13. Vocatives, Interjections

(and Honor Conventions)

1. Vocatives (Forms of Address)

The simplest way of addressing is to elongate the vowel at the end of a word as shown below.

Beginning of Vocatives table Vocatives

Vocatives

Nominative	Vocative	Meaning
అమ్మ (a-mma)	అమ్మా! (a-mmA!)	Mom!
నాన్న (nA-nna)	నాన్నా! (nA-nnA!)	Dad!
సీత (sI-ta)	సీతా! (sI-tA!)	Sita!
అక్క (a-kka)	అక్కా! (a-kkA!)	sister!
బావ (bA-va)	బావా! (bA-vA!)	bro-in-law!
వదిన (va-di-na)	వదినా! va-di-nA!	sis-in-law!/td>

Notice how Indians address their kith and kin; it is not by their given names as we do in the West, but by the relationship. In idiomatic Telugu, you will find a rich treasure of addressing (vocative) terms. Mastering the use of vocatives in Telugu is not just a matter of mastering the rules of grammar. Vocatives are imbued with a complex socio-linguistic meaning. The way people address each other depends on the type of relationship that exists between them. These rules dictate how a master addresses a servant, a devotee addresses God, wife addresses husband, siblings and colleagues address each other, and so on. In this book, for want of better terms, we use terms like familiar, respectful, intimate, intermediate, polite, honorary, and so on, to indicate the type of relationship implied in the addressing. Notice some of the vocatives are gender-neutral. It is recommended that the student stick to the style indicated in bold, which is gender neutral.

Vocatives in Telugu are sometimes expressed by optionally appending the noun with prefixes like ఒరేయ్! (orEy^), ఏమోయ్! (EmOy^), ఏమండీ (EmaMDI), etc., and by optionally elongating the vowel sound at the end of the name, or with the additional suffix గారు (gA-ru) as an honorific. If గారు ( gA-ru) is used, then the vowel ‘ఉ’ is elongated in the vocative. This గారు suffix is almost identical in function to the Japanese san.

Insert Table here

Example (Masculine Noun, రాముడు)

Telugu	In RTS	Meaning	Social Rank
ఒరేయ్! రాముడూ!	(o-rEy^! rA-mu-DU!)	Hey, Ramudu!	very familiar/master to servant
ఏంరా! రాముడూ!	(EM rA! rA-mu-DU!)	Hey, Ramudu!	very familiar/master to servant
ఏయ్! రాముడూ!	(Ey^! rA-mu-DU!)	Hey, Ramudu!	familiar, typically among pals
రాముడూ!	(rA-mu-DU!)	Hi, Ramudu!	familiar, among family members
ఏమోయ్! రాముడూ!	(E-mOy^! rA-mu-DU!)	Hello, Ramudu!	(affectionate/ among friends)
రాముడు గారూ!	(rA-mu-Du gA-rU!)	Hello, Ramudu! Sir!	respectful
ఏమండీ! రాముడు గారూ!	(EmaMDI! rA-mu-Du gA-rU!)	Hello, Ramudu! Sir!	doubly respectful
ఏమండోయ్! రాముడు గారూ!	(EmaMDoi! rA-mu-Du gA-rU!)	Hello, Ramudu! Sir!	doubly respectful, used to emphasize the call or to add a tone of sarcasm

Example (Feminine Noun, సీత)

Telugu	In RTS	Meaning	Social Rank
ఒసేయ్! సీతా!	(o-sEy^! sItA!)	Hey, Sita!	very familiar/master to servant
ఏమే! సీతా!	(EmE! sItA!)	(Hey sItA!)	very familiar/master to servant
ఏయ్! సీతా!	(Ey^! sItA !)	Hey, Sita!	familiar, typically among pals
సీతా!	(rA-mu-DU!)	Hi, Sita!	familiar, among family members
ఏమమ్మా! సీతా!	(EmammA! sItA!)	Sita, My dear!	(affectionate/ among friends)
సీత గారూ	(sI-ta gA-rU!)	Hello, Sita! Madam!	respectful
ఏమండీ సీత గారూ! Hello Madam, Sita!	(E-maM-DI! sI-ta gA-rU!)	Hello, Sita Madam!!	doubly respectful
ఏమండోయ్ సీత గారూ!	(E-maM-DOy^! sI-ta gA-rU!)	Hello, Hello, Madam Sita!	doubly respectful, used to emphasize the call or to add a tone of sarcasm

Note 1. In both the above examples, the social convention of observing the rank is followed. The first two lines of each example are meant for addressing intimate people or people well below their social rank (such as a master to a servant). The next two lines are the vocatives for use among equal-rank people. The last two are used to show respect.

