I was listening to this episode of @nosuchthing. They talk about taboo words / taboo languages & it’s so interesting that we have some very similar things here. I’m very surprised at the similarities. It’s like that “rain & sun means a fox’s wedding” business all over again. https://twitter.com/nosuchthing/status/1071102038208114688

Like some cultures they mention, traditionally a lot of Bengali women did not utter the names or even the dominant syllable of the name of their older male relatives (father-in-law or older brother-in-Law) from the husband’s side. It’s not usual anymore, thankfully.

The other fascinating thing is how common euphemisms for predatory animals were. Like how Europeans did not say the word for bear and (as I learnt from @nosuchthing) like how some Chinese people called tigers “big insect”, Bengal also has many euphemisms for tigers.

Tigers were seen as almost supernatural creatures and there were many folk deities associated with them. You were not supposed to call them বাঘ (Bagh), especially in the evening or in the jungle. You may call it শিয়াল / বড় শিয়াল (shiyal / baro shiyal, i.e. jackal / big jackal)

Tigers & ghosts were the two constant threats to my ancestors - ghosts were considered just as real a threat as tigers. You are never supposed to say ভূত (bhoot, i.e. “ghost”) after sunset either. You said তেনারা (tenara, i.e. “them” in formal tone).

I am a little obsessed with our fascinating relationship with tigers, ghosts and other predators. https://twitter.com/quinoa_biryani/status/1059465974368354304