Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Memsahib [Pg 4-6]

While I was reading I came across the word Memashib, I never heard of that word before so I decided to do some research on it.

I got several definitions of it :

1. Main Entry: mem·sa·hib
Pronunciation: \ˈmem-ˌsä-ˌ(h)ib, -ˌsäb\
Function: noun
Etymology: Hindi, from English ma'am + Hindi & Urdu sahib sahib
Date: 1852

: a white foreign woman of high social status living in India; especially : the wife of a British official


2. mem·sa·hib (mmsäb)

n.
Used formerly in colonial India as a form of respectful address for a European woman.



So basically memsahib is used as a term for a European woman of high class who lives in India and is married. That's who they were referring Gemma's mom as, a memsahib.

But my question is why call her memsahib when she already has a name?










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3 comments:

  1. danielleApril 5, 2010 at 12:07 PM

    I would think they call her this instead of by her name because it's a way of showing they are inferior.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Edina KayApril 8, 2010 at 6:22 PM

    Oh okay I see what you're trying to say.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Mary Bella TorosyanApril 17, 2010 at 9:53 AM

    Danielle's probably right because i see what shes trying to say too..

    ReplyDelete

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