a note about 'tk-ing'

just realized that the title looks like i am trying to write some weird swear word. in fact i just wanted to write for a second about the sound that the king is discussing in that video.

when i first heard it it took me forever to figure out that it meant no. this is largely due to the fact that you do not necessarily have to make the noise to communicate. it's like how in america you can shake your head 'no' without saying the word 'no' and people understand what you mean. what makes it harder for a first time interpreter to understand the 'tk' to mean no is that it is accompanied by raising the eyebrows and tilting the head back. however, just tilting back your head (which looks suspiciously like nodding your head 'yes') and/or just raising your eyebrows also mean the same thing: hell no.

you see the tk doesn't just mean no. it is more like 'what a silly question to ask, that does not deserve an answer in word form.' thus the use so often with the king in objection to attempting some sweeping social change (or small social change). of course it is also used in everyday situations like: 'is there maramia in this tea?' 'tk (read: stupid american, we ran out of maramia last week and obviously that is only used in the winter anyway because it doesn't taste good in the hot weather).'

needless to say i hear this sound a lot. i never know what is going on, what is the appropriate question to ask, and i tend to have crazy ideas about how to change the way things have always been done. thankfully i at least know what their response means now.

side note: watch out all of you at home, because i have picked up the habit myself and find that it is a very satisfying way to respond to questions you don't like and don't even want to bother finding an answer to. give it a try.