With only one register, a learner is too formal everywhere or too casual everywhere, and both are audible. Malayalam has roughly five levels: intimate, casual, neutral, formal and ceremonial. This class walks single meanings up the ladder ('come here', 'I don't want it', 'what is your name', 'he came') and covers the pronoun ladder from അവൻ to അദ്ദേഹം. It also explains why neutral is your safe default, why erring formal beats erring casual, and four traps to avoid, including learning only from films. Words and phrases in this class: വാ (vaa) – come (intimate) ഇങ്ങ് വാ (ingu vaa) – come here (casual) ഇവിടെ വരൂ (ivide varoo) – come here (neutral) ഒന്ന് ഇവിടെ വരാമോ? (onnu ivide varaamo?) – could you come here? (formal) ദയവായി ഇവിടെ വരണം (dayavaayi ivide varanam) – kindly come here (ceremonial) ഇപ്പോൾ വേണ്ട, നന്ദി (ippol venda, nandi) – not now, thank you താങ്കളുടെ പേര് എന്താണ്? (thaankalude peru enthaanu?) – what is your name? (formal) അവൻ (avan) – he (casual) അയാൾ (ayaal) – he (neutral) അദ്ദേഹം (addeham) – he (respectful) അവർ (avar) – they; he or she (respectful) താങ്കൾ (thaankal) – you (formal) In this class: • The five registers, and the markers that tell you where you are • One meaning, five ways, and the pronoun ladder • Default to neutral, and why erring formal is the cheaper mistake • Four traps: films, books, one friend, and returning a casual നീ Quizzes below. Dr. Reshmi R Nair — SpeakMalayalam.