Every culture keeps stories that are not quite believed and not quite dismissed, and Kerala's are unusually good. Told as folklore, this class introduces the figures every Malayali knows: the യക്ഷി who appears near the പാല tree at night, the shape-shifting ഒടിയൻ of the north, and the mischievous കുട്ടിച്ചാത്തൻ. You learn how these references live on in jokes and films (യക്ഷി പിടിക്കും!), the words for ghosts, bad omens and the evil eye, and the questions that get someone to tell you a story. There is also clear guidance on what is fun to ask about and what is not yours to comment on. Words and phrases in this class: യക്ഷി (yakshi) – the Yakshi, a night spirit of folklore പാല മരം (paala maram) – the pala tree യക്ഷി പിടിക്കും (yakshi pidikkum) – the Yakshi will get you പ്രേതം (pretham) – a ghost ഒടിയൻ (odiyan) – the Odiyan, a shape-shifter of folklore കുട്ടിച്ചാത്തൻ (kuttichaathan) – a mischievous household spirit അപശകുനം (apashakunam) – a bad omen കണ്ണേറ് (kanneru) – the evil eye ഇവിടെ കഥകൾ വല്ലതും ഉണ്ടോ? (ivide kathakal vallathum undo?) – are there any stories about this place? യക്ഷിക്കഥ അറിയാമോ? (yakshikkatha ariyaamo?) – do you know a Yakshi story? പേടിപ്പിക്കുന്ന കഥ പറയാമോ? (pedippikkunna katha parayaamo?) – can you tell a frightening story? അത് ശരിക്കും നടന്നതാണോ? (athu sharikkum nadannathaano?) – did that really happen? നിങ്ങൾ വിശ്വസിക്കുന്നുണ്ടോ? (ningal viswasikkunnundo?) – do you believe it? In this class: • The Yakshi, the pala tree and the joke everyone makes • The Odiyan and the mischievous household spirit • Ghosts, bad omens and the evil eye in a word or two • Asking for a story, and knowing where to stop Quizzes below. Dr. Reshmi R Nair — SpeakMalayalam.