Formal and informal Malayalam
We use formal language in situations that are serious or that involve people we don’t know well. Informal language is more commonly used in situations that are more relaxed and involve people we know well. Formal language is more common when we write; informal language is more common when we speak. Spoken Malayalam can be very formal, for example, in a speech or a lecture.
Formal vocabulary commonly involves longer words or words with origins in Hindi or Sanskrit. Informal vocabulary commonly involves shorter words, or words with origins in Malayalam itself. For example a TV Show host may address the participants as ‘ThaankaL’. Nothing is wrong if you use the same formal word for ‘You’, but ‘Ningal’ is more apt for general conversations.
Let us consider some formal and informal vocabulary with the same meaning. These words are arranged here as English/Formal Mal/Informal Mal
Buttocks / Nithambam / Chanthi
Husband / Pathi / Bharthaav
Passion / AbhinivEsham / Thaalparyam
Wife / Pathni / Bhaarya
Mischievousness / Kuthsitha pravruthi / pOkkiriththaram
Astonishment / Aascharyam / Athishayam
Now watch this movie clip and see the difference between Formal and Informal speech ! This movie clip belongs to Nivin Pauly star of Malayalam film ‘Action Hero Biju’. Take it as a piece of fiction and our purpose is to get a clear picture of where we can use Formal/Informal languages as per the situation!
