1958-09-27 — Page 5

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Let's Take Hongkong's Word

By R. W. Thompson

SAVVY: Basically, know.' 'understand. The word is known wher- over the English Language is spoken and turns up regularly in colloquial speech. Phrases such as My, savvy, 'I under- aland' and That boy got plenty savvy, "That boy is no fool, are common in the books on South China published in the last century. It la even given a French flavour in the Fan, qui nt Canton, in the phrase no 2-a-vex. This word is almost cer tainly of Portuguesy origin: mabe.

SHA SZ: Hongkong Cantonese for sarsaparilla. These syllables re- present the Introductory foreign tingle system since Doals Is alten is the Cantonese phonetic system. SHOU FA L Soto, in Hongkong Cantoneso.

incans "ept."

The final syllable

SHOH TA: Soda, ks a loth-word in Hongkong Canlonese. SHROFF: Usually a cashier in Hongkong. It is even written and appears on notices in local Banks. It la an Anglo-Indian word and was originally the name given to a native servant employed lo detest bad coins, The word is of Arable origla, warrat, saraf, natraf and probably passed through Indo-Portuguese to English, A Portuguese source of 1554 writes xarrafo, tho x of which represents English sh. The earliest English references I have been able to find, date from Foster's letters of the early reventeenth century where this word is spelt Sarafe or Sherali. Shroff has also been Fryer, however, wrote Bhroff in 1673.

Giles in his Glossary of used as a verb: to examine coin. Reference (1878) says that Shroffing schools were "common in Canton, where teachers at the art keep bad dollars for tho purpose of exercising their pupils; and several works on the subject have been published there, with numerous illustra Hons of dollars and other foreign coins, the methods of scoop- the out aliver and filing up with copper or lead, comparisona between genuine and counterfeit dollars, the difference be- tween native and foreign Issuing, etc. etc." SIDE: This word was of great remantle importance in China Coast Pidgin and, naturally, in the English of Hongkong where it ct appears in print in sub-standard combinations. In mosi cases Pidgin usage is fairly faithful to Cantonese or other Chinese models. Here are some common examples, Top-side, top, upstairs Have got water top-side (Leland); bottom-side, below, down, under, low; long-side, with, by, near, accom- panying; outside, foreign, outside old river, Yangise Klang, outside old river man, Northern Chinusc; come tliks mido. ar- rived here, Just now hab...--got-two. picore.Joss-hatise-man_come. Mula sido, two missionaries have arrived. Even the expressions Hongkong-side and Kowtoon-side may sound strange to_the ears of the newly-arrived Englishman, Australian, New Zear lander or American.

SIN BZ: Cents ns borrowed by Hongkong Cantonese, SNAPPER: Various kinds of Hongkong fish, usually of the genus

futjanus. See Herklots and Lin, Food-Fishes of Hongkong. SOLE: Macao sole. Herklots and Lin say this may be either Cynoglossus sinicus, Tsim Lei (polated sole), in Cantonese or Cynogionsus roniel, Fong Lei (rectangular sole) in Cantonese. SQUEEZE: An illegal exaction. Partridge dates it back only to ca.1880. In the Fan Kwac at Canton (1882) it is stated that If the llcence (of the Hong merchants)... was costly, il secured to them uninterrupted and extraordinary pecuniary advantages; but on the other hand it subjected them to calls ar 'squeezes for contributions to public works...." When the author of the Fan Kwas... made a pasa at a Tanka sampan-wornan at Maeno the intter cried out Na! na! Mandarin see; he squeegee meel he squeegee moet Mandarin see. The Hong Koni Daily Press of 10th October, 1877, reports that "Formose has long been viewed by native officials or n_fat feld for the practice of what is vulgarly known as squeezing, though politely termed taxation,

SUT BHAAM: Shirt in Hongkong Cantonese. The first element

is the loan-word introduced with the foreign gurment. The serónd element means 'garment." SYCEE: Pure silver (Chinese), sal su, ‘îne silk' in Cantonese, Cilos says that this name was given because silver, if really pure, may be drawn out into fine threads. The earliest reference to this word in English quoted in Hobson Jobson is that of Lockyer (1711): "Formerly they used to sell for Sleee, or Silver full ane; but of lato the method is alter'd." Glies quotes the following atrocious doggerel on the etymology of Ünds word:-

"Some ask me what the cause may be

That Chinese sliver's called sycee.

"Tis probable they call it so

Because they sigh to see it go."

BZ MAAT: "Smart," as a loan-word In Hongkong Cantonesc.

SZ MAN TO: Cement, in Hongkong Cantonese.

SZ TAAM: Stamp, In Hongkong Cantonese,

BZ TIM: Steam, in Hongkong Cantonese.

EZ TIK: Stick, In Hongkong Cantonese.

SZ TO: Store, (Le. shop), in Hongkong Cantonese.

THE “CHINA » MAIL; SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1958.

CHRYS

"BEATS. ME WHY ANYBODY.... WANTS TO BEAT THE SUN!"