Caution. Never use ఒరేయ్ ( o-rEy ) and ఒసేయ్ (o-sEy) in addressing people unless and until you know thoroughly the honorific social conventions. They are used only in extremely intimate relationships or when the social or kinship rank of the one being addressed is much lower than the one who is doing the addressing. Even in intimate relationships, it is becoming common to use ఏమోయ్ (E-mOy) instead of ఒరేయ్ and ఏమమ్మా (E-ma-mmA) instead of ఒసేయ్. The novice is also advised to use the గారు (gA-ru) suffix. Just elongate the ending vowel as గారూ (gA-rU) to make it vocative.

Although rarely used in conversational Telugu, two other vocative forms, namely ఓరీ (O-rI ) and ఓసీ (O-sI) are useful in dramatic contexts:

Masc. ఓరీ దురాత్మా! (O-rI! du-rA-tmA!) = You! wicked fellow!

Fem. ఓసీ! పాపాత్మురాలా! (O-sI! pA-pA-tmu-rAlA!) = You!Sinner!

Note 2. The suffix గారు (gA-ru) is common to both masculine and feminine, but they are never used when the addressing is done with ఓరీ and ఒరేయ్ or ఓసీ and ఒసేయ్. Such usage makes the phrase an oxymoron and is just plain awkward.

2.1 Honor Conventions

Extreme care must be exercised in the use of pronouns, because each pronoun has a different honorific social value. One can easily feel insulted if the conventions are not followed.

(a) In normal usage, మీరు (mI-ru) is the pronoun to address one's seniors, as well as one's peers and others whom one addresses on equal terms.

A male person toward whom one uses మీరు should usually be referred to, if absent, with the plural pronominal form వారు (vA-ru) or ఆయన (A-ya-na) and a plural verb; but, if present, either with వీరు (vI-ru) or ఈయన (I-ya-na).
A female person toward whom one uses మీరు should usually be referred to, if absent, with the plural pronominal form వారు (vA-ru) or ఆమె (A-me) and a plural verb; but, if present, either with వీరు (vI-ru) or ఈమె (I-మె).

(b) The usage of తమరు (ta-ma-ru) is a little bit tricky. In terms of honorific value, it is one notch above మీరు (mI-ru). If mis-used, it may sound un-natural and could be interpreted as a mark of conceited respect or mocking respect. One hears the usage of this in highly formal occasions like weddings, religious functions, and so on.

(c) The usage of నువ్వు (nu-vvu) shows great intimacy and informality, and also when one addresses servants or people of lower rank. This is gender neutral. Siblings and friends can use this to address each other. A husband uses this intimate pronoun to address his wife, although a wife addresses her husband using the honorific మీరు (mI-ru). Typically deities are also addressed using this intimate pronoun. It is in this specialized instance the vocative ఒరేయ్ (o-rEy^) also is frequently used.

Example ఒరేయ్! వెంకటరమణ, దయ చూపరా! (o-rEy^!, veM-ka-Ta ra-ma-NA! da-ya cU-pa-rA! = O! Lord Venkataramana Murthy! Show mercy!

2.2 Honorific Particles

గారు (gA-ru), అండి (aMDi) etc.

(a) In addressing a person (male or female) to whom one uses మీరు (mI-ru), or తమరు (ta-ma-ru), the honorific particle గారు (gA-ru), may be suffixed to the last name or first name.

Example.

రావు గారూ! ఎలా ఉన్నారు? (rAvu gArU! elA unnAru)?, Rao, sir! How are you?

సుశీల గారూ! బాగున్నారా?, Susila, madam! Are you well?

Here, notice first that the honorific particle గారు (gA-ru) is appended to the name రావు (rA-vu). Because Rao is being addressed, the final vowel of the appended particle is elongated to గారూ (gA-rU) to bring in the vocative case. Finally the concordance with the verb is observed by using the plural (respectful form) of the verb, namely ఉన్నారు (u-nnA-ru) rather than ఉన్నావు (u-nnA-vu).

