lamir and the 43 Group.

Old postcards, which feature Ceylon in all its colonial glory, are a collector's dream. 

The forte of both Yasmin and Safiya who are "90% experts at identifying them", they include scenes of Slave Island, Isurumuniya, the Brazen Palace, a series of Tamil women, rubber tappers, the Grand Oriental Hotel and Galle Face Hotel. The postcards, which have great display value, are priced according to rarity, the year, publisher, photographer etc. A collection of old books, maps, woodcuts, lithographs and prints and autographs of the likes of Muhammed Ali, the legendary Beatles is also bound to attract attention.

A sell-out on both previous occasions, there's silver jewellery this time around too.

For those who prefer quaint but unique 'knick knacks', there is a delightful variety of antique paraphernalia. Carved coconut scrapers of yesteryear one fitted with an alternate 'mallun' cutter, a rather large stringhopper maker and wooden spoon racks are some of the amazing kitchen items on display. Pullannkuzhi locally known as the Olinda game, a one-of-a kind kerosene fan together with odd double-bladed brass pedestal and table fans and ash pots which originally hung outside shrine rooms complete the whimsical array. 

The Hermitage exhibition and sale will be held from November 17-19 between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. at The Commons coffeehouse and Gallery at 74 A, Dharmapala Mawatha, Colombo 7. 

Funny Business

Oh that English language!

By Royston Ellis

It depends, of course, on the school. If the school is in England, the pupil will have some kind of English accent, ranging from regional (i.e.: utterly incomprehensible to anyone outside the region), or mock middle class. The latter is akin to the mid-Atlantic English spoken by pop stars who want to show off, and by US diplomats who want to be understood. 

We used to be able to rely on BBC news readers for a guide to English pronunciation. With more regional accents being heard on the air, someone who learns English by listening to the BBC may finish up with a nasal brogue instead of clear vowels. On television, CNN has newscasters from many parts of the English-speaking world, creating a true international pronunciation guide for hardy viewers to emulate. 

However, it is not the way English is spoken that presents a problem in communication, it is the words themselves. 

If an English lady tells me: "I was knocked up by your houseboy," it means she was woken up by the chap. If an American woman tells me the same thing it means something totally different, and the chap is in deep trouble. 

To describe someone as "a reputed banker" would mean, to an English person, that the banker's reputation is in doubt. He is only reputed to be a banker and may, in fact, be a swindler. In English English, the banker should be described as "reputable". 

What about that admirable Sri Lankan term "bed tea"? An Englishman will wonder if it is a new brand, like Breakfast Tea, instead of tea served in bed. 

From Indian English we learn that "bites" are not titbits served with a drink but what a tight shoe does when it pinches. If an Indian says he is "breaking his head", he is not doing himself an injury. He is racking his brains, trying to think. 

English abounds in many local 'perversities'. In the West Indies, I was intrigued to be told that a beautiful girl was "bad, man!" I felt sorry for her and wondered what she had done wrong. My sympathy was misplaced. The speaker was using "bad" to mean "good ". 

Misunderstandings in English are common. When I telephone a company director in Colombo and give my name, I am asked by his receptionist: "Where are you from?" or even simply "From?" Does she want to know which country I come from, or should I answer philosophically, with "from the Lord's creation"? 

Apparently I am supposed to give the name of the company I work for. Since I don't work for a company, I am obliged to make up a name, so I tell her I am from "International Inanities.". 

Then I might be told that the person I want is "not in his seat". Good gracious! Is he, perhaps, standing on his desk, or on the window ledge? No, what is meant in English English is that he is "in a meeting". This is another way of saying that he doesn't want to speak to me anyway. 

English is notorious for meaning not quite what it appears to mean. A woman said to be "attractive" is actually past her best and makes do with forced charisma. Similarly, a man called "charming" is no longer handsome but is wealthy enough for that to be overlooked.

A restaurant described in a review as having "a peaceful atmosphere" can mean it is usually empty. A dish described as "The chef's specialty" can indicate the chef has messed up a perfectly good recipe and you eat it at your peril. Food described as "artistically presented" means it was pretty but inedible.

The hackneyed phrase from the USA, "Have a nice day!" has spread as fast as any computer virus. It is uttered, even here, without sincerity. It no longer means "Enjoy the rest of the day" but has become a euphemism for "Good bye and good riddance." 

Another phrase that has changed its meaning is the ubiquitous "No problem!" It began as a term of assurance that one's request would be handled promptly and efficiently, without a problem. 

My heart sinks when I hear the phrase now since it presages all manner of difficulties. The person who says it usually means: "I have no problem, so please leave me alone and don't give me your problem." 

The Queen would not be amused. 

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