Some people have vegetable patches in their backsides. Other people's backsides are exclusively reserved for their dogs. Backsides may be places where unused building material is stored or where people keep their garbage until the garbage collectors arrive. In office buildings, backsides are sometimes used for parking. Backsides and front sides differ because you do not want the general public to know what your backside looks like, but your front side is generally well-maintained and for public viewing.
Confused yet? Here's a clue: we are definitely not discussing anatomical parts!
The hindi word peeche is used to refer to the back of something as well as when discussing something that is behind another. Since the there is no differentiation in the usage of the words back and behind, Hinglish speakers almost exclusively use the word back to discuss where something is located. And, if you can have a right-side and a left-side then, in all fairness, why not a backside and a frontside also?
Sometimes, the person takes the time to qualify which backside is being discussed i.e. The generator is in the backside of the house. This sentence is decidedly less confusing as one understands that a geographical location is being discussed. Backsides of buildings, houses, rooms and cupboards are common features in everyday conversation.
However, at other times, the word backside is not qualified. For instance, I once heard someone say, "I have onions growing in my backside." The use of the word backside in this manner can lead to some embarrassing misinterpretations for non-Hinglish speakers.
General rule of thumb: If the word picture that comes to mind when someone uses the word backside seems completely implausible, it probably is a case of literal translation. Pause, substitute behind the house, behind the office or in my backyard for backside, depending on which seems the most suitable, and try to reassess the situation.
Confused yet? Here's a clue: we are definitely not discussing anatomical parts!
The hindi word peeche is used to refer to the back of something as well as when discussing something that is behind another. Since the there is no differentiation in the usage of the words back and behind, Hinglish speakers almost exclusively use the word back to discuss where something is located. And, if you can have a right-side and a left-side then, in all fairness, why not a backside and a frontside also?
Sometimes, the person takes the time to qualify which backside is being discussed i.e. The generator is in the backside of the house. This sentence is decidedly less confusing as one understands that a geographical location is being discussed. Backsides of buildings, houses, rooms and cupboards are common features in everyday conversation.
However, at other times, the word backside is not qualified. For instance, I once heard someone say, "I have onions growing in my backside." The use of the word backside in this manner can lead to some embarrassing misinterpretations for non-Hinglish speakers.
General rule of thumb: If the word picture that comes to mind when someone uses the word backside seems completely implausible, it probably is a case of literal translation. Pause, substitute behind the house, behind the office or in my backyard for backside, depending on which seems the most suitable, and try to reassess the situation.
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