(b) Another honorific particle that is often appended in conversations is అండి (aM-Di). The closest English equivalent to this word is either "sir" or "madam.” One can safely use this అండి while talking to anyone whom one normally addresses with the pronouns మీరు (mI-ru) or తమరు (ta-ma-ru).

అవునండి, a-vu-naM-Di. = yes, sir / yes, madam

కాదండి, kA-daM-Di = no, sir / no, madam

లేదండి, lE-daM-Di = no, sir (no, madam), do not have it

చూపించండి, cU-piM-caM-Di = please show me sir/madam

(c) Another honorific particle that is often prefixed to the opening sentence, in conversations, is ఏమండి = ఏమి + అండి. The closest English equivalent to this word is either "hello sir" or "hello madam." One can safely use this type of addressing, ఏమండి, while talking to anyone whom one normally addresses with మీరు or తమరు.

Example.

ఏమండీ, రావు గారు! ఎలా ఉన్నారు? (EmaMDI, rAvu gArU, elA unnAru?) What sir, Rao, sir, how are you?

(d) Telugu uses శ్రీ (SrI), శ్రీమతి (srI-ma-ti) and కుమారి (ku-mAri) respectively in the places of Mr., Mrs. and Miss. Telugu speaking people have not yet invented the equivalent of Ms. Professors can be addressed with ఆచార్య (A-cA-rya). The equivalent of 'Respected Sir' is మాన్యశ్రీ (mA-nya-SrI).

(e) Finally the semi-honorific method of addressing, quite common among young adults, are గురూ (gu-rU) and గురువు గారూ (gu-ru-vu gA-rU) used mostly in conversational addressing. The first two are typically used in the 'familiar' mode and the later in the 'respectful' mode. This has the strange connotation of familiarity, yet an air of respect. This is rarely used in writing.

2.3 Concordance with Verb

(a) As mentioned earlier, it is important to observe the concordance of the pronoun with the verb. If the honorific మీరు or తమరు is used or implied in the earlier part of a sentence, then the corresponding verb typically ends in a రు (ru). If, on the other hand, the word నువ్వు (nu-vvu) is used or implied, the corresponding verb ends in eithr వు, డు, ది (vu, Du, di). A simple example is given below. More elaborate discussion follows in a subsequent chapter.

Masc. honorific. రావు గారూ, ఎలా ఉన్నారు?

or, ఏమండీ! రావు గారూ, ఎలా ఉన్నారు?

Masc. familiar. రావూ! ఎలా ఉన్నావు?

or, ఏమోయ్! రావూ! ఎలా ఉన్నావు?

Masc. very familiar. రావూ! ఎలా ఉన్నావురా?

or, ఒరేయ్! రావూ! ఎలా ఉన్నావురా?

Fem. honorific. ఉమా గారు, ఎలా ఉన్నారు?

or, ఏమండీ, ఉమా గారు, ఎలా ఉన్నారు?

Fem. familiar. ఉమా, ఎలా ఉన్నావు?

Fem. very familiar. ఏమే! ఉమా, ఎలా ఉన్నావు?

(b) A modern trend popular with broadcast and print media is to drop the గారు (gA-ru) altogether but keep the honorific verb ending while talking in third person. That is, in modern usage it is permissible to use a plural verb form with a singular subject.

నెహ్రూ అన్నారు ne-hrU a-nnA-ru, Nehru said.

ఇందిరా గాంధీ ప్రకటించేరు, iM-di-rA gAM-dhI pra-ka-TiM-cE-ru, Indira Gandhi announced.

కాళిదాసు అన్నాడు, kA-Li-dA-su a-nnA-Du, Kalidasu said.

3 Interjections

Conversational Telugu is replete with interjections. Some examples are given below.

Telugu. in RTS Example

అయ్యో! a-yyO! Alas!

అయ్యయ్యో   a-yya-yyO! Alas! Indeed!
ఓహో   O-hO! Oh! / Is that so!
అయ్యో! పాపం! a-yyO! pA-paM   Alas!
అబ్బా! a-bbA!   Ouch!
అరెరే a-re-re!   Oops!
సరే sa-rE!   OK!
అలాగే a-lA-gE! So it will be!
అప్పుడే? a-ppu-DE? Already?
ఇదిగో i-di-gO! Here it is!
ఇడిగో   i-D-gO! Here he is!
అడుగో a-Du-gO! There he is!
అరుగో a-ru-gO! There they are!
అల్లదిగో   a-lla-di-gO! Over there it is!

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