Why is it that virtually every indian restaurant/take away I see has their own spelling of the word "poppadom"? I've seen 'poppodam' 'pappodim' 'puppadum' 'pippodam' 'pappadoom' etc etc. Is there an official spelling? Can they just not spell? or are they trying to be clever?
2006-07-28 19:46:45 · 19 answers · asked by Frax 4 in Food & Drink ➔ Ethnic Cuisine
All India's native languages use different alphabets to our Roman one. Some of their sounds are different from ours, so when you transliterate them into our Roman alphabet you're making an approximation. Japanese, Chinese and Russian all have standardised approved systems for Romanisation, that everybody agrees on, but many other writing systems like Hindi and Arabic don't, so everybody has their own spelling.
2006-07-28 20:04:50 · answer #1 · answered by zee_prime 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
These are all called transliterations.
When you are trying to spell a word in one language that comes originally from another language, you have a certain leeway.
This is why you'll see lots of spellings of names that might be common in another language, but the people are trying to figure out the English spellings.
2006-07-29 07:36:55 · answer #2 · answered by lrad1952 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You just dont get it, do you.
English spelling is not indian or chinsese words!!!
It is a approxmation of the sound.
And since the words may be pronouced different in different areas, so the sounds are not the same.
Think of New yorkers and Texans, and how would one write out their spoken words in chinese.
The same chinese last name may be pronouced: Wong, Wang, Hwang, Houng, etc.
2006-07-28 19:56:38 · answer #3 · answered by dcw13 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there is no correct spelling, the Indian language don't have the A to Z like we do so however you spell it is correct
2006-07-28 20:07:45 · answer #4 · answered by wildgroovymunky 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I pretty sure they can spell but I think they're trying to be clever,like you said.
2006-07-28 19:51:25 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
india has hundreds of languages with in its borders. most likely the different spelling are the way the would spell it in their dialect.
2006-07-29 07:41:41 · answer #6 · answered by Patrício Euilhã 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Stick to Naan - much easier to spell and read
2006-07-28 19:55:25 · answer #7 · answered by Trevor h 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
THE ONE WITH THE A IN IT
2006-07-28 20:05:37 · answer #8 · answered by voodoochild 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is because Indians call that crispy snack-PAAPAD, but the southern indian people (in India), call it pappadum. Actually paapad means thin and crispy.
2006-07-29 15:13:48 · answer #9 · answered by watermelon 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
some can spell and some can`t and don`t bother to ask.....still its a giggle every time you see it.
2006-07-28 20:10:38 · answer #10 · answered by Tink 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