London Letter

ARE rich people really necessary? If the answer

is "Yes," then should they be allowed to be- queath their wealth, or a large portion of it, to their heirs and successors?

---

It is essential to our slory to

This is not a quiz game enthusiastic woman, dedicated to (although it would provide a her magazine and its staff, and a lively theme for discussion) but champion of good causes. Yet her which has associates on TIME AND TIDE scrlous question

loss than been made topies by the recent would have been death of that remarkable 75- human if their grief had not year-old woman the Vis been partially surged by

the countess Rhondda,

publication of her kindly will,

She left an allegod£65,458 and in her will decreed take note that, her father, David gross Alfred Thammas, was a Welsh- that £20,000 should go to man who was educated at Oxford friend in Wales, another £20,000 University but did not allow the on trust for her nephew, romanticism of the senior £1,000 here and there, and University to blind himself to odrally a charming struction atern realism. He became a big that a Mrs Thursby, who own- colliery owner, a member of ed a tobacconist shop, should Parliament, and despite a long have a lie gratuity of £26 p personal feud with his fellow -year "for keeping me supplied Welshman, David Lloyd George, with matches for some 15 years." the latter appointed him Minister

of

of. Health. Then in the 1914 war he took over the Ministry Food and made a great success

of it,

-by-

Sir Beverley Baxter, M.P.

ago

But it is not merely the pro- held back until a century fessional man who suffers from and then Introduced a progres the burden of taxation, Thesive system of death dutles, managing director of a mighty Canada, I am glad to say, beld Industrial firm employing thou out against it as long as possi- sands of workers may draw a bit, but early in the Hitler war salary of £15,000 a year, The the Canadian Government. im- strain on him is great but are posed a combined Estate and the claims, The earnings of his Inheritance Duty-an exemple company grow but if his salary which was duly followed by grows with them the Treasury other Dominions. holds him up like a highwayman and demands a bigger tharo of the swag.

But has the process gone: too far in the United Kingdom? One might argue that the presotva- Inovitably the industrialist, ton of the stately homes of and the self-employed man, England is not a matter of great turn to the medium where they importance yet it is these splen left out some other awards from buy shares in a South

For exomy of space I have might win. If, for example, I did relies of a former glory with me that her goodness and i can take any profit, if there is Faced with heavy death duties Afriçan which gives charm and character her estate but you will agree gold mine and the shares go up to the English countryside. generosity like her stubborn one, and pay, no income tax the aristocracts have idealian remained kin. the armour of her spirit to the very

end

BUET KO PAI: Ice-cream ple,.in Cantonese. The last clement la Lloyd George created him a ed nearly everyone who wis

25

Üle English word ple.

A British Crossword Puzzle

ACOESS

1.Deniel cogtlig? (6),

4 Ornamental Jumpers! (5),

7 Lowered for sleep (0),

8-Girl's name (5)....

10 Mino. Gallery (4).

(2

14

16

12 More than a summary, to be

exact (7).

18 Muscura plece, perhaps (8),

10-Brainwave; (4))))

17 Pool's name (4).

19 Pale, positively, (5), -

20 Such a commentary may,

however, bøver, a walking

21 Galh by labour (4).

29 Piese don't die, girl (5).

24 That's your lett (6).

28 Narrave mainly polluical

20 Nokig to may (6).

22

DOWN 1 Jrt, as (8). 2-this one would call it (8). 3 Essaylat (4).

& Remover of royalty (8),"

4 Agroca to become fat (0),

Feature of forks (5),

11. The T.O. of P.T.O. (8); 12 Instrument

instruc-

tion for playing it (B), 18-His "169"

are seldom practical, (3). 14 What you got (8), 18.Rsa fishi Could be (8), 22 Two alike?: (4).

FRIDAY'S CROSSWORD Across: 3 Dodderer, & Ant-Tim, #Sodima Fortune, 12 Ruse (euro), 18 Mater. 18 Darod, 19. godle 22 Lembrado, Conn poser;:28 A-on, 20 Solitude. Down: 1 Barr, 2 Start, 3 Diau bod, 4 Omens 5 Dale, 8 Rueful, Rotten 10 Dalez,V14- Taros, 13 Remorse, 16 Traces, :17 Formal 20 Leter. 21 Beeth, 32 Loot, 35 Mend

ordain

She but unhappily the British laws had also forgotten some bene

that factions which had decreased of succession hereditary titles, except with the gross. royalty, are only maintained through the male line.

...

upon it.

We

The

compro- mised with Fato... Thus the Duke of Marlborough, descond cd from the mighty conqueror Just before the war was ended

Lady Rhondda had remember-

and incidentally relative of Sir Winston Church, decided Viscount but it was a glory that close to her but, being a roman-

But if a man gives his very to throw open the famous house lasied only a few weeks. The tie, the had made one unfortun- life blood in crading something "Blenheim" and its grounds at ultimate dederacy of death at misousculation. Not for the that did not previously exist so much per head. took him AWDY from life's ist time a woman had mistaken the skinny fingers of the

gross for net. When the minions Treasury close on the money even further. struggle and life's glory.

Duke of Bedford went of the Chancellor of the Exche like a grasping miser.

