I've decided to make a personal thread for Malayalam here. I hope to use this to help myself keep track of new vocabulary and stuff that I've learned. Ideally, I'd also keep track of mistakes that I've been making in Malayalam like I do in personal threads for other languages, but I haven't noted these mistakes at all, really. Like, all I can think of off the top of my head is that Malayalam has two words for 'to give' (depending on whether the recipient(s) is/are in third person or not) and that I keep using the wrong one! But I think I'll start off by just quizzing myself on the words I posted on this thread:
A കാതം is 16 km.
A proverb using that word: ഊണ് കഴിച്ചാൽ ഉടനെ കിടക്കണം; അത്താഴം ഉണ്ടാൽ അരക്കാതം നടക്കണം.
softness = മയം as in അന്നമയം പ്രാണമയം
തെണ്ടി means not only 'idiot' but also 'beggar' and 'wanderer', and തെണ്ടുക means 'to beg'.
ചിമിട്ടുക = to wink, be brisk or active
മിച്ചവാരം = landlord's portion of rent (minus interest on advance given by tenant)
ഈറ = bamboo-like reed or anger
ഈറ്റ = bamboo-like reed, miserliness/stinginess, or, as a deverbal adjective, calved, having given birth to, about to give birth to, e.g. ഈറ്റപ്പുലി 'tigress that just gave birth'
ഈർച്ച = anger ('displeasure, ill-will, malice') or sawing
അറപ്പ് = sawing or disgust
thoroughly, completely = കൂലംകഷം
My dad says കൂറ means 'silverfish' but the dictionary says it means 'clothes', 'dirty laundry', 'flag', 'banner', 'cockroach', or 'louse'.
repentance = പശ്ചാത്താപം
mullet = കണമ്പ്
right angle = കണപ്പ്
truth, essence = സത്ത് (dictionary also says 'quintessence', 'substance', and...'juice'?)
uncouth = അസത്ത്
low-caste pappadam-maker = പണ്ടാരക്കാലൻ
span (which is about 9 inches) = ചാണ്
cheese (according to my dad ) = പാൽക്കട്ട
tongs = കൊടിൽ
military camp, encampment, barracks, army, or village surrounded by hills = പാളയം
fee paid to porters' union (regardless of whether payer is using porters' services or not) = നോക്കുകൂലി
അപകടം = danger, accident, risk, fault, mischief, difficulty, evil
to talk back = തറുതല പറയുക
(to) taste = ചുവ(യ്ക്കുക)
order, sequence, rule = ക്രമം
And now, in addition to that, I'm going to try to write out the lyrics for a video I posted earlier on another thread and the translation of both that and another video I posted on the Malayalam songs thread. So first of all, I had posted this song on the "Political songs" thread. It's a Muslim League song. I don't care for it all that much, to be honest, but at least it's interesting in that it has the sound of people hitting sticks together, which is characteristic of folk dances in northern and central Kerala (where the majority of Malayalee Muslims live):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKk_og0ajGg
It begins with the following dedication:
പ്രിയമുള്ളവരേ, Hannah Productions-ഇനുവേണ്ടി അബു പെരിന്താറ്റിരി രചിച്ച്, ജമാൽ പാഷ ആലപിച്ച "ഹരിത പതാക" എന്ന ഈ വീഡിയോ album Muslim League എന്ന രാഷ്ട്രപ്രസ്ഥാനത്തെ നെഞ്ചേറ്റിയ എല്ലാവർക്കും ഞങ്ങൾ സ്നേഹപൂർവ്വം സമർപ്പിക്കുന്നു.
priyamuLLavarE, Hannah Productions-in(u)vENTi abu perinthaattiri rachich(u), jamaal paasha aalapichcha "haritha pathaaka" enna ii viiDiyO album Muslim League enna raashTraprasthhaanaththe nenjchEttiya ellaavarkkum njangngaL snEhapuurvvam samarppikkunnu.
Dearly beloved, we are dedicating this video album, "Green Flag," sung by Jamal Pasha with lyrics penned by Abu Perinthattiri for Hannah Productions with love to all those who hold the Muslim League state movement close to their hearts.
And the song is as follows:
വാനിൽ പറക്കുന്ന മലർ കൊടിയേ,
മതമൈത്രിയിൽനിന്നും ഹരിത കൊടിയേ,
ലീഗിൻ അമരത്ത് അടയാളമായി
പാരീ പറക്കൂ നീ, അഭിമാനമായ്! (വാനിൽ...)
vaanil parrakkunna malar koTiyE,
mathamaithriyilninnum haritha koTiyE,
League-in amarathth(u) aTayaaLamaayi
paarii parrakkuu nii, abhimaanamaay!
