"Allah sana akīl versin, bana para."

"Allah sana akīl versin, bana para. . . " In old Marash dialect, above was pronounced,"Allah sanga akīl versing, banga para..." "God give you brains and me money . . . " The above statement was often made by Grandpa Peter when, during an intellectual discussion, a friend or colleague said something or did something that Grandpa Peter deemed idiotic. (The statement in quotations above was made suggesting that the person who had just spoken was in need of brains as much as the person commenting on the idiocy was in need of money.) Marash Girl checked with Boursa Boy who was born in Istanbul (NOT Marash) a half century after Grandpa Peter. Boursa Boy's version follows: "Allah sana akīl, fikir versin. . . " And Grandpa Peter might have said exactly that if his neighbors proudly announced that they had attended a pumpkin smash! (See yesterday's blogpost for more on this subject.)

An old Marash saying . . .

Marashdan olsun, çamurdan olsun! (Rough translation: "Let it be from Marash, even if it's mud!" or . . . "We love whatever is from Marash, even if it's mud." or . . . "We even love mud, as long as it's from Marash!")

Akşam olsa, yatak!

"Akşam olsa, yatak!" Such were the words that Marash Boy often heard mid-afternoon from his Medzmama who was born in Marash, Ottoman Empire!!!!