He allowed the Alast He had no son. The quer had

nudists to hold their annual finished with her

on his ancestral brief candle of a Viscounty had estate it had shrunk from £85,- Fortunately in Britain there convocation

is a Prime Minister who is not estate, Woburn gone out. There was a daughter 450 gross to £27,995 net.

Abbey, at 10 merely a politlelan but a pab- much per body. Then there is

sher of wide experience.

the Marquess of Bath who his splendid home have beard probably too much opened about, Macmillan's grandfather Longleat and takes toll in the who lived in Scotland as a poor process. crofter, but bred n family which Lloyd George, however, was

in the third generation produced determined to pay the debt of his fellow countryman

All of which brings out the a mighty publishing house and so by special decree it was

story to a very foportant point, eventually, a great Prime Minis ordained

We hear constantly about the ter. But Is the same road of op that Rhondda's doughter should high cost of living but it is time-portunity open today? No one be created a Viscountess in her that here in Britain we should will say that opportunity has own right..

seriously consider the high-cost ceased to exist but the road Here indeed was a difficult of dying,

narrows and the rewards lessen, and delicate · situation.": In 1008. Every decent man has two So wo return to the strange realist might well agree that she married a mere barnet beste ambitions-first to receive and rather wistful story of Vis- this advent of commercialisin named Sir Humphrey Mack- adequate financial reward for his countess Rhondda, As a woman will eventually bring the aris worth but the marriage was not work, and secondly to be able to of honour she directed la her tocratic tradition to an end and a, success and was eventually leave his widow and dissolved.

family will that her trustees should make way for the common senso of democracy and financially occurs. But here a, discharge out of her general Up to that time the bestowing Britain we tax belh the living estato uny sums owed by her equality. But the English refuse of a peerage on a wanan Was and the dead at such a level or any guarantees she had given to believe that comman sense is BE

the printers in a very rare thing, bat

that it is terribly difficult for a to the

connection the finest flowering of brought happiness and a sense of pur- dead man's dependants to main with the publishing of TIME human spirit, just as they'res, fuse to believe that there can pose to Lady. Rhondda, Her tain anything "ike the level of AND TIDE.

be absolute equality in men or horses.

father

..

had been a mighty life which he and his family had servant of the state. Now she, enjoyed.

• his daughter, would create weekly magazine in which she could play a part in moulding public opinion.

In fact while the workers rest the end of the week the peers toll.

|

Both the Ratirist and the

Well-there

The we are, Forgive me if I take for the

House of Lords still qurvives of sake of argument a self-employed

I have already mentioned her: Westminister just as the houses writer like myself. It may na- tonish some readers of the Lon- £20,000 on trust for her nop of the lords, persist in don Letter to learn that the hew, and a similar amount for countryside.

of

the

more to life, than the Look from,

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PREPARED

AND SAVE MONEY

AT OUR

Sept. 29

Canadian magazine Macleans not a friend, but there were also a But I am sorry that tho only pays me for my contribu- number of £1,000 benefactions greedy fingers of the Treasury tions but pay ma in dollars. But to tried friends, ma colleagues took heavy toll of Lady Open on Monday Unitappily à sense of purpose am I allowed to felain the In fact a bountiful woman had Rhondda's estate, that her kind or oven a case of dedication is dollars? Not at all. The British departed life in an aura not enough to chout suocess Treasury takes them, and gives bountiful generosity, even if ly bequests woro, criselly p with the reading public. Yet she me sterling In exchange. Having her benefactions could only be dured. She was a day and dedicated Wornan who gave and her staff worked hard and put the dollars into it capacious partially realised produced an inteligent periodical pocket it then proceeds to tax Now let us leave her in the h oven though there was no touch and super-lax the storing pence of stemity and end this of, genitas, about £t. •

London Letter with a short - When I begun the London The professional man, whether an outdoor tenth Letter it seemed inevitable that The name of the magazine a doctor, a writer or an autors: duties, and their effect ipon, the with the passing of the Lady WEETTIME AND TYDE and fair at a great disadvantage: The social econe of the United King Bountiful the struggling Te while it did well, but Ikke all

manufacturer can: legitima ly publications it took eventually to claim tax allowance against the dom

AND TIDE“ would pubileation. But the editor has face the challenge of the new cost of now plant but the protese. The faxing of the dead is not succeeded in getting sumelent monter of television. But it resonal mun has no machinery, to a modern or even Victorian backing to keep it going. Thus

and wider place except the ranchinery

Abore was monilkie : grief; his mind. Yot If the prozeanoria] wmong her editorial cassociatesman, Igels that he muNG TONE KIE when dy Rhondday's death was' brain', he can claim no - Laymen oncounbed El, wwe a brave and ployment allowance,

A

•

Hon. Actually ties there a Umoland, there is a

the Romans" Betcha the tide in the affairs of mm" and thout many it in stood; news that this, brava rim Bad Imprend periodical is to continuu ita:ru- NOZARUSELfilan : forming tarko

BIG

BENEFIT BARGAINS

IGGEST

HEERASONS

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