Talking to the cook: Kannada English

Before you listen: Please, note the highlighted words below. Their pronunciation is different in Kannada English. Try to pay attention when you listen to them, because most Indian people will pronounce them in this way. Remember that 1) in Kannada English, all -ed endings are clearly pronounced 2) ma'am, mam, sir are used in almost every sentence 3) many speakers add Kannada words into their English 4) all th sounds become t or d.

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Tip: In India, a lot of people pronounce w and v the same, as v. You can hear that a lot in this topic. That's not correct in other types of English, but in India, it's important to pronounce it like that, or you may not be understood!

[Talking to the cook, situation one: you want to hire a cook and you are interviewing one]

Vaishali: So, what’s your name?

Rupa: Rupa.

V: Rupa. Since when have you been doing this job?

R: Since eight years madam. I used to work in catering first. Then I started taking household jobs.

V: Okay! So how many households do you work for, currently?

R: Four.

V: Hm. So let me tell you my requirements. I need a cook only for the evening time, to cook the evening snacks and dinner. We are a family of five. My kids need some snacks every day, in the evening. So I want you to cook that and then, of course, dinner. Dinner would be ten chapatis, one sabji, one curry and rice. We eat only vegetarian food. And I want you to come at 5 p.m. Is this alright?

R: Okay I understood. Do you want on weekends also?

V: Well not on Sunday, but on Saturday, yes!

R: Okay. What type of food do you want me to make?

V: We prefer something less spicy and less oily.

R: Okay! I think I can do this job.

V: What about the salary you expect?

R: Well, the standard rate is Rs. thousand two hundred for one time meal. You can pay me Rs. five hundred more for snacks.

V: Okay! But I want you to be very regular. I work and so I need someone reliable.

R: Yes, madam! I will not take leaves simply simply madam. When should I start?

V: We can start from June 1st?

R: Sure, I will come at 5 p.m. Thank you!

V: Please give me your contact number, Rupa.

R: It is 97693-68295.

V: Wait, tell me slowly once again, please.

R: 9-7-6-9-3-6-8-2-9-5.

V: Got it. Thank you, Rupa. So I'll expect you at 5 p.m. on June 1st.

②Daal ダール(一般的な豆カレー)

​　To notice 知らせる

①To cater 料理を調達する

​　Currently 現在

　Sabji サブジ(野菜がメインのインド料理の総称)

　To prefer 好む

　Less spicy 辛さ控えめの

　Less oily 油分控えめの

　Reliable 信頼できる

​　Contact number 電話番号

　Burnt 焦げた

　Half-cooked 生焼けの

　Watery 水っぽい

　To complain 文句を言う

　Maggi マギー(一般的な即席麺のブランド名)

　To tolerate 大目に見る

　Behavior ふるまい

　Tension ストレス、緊張

　Sincerely 心を込めて

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③To increase 増やす

　On leave 休暇中

　Deserve ～の価値がある

　Board exam 日本で言うセンター試験のようなもの

​　Irregular 規律の乱れた

　Snack 軽食

　Chapati チャパティ(インド料理の代表的な主食。平たいパンのようなもの)

[Situation two: your cook has not been cooking well these days]

V: Rupa, why did you make the daal so spicy yesterday?

R: Oh, is it? Sorry madam!

V: Well, I've been telling you since the beginning to cook our food less spicy. I've been noticing since a few days that you are not cooking the food well. We all used to like your food a lot till a few days ago. Is there some problem, Rupa?

R: Sorry madam! There is no problem.

V: Okay, then why are you cooking like this? The chapatis these days are either burnt or half-cooked, the daal is watery at times and spicy at other times. Kids are complaining that sometimes you come so late that they end up cooking maggi for snacks. I had told you that I won’t tolerate this behavior.

R: I am really sorry madam! I have lot of tension at home madam. So only like this. I willn't repeat this again. Please give me another chance.

V: Okay, but please do your job sincerely, Rupa. And don't get your tensions to work.

[Situation three: your cook wants a raise]

R: Madam, I have a request.

V: Yes, Rupa?

R: Madam, can you please increase my salary?

V: What? So soon? You just started working with us.

R: It has been one year madam. I started working last year. Do not you increase salary of your staff every year?

V: Well, I raise their salary when I feel they deserve it. And Rupa, it's only been ten months since you started working here. Out of those ten months, you were on leave for almost a month when your son had his board exams. Also, if you remember, I had to train you for a long time to suit our taste. You were also very irregular in the beginning.

R: But now you are very happy with my cooking, no? And also I have not taken a single leave for two months.

V: Well, yes, now you cook well, but you will have to wait for a raise. I'm sorry, but I can’t do it right now.

R: Okay, madam. I will wait. By the way, I won’t, I won't come to work tomorrow. I have to go for a wedding.

V: Well! There you go again!