Flowery(?) flag flying in the sky,
Green flag, from religious harmony,
As the sign on the League's stern,
With pride, fly on the Earth!
(Repeat from beginning)
വെള്ളിമേഘത്തോപ്പിൽ പരിലസിച്ച്
താരാമ്പരച്ചോട്ടിൽ തിളങ്ങി നിന്നേ! (വെള്ളി...)
ചന്ദ്രക്കലയൊന്ന് ചിരിച്ചു മാറിൽ.
അഴകായ് താരം മിന്നിൽ(?) തൂകി നിലാവ്.
veLLimEghaththOppil parilasichch(u)
thaaraambarachchOTTil thiLangngi ninnE! (veLLi...)
chandrakkalayonn(u) chirichhu maarril.
azhakaay thaaram minnil(?) thuuki nilaav(u).
Shine in a clump of silver clouds
And stand glowing in the ??? of the starry sky! (Repeat last two lines twice)
The crescent just smiled in your bosom.
The moonlight hung a star on your necklace with beauty.
വീരപ്പുലികള്, റഹമാൻ ചാരേ,
മജീദ് കുഞ്ഞിപ്പയും നിനക്ക് കീഴെ (വീര...)
രചിച്ചു ചരിതങ്ങൾ മുസ്ലിം ലീഗിൻ,
സ്മരിച്ചു, പൂങ്കൊടി പാറുന്നു മാനത്ത്.
viirappulikaL(u), rrahamaan chaarE,
majiid kunjnjippayum ninakk(u) kiizhe (viira...)
rachichchu charithangngaL muslim liigil,
smarichchu, puungkoTi paarrunnu maanathth(u).
Brave tigers and Majid Kunjappan
Under you, dear Rahman, (Repeat last two lines twice) Majid Kunjappan is a Muslim League politician in Kerala. Not sure about Rahman.
Wrote the histories of the Muslim League
And remembered them; the good flag is flying in the air.
നന്മ വിളഞ്ഞോരീ(???) കൊടി പിടിച്ച്
തൂകി തന്നു സ്നേഹം, ശിഹാബ് തങ്ങൾ (നന്മ...)
ഇന്നീ സമുദായരഥപുറത്ത്
പാരീ പക്ഷത്തോടീ മനം കുളിർത്ത്.
nanma viLanjnjOrii koTi piTichch(u)
thuuki thannu snEham Sihaab(u) thangngaL, (nanma...)
innii samudaayarathhapurrathth(u)
paarii pakshaththOTii manam kuLirthth(u).
Shihab Thangal who matured goodness(???)
Spread love holding the flag, (Repeat last two lines twice)
His mind feeling cool with this side on Earth(???)
On this community chariot today.
ലീഗിൻ മരതകമലർപൊയ്കയിൽ,
ചന്ദ്രതാരാംഗിതക്കൊടിയ്ക്കു കീഴിൽ (ലീഗിൻ...)
കോളീ ചിഹ്നം നമുക്കേകി സന്തോഷം
എന്നും കൈരളിയ്ക്ക് ലീഗ് ഉന്മേഷം.
League-in marathakamalarpoykayil,
chandrathaaraanggithakkoTiykk(u) kiizhil (League-in...)
kOLii chihnapnamukkEki (???) santhOsham
ennum kairaLiykk(u) League unmEsham.
In the League's emerald flowery pond,
Under the flag with a moon and a star, (Repeat last two lines twice)
This auspicious sign brought us happiness
And Kerala the League's vitality forever.
(Repeat first verse twice)
OK, that translation didn't make all that much sense and was hard to do. But here's the other song, which I posted on the Malayalam songs thread. It's a much nicer song IMO and should be easier to translate:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jNWyHnulKU
Lyrics: http://malayalasangeetham.info/s.php?6700
Swan bird, just stand there and spread
Feathers of beauty in my mind!
All I see(?) in my darling
Is red powder that puts shyness (on you),
A flowerful tree that makes (your) desire blossom.
The river and the bank have necklaces from the sun;
You have the complete necklaces of my heart.
The lovely sky and lovely breeze
Will rain a body of water in a while.
I long to put a golden necklace
Around your breasts with my hands.
Sandalwood paste will ooze out from the blossoming platform,
And they will set up umbrellas on the shaded altar.
Your inner self and my inner self
Will utter magic chants in a while.
I am eager to put a mark
On your forehead with my lips.