Click to go to the Main Page

Survey result part Two: A Malabari family tree

The following is the continuation of the results in the study we conducted in the website. We would like to thank everybody who participated in this quest to trace how and why we relate to our relative the way we do today. If you refer  your relatives differently please do not hesitate to write to us as we will add on to this list as we get more information to make it as complete as possible

Cousins

Although in English we lump all cousins together, it is distinctly divided among Malabaris. It is generally accepted that one can marry his /her mother's brother's children and his father's sister's children. Thus the children of an Alian or Ammayi are considered differently than the other cousins. In the south the terms Machan in used for these male cousins and Madhini for the female cousins. The term machan is similar to that used in Tamil. Indeed the southern area of Kerala has more contact with Tamil Nadu than the north. The spouses of these cousins are also known as machan or madhini depending on gender. The term ikka, ittha are used for elder cousin and names are used for younger cousins if they are not customarily acceptable for marriage. This would include mother's sister's children and father's brother's children. In the North this distinction is generally not as clear. Elder cousin are called ikka and Ittha while the younger can called by name.

Children

Children are usually called by name. The actual term for son and daughter are magan and magal respectively. The simplified term, mon and mol are used either alone or in combination with their actual  name to refer children. In some case the terms mon or mol became part of a persons name.

Grandchildren

The term peran is and pethi is used in Tamil to denote grandson and granddaughters. The term perakutti is used similarly in Malayalam. The term is howver not universal as there are regional differences. In the Southern Kerala, the term kochumon and kochumol is preferred. When speaking to  a third party they are  referred to as cerumakan and cerumakal. In some areas in the north there are no specific terms for grandchildren and terms like magande makkal are used to refer to son's children and magalude  makkal are to refer to the daughter's children. By far however the children are usually called by their names.

Brother in law

Generally a sister's husband is called alian. If the person is elder, terms like alianka or aliankaka are used. Vise versa this person would use similar term to call his wife's brother.  In the south the term matcha is used to refer to  brother in law, either way.

If two men are married to sisters( ie biras in malay) the elder sister's husband is referred to as alia/ ikka by the younger sister's husband. The younger sister's husband is called elayan or elayaccan  by the the elder sister's husband but is usually addressed by name.

Sister in law

A male would refer to his elder  brother's wife as Ittha and his younger brother's wife by name. Similarly he would call his wife's sister as Ittha if elder and by name if younger. On the other hand a lady when referring to her brother's wife, will call her nathuun and vise versa. However when addressing each other the elder one will be called Ittha and the younger one will be called by name.

Two ladies married to brothers( ie biras in malay), will address each other similar as is sisters addressing one another. There are some areas where the younger lady will be called elayachi.

Parent  in law

The term ammayi or ammayimma is used to refer to mother in law but they are called usually in similar ways as mothers are. In the southern areas they are called Mamee. Father in law is called similar to fathers

Son in law

The terms for son in law is maru-makan. They are usually called puthiapla especially in the northern region.

Daughter in law

The terms for daughter in law is maru-magal. They are usually called similar to daughters.

The parents of son or daughter in laws

The Malay term is besan. The terms benthukkar are commonly used. In southern Kerala the term sammanthi is used similar to that used in Tamil

back to part one

The survey result

 

 

Links- based on relevence