Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term
tsk tsk
I'm reading a text about the different pereptions of the same gesture in different cultures.
"Avoid placing an open hand over a closed fist in France, saying "tsk-tsk" in Kenya, and whistling in India.
What does "to say tsk tsk" mean and imply? I've already looked it up in the dictionary, but I haven't understood!
Thx
| 5 +6 | tongue clicking |
Ledja
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| 5 +2 | taboo sound |
Sheila Wilson
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Feb 16, 2008 11:09: Ledja Created KOG entry
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Responses
tongue clicking
| Hello Ledja.. Thx... What i don't understand is that the author is talking as if in other cultures that wouldn't be impolite... but this "tsk-tsk" is bound to be impolite everywhere, since it shows disapproval.. do you see what I mean? |
| agree |
Will Matter
: Right. The sound that some people make when they see or hear something pitiful, wrong, unfortunate or distressing. "Tsk. Tsk. What a shame". // Nice CV, welcome to ProZ.
5 mins
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Thank you
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| agree |
Vitaly Kisin
19 mins
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Thank you
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| agree |
Shera Lyn Parpia
: disapproval isn't necessarily impolite, and it might imply something downright rude in another language!
1 hr
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Thank you
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| agree |
V_Nedkov
: Not really impolite. It is used a lot on the Balkans. But it is informal expression :))
3 hrs
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I agree about Balkans.You can click your tongue to lazily reply "no" without sounding impolite. I've just not been able to track the exact implication it has in Kenya,
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| agree |
Vicky Nash
15 hrs
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Thank you
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| agree |
kmtext
: It's the sound made when you press the tip of your tongue to the back of your front teeth and pull it away, making a popping sound. Obviously, it's considered rude in Kenya.
15 hrs
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Thank you
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Spain
20 years producing 100% natural English
Native in: English (Variant: British) 
Works in: English, French to English
taboo sound
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DE5D61731F...
Some of the Bantu-speaking peoples who reached southern Africa from their homeland in western Africa some 2,000 years ago have borrowed certain clicks from the Khwe, one use being to substitute for consonants in taboo words.
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Note added at 1 hr (2008-02-12 20:09:05 GMT)
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The first link is a general one, the second more specific on why a foreigner, using any type of click sound such as our 'tsk, tsk', would run the risk of unknowingly uttering a local obscenity.
Discussion
Nesrin explained what it means in Kenia.