Calis Beach and Fethiye Turkey Discussion Forum
Turkey Related Subjects => Turkey Discussion Forum (Not Calis specifically) => Topic started by: Colwyn on October 03, 2014, 10:41:06 AM
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I guess we typically use Şerefe to mean "Cheers", and that serves well enough. But I have heard something different. A few years ago I was walking down Istiklal in Istanbul when I fell into conversation with an old chap - well about as old as me I suppose. He talked quite interestingly about Istanbul and I allowed myself to be persuaded to go for a drink. He took me through Çiçek Pasaj and a little way down the hill on the other side. He pointed out bars of which he said "This is where the journalists drink" and "This one is where the lawyers come". We settled in one of these and I had a beer and he had a rakı {which he said was cheaper; but it wasn't}. We lifted our glasses and chorused "Şerefe". Then he began his explanation of the meaning of this toast. It meant, he said, "to honour". I had heard this before and thought that was all there to it. But then he asked "Who is the honour to?". "All people present, I suppose". "No, no. It is to the honour of the table". My face must have shown I was perplexed by this. He explained that when drinking rakıı men might say and do things that they wouldn't when sober. But no-one in the party would gossip about this later {"You'll never guess what Mehmet confessed!"}; instead, they would keep quiet and respect the honour of the table. So "Şerefe" expresses more or less the same meaning as the rugby phrase "What goes on tour stays on tour" - but so much more elegantly. Şerefe!
Is this true? What do you think?
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Excellent post which I very much enjoyed :)
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True, and the worst thing you can do is to call a Turkish person şerefsiz which means you are dishonourable!
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I love it when you old codgers reminisce about "The Good Ol' Days". It makes me realise that there are still those among us who can easily be persuaded by a complete stranger to "go for a drink".
Cheers ! ;)
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(http://www.calis-beach.co.uk/sheriff.jpg)
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I don't know if it is true but I sort of hope so.
Bottoms up!
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I love it when you old codgers reminisce
And there's me thinking you were KKOB. Are you sailing under a false flag, young fellow?
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I love this. Thanks for sharing :D
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More recent members may like to know there is a section here for Colwyn's "Turkish Tales". Well anybody's to be honest but they are mostly his ;)
Here: http://www.calis-beach.co.uk/forum/index.php?board=47.0
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Not only my publisher but also my publicist. That's probably two pints I owe you.
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Are you sailing under a false flag, young fellow?
We public school and military chaps often refer to each other as Old Boy but it has no relevance to my forum name, old boy. ;)
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Ah, Eton and The Guards then. I'll try to remember that in future posts. I won't guarantee success though.
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Don't worry old bean, we always make allowances for you old carrot crunchers.