Sooner or later someone hands you the microphone at a birthday, a new-house gathering or a retirement and says "say a few words". English speakers either translate an English toast word for word or stay in casual chat, and both sound odd. A Malayalam function speech has a fixed, friendly shape: a formal greeting, thanks, a short memory, warm wishes and a closing line, with one or two moments where the speaker drops into family-style talk. In this episode: • Opening the speech • Thanking • A short memory, and the register shift • Wishes • Closing • Language bridge • Practice • Self-check questions with answers Key phrases from this episode: എല്ലാവർക്കും നമസ്കാരം (ellaavarkkum namaskaaram) = greetings to everyone. പ്രിയപ്പെട്ടവരേ (priyappettavare) = dear all, dear ones. എനിക്ക് ഓർമ്മയുണ്ട് (enikku ormmayundu) = I remember. Learn Spoken Malayalam at Home: a complete course in everyday spoken Malayalam for English speakers. Native Malayalam pronunciation, every phrase in Malayalam script, Manglish and English, plus a language bridge comparing Malayalam with other world languages. Listen, repeat out loud, then take the 52-question quiz. Audio voiced with AI from an original script by Dr. Rashmi R Nair.