Malayalam has no everyday word for please. The politeness lives in the verb ending, and this class shows you the whole ladder. Part one takes one verb, go, from a bare command down to asking permission to leave, and shows where each form belongs: the bare root only for emergencies, the -oo ending as your safe everyday form, and three softeners: ദയവായി, ഒന്നു and a question ending. Part two grades don't at four strengths, from the signboard's പാടില്ല to the gentle ഇപ്പോൾ പോകല്ലേ, then separates warnings from prohibitions and shows advice, invitations and pleading at different social heights. Words and phrases in this class: പോ (po) – go! (bare root, maximum force) നിങ്ങൾ പോകൂ (ningal pokoo) – please go (polite command) ഒന്നു സഹായിക്കൂ (onnu sahaayikkoo) – please help me out a little ഒന്നു കാത്തിരിക്കുമോ? (onnu kaathirikkumo?) – would you just wait a bit? ഞാൻ പൊയ്ക്കോട്ടെ? (njaan poykkotte?) – may I leave? ഒരു നിമിഷം കാത്തിരിക്കൂ (oru nimisham kaathirikkoo) – wait a moment പോകാൻ പാടില്ല (pokaan paadilla) – going is not permitted പോകരുത് (pokaruthu) – you must not go പോകണ്ട (pokanda) – don't go; no need to go ഇപ്പോൾ പോകല്ലേ (ippol pokalle) – don't go just yet ഇപ്പോൾ പോയാൽ പ്രശ്നം ഉണ്ടാകും (ippol poyaal prashnam undaakum) – if you go now, there will be trouble നീ പോയാൽ നല്ലത് (nee poyaal nallathu) – it is better if you go ഒരു തവണ വരണം (oru thavana varanam) – you must come at least once ഒന്നു നോക്കുമോ? (onnu nokkumo?) – would you just take a look? In this class: • The politeness ladder, and why a bare command lands like a slap • Softening with ഒന്നു and a question ending, and when ദയവായി fits • Four strengths of don't, and a warning that states a consequence • Advice, invitations and pleading, plus a three-question audit Quizzes below. Dr. Reshmi R Nair — SpeakMalayalam.