henna

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Posted by Catherine Cartwright Jones on June 8, 2001 at 16:51:03:

In reply to: Re: Real names or something more exotic? posted by jenaye on June 8, 2001 at 16:12:06:

Most people around here
know
: what henna is which is why I chose to use the term henna instead of
: mehndi.

Most people around most places know it as henna.

Of the 50 or so countries that have indigenous henna traditions, 49
use the word henna ... or a very, very close variant (kina, al-henna,
hina, etc). In India there are 17 official languages, and of those
only 3 use the pronunciation "mehndi". The other languages have
different variants. The most commonly published word for henna in
India prior to 1997 (when I was searching for a preferred spelling)
was "Mehandi" used by Navneet Publications. Even then .... "Mehandi"
is still a linguistic variant of Henna. (I go over that in the video,
the linguistic roots of the word henna. It's easier to understand
when you hear it spoken rather than see it written....)

I can tell you, in four part harmony, how we ended up here with
"mehndi" as the most prevelant word, even though it is not a very
accurate transliteration, even for Hindi, but it's a bit of a rant.

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: Most people around here : know : : what henna is which is why I chose to use the term henna instead of : : mehndi. : : Most people around most places know it as henna. : : Of the 50 or so countries that have indigenous henna traditions, 49 : use the word henna ... or a very, very close variant (kina, al-henna, : hina, etc). In India there are 17 official languages, and of those : only 3 use the pronunciation "mehndi". The other languages have : different variants. The most commonly published word for henna in : India prior to 1997 (when I was searching for a preferred spelling) : was "Mehandi" used by Navneet Publications. Even then .... "Mehandi" : is still a linguistic variant of Henna. (I go over that in the video, : the linguistic roots of the word henna. It's easier to understand : when you hear it spoken rather than see it written....) : : I can tell you, in four part harmony, how we ended up here with : "mehndi" as the most prevelant word, even though it is not a very : accurate transliteration, even for Hindi, but it's a bit of a rant.
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