[Gansan]

Originally Posted by noopster

The correct term is co brother! "

Grammatically inaccurate it may be but the term is practically deadly accurate. Similar to prepone in that sense, it's not a real word but when someone uses it you know exactly what they mean!

The word was invented by Tamil Brahmins, as there is no English equivalent for it. There is a specific word for the relationship in Tamil (I am sure in other Indian languages as well), as opposed to mere brother-in-law, which is used to denote one's husband's / wife's brother.

It is similar to the words we have for denoting father's sister Vs mother's sister, father's brother Vs mother's brother, and also their spouses and offspring.

Whereas in English they all go in to the omnibus "Uncle, Aunt and Cousin!"

[Rehaan]

Which one of the following is correct:

You can hold it pressed upwards to go into reverse.

vs

You can hold it pressed upward to go into reverse.

upwards vs upward?

Thanks,
R

[dkaile]

Originally Posted by Rehaan

upwards vs upward?

"Kenneth G. Wilson - The Columbia Guide to Standard American English.

upward (adv., adj.), upwards (adv.)

Upward is the adjective, as in He took an upward swing with the bat. Upwards is the more common adverb, but upward too is an adverb, as in We climbed upwards [upward] along the ridge. All three are Standard."

So you can use either without issues.

[Gansan]

How do you phrase a question in English to know someone's order of birth - shall we say filial order? To ask whether he is the first, second or third child for his parents, and within that whether he is the first or second son?

This question can easily be phrased in Tamil, and I suppose in any other Indian language.

[DerAlte]

Originally Posted by Gansan

... This question can easily be phrased in Tamil, ...

How would you phrase this in Tamil - "5th born, third son among 8 siblings" ??? Transliteration will do.

[Rehaan]

Originally Posted by dkaile

So you can use either without issues.

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Gansan

How do you phrase a question in English to know someone's order of birth - shall we say filial order? To ask whether he is the first, second or third child for his parents, and within that whether he is the first or second son?

First-born child is quite a common english phrase. However, i've never heard 'second-born child' or anything else being used. First-mover advantage i guess!

cya
R

[Arch-Angel]

Originally Posted by DerAlte

How would you phrase this in Tamil - "5th born, third son among 8 siblings" ??? Transliteration will do.

That would be " anjavada piranda, ettu kozhandaigal la moonavadu paiyyan". If someone asks you, you would answer it as "Enga kudumathula 8 pasanga, adula na anjavadu pirenden aprom naan moonavadu paiyyan". Any tamil pros can answer it better i think .

[anupmathur]

Originally Posted by DerAlte

How would you phrase this in Tamil - "5th born, third son among 8 siblings" ??? Transliteration will do.

Ha ha, there is a cultural divide here I think!
Nobody gets so nosey in Western culture as to want to know all this about you!

[Gansan]

Originally Posted by DerAlte

How would you phrase this in Tamil - "5th born, third son among 8 siblings" ??? Transliteration will do.

Ok, here goes:

"5th born"

உன் பெற்றோருக்கு நீ எத்தனையாவது குழந்தை?

"Third son"

உன் பெற்றோருக்கு நீ எத்தனையாவது மகன்?

Now, to combine both:

உன் பெற்றோருக்கு நீ எத்தனையாவது குழந்தை, எத்தனையாவது மகன்?

[DerAlte]

^^^ Ayya, chami, saar, transliterated Tamil pliss (like @arch_angel has done), not translated into Tamil script.

[Gansan]

^^
1) Un petrorukku nee etthanaiyaavadhu kuzhandhai?

2) Un petrorukku nee etthanaiyaavadhu magan?

3) Un petrorukku nee etthanaiyaavadhu kuzhandhai, etthanaiyaavadhu magan?

[anupmathur]

This English is now going over my head!

[Gansan]

^^ No wonder, it is Thangilish!

Will it be correct to ask "What is your order of birth?"

@Thad E Ginathom, your attention please!

[Thad E Ginathom]

The order of my birth was probably: "Push hard! Now!"

[mayankk]

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

The order of my birth was probably: "Push hard! Now!"

That ,sir, is worthy of stand-up.