You are not really inside a culture until you can tell when people are joking, and Kerala's humour is dry. This class is mostly about recognising humour, with a little about producing it. It starts with the exclamations that punctuate every conversation, led by അയ്യോ, and its relatives for disgust, surprise and annoyance. Then ചുമ്മാ, the word that turns a remark into a joke and rescues one that lands badly. You learn why being teased in Kerala means you have been accepted, the praise words from അടിപൊളി to പൊളി, and the two-edged കൊള്ളാം, where the tone decides whether you were praised. Words and phrases in this class: അയ്യോ (ayyo) – oh no; oh dear അയ്യേ (ayye) – ugh (often playful) എന്റമ്മോ (entammo) – oh my goodness (lit. oh my mother) ശ്ശോ (shsho) – oh, come on (annoyance) കഷ്ടം (kashtam) – what a pity ചുമ്മാ പറഞ്ഞതാ (chummaa paranjathaa) – I was only joking ചുമ്മാ ഇരിക്കുകയാണ് (chummaa irikkukayaanu) – I'm just sitting around കളിയാക്കുക (kaliyaakkuka) – to tease എന്നെ കളിയാക്കണ്ട (enne kaliyaakkanda) – don't tease me തമാശയാണ് (thamaashayaanu) – it's a joke അടിപൊളി (adipoli) – superb, brilliant കൊള്ളാം (kollaam) – not bad, good (watch the tone) സത്യം? (sathyam?) – really? is that true? In this class: • The exclamations, led by അയ്യോ, and why learners sound flat without them • ചുമ്മാ, the word that marks a joke and rescues a slip • Teasing as a sign of acceptance, and how to take it • Praise words, and the deadpan കൊള്ളാം Quizzes below. Dr. Reshmi R Nair — SpeakMalayalam.