Page 217 - Communication Processes Volume 3 Communication Culture and Confrontation

192 Bel et al.

Figure 6.4
The Third Verse: ‘it is Twilight, Do Not Sweep up the Floor’

Source: Developed by the authors.

of the sentence, altogether a breach of syntax and semantics, creates a
strong expectation of the seme.
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The emphasis on kerasunı is performed in an entirely opposite
.
way in the next verse, as this word appears in a median position
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surrounded almost symmetrically by two occurrences of phiravu,
another emblematic word. Interlocution particles a, na, ga, ka convey
the broad meaning of personal emotional commitment. In addition,
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this median position of kerasunı in the time structure of the tune
.
makes it eligible for the same type of melodic ornamentation that will
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be granted to phirunı in the fourth verse (see later). Why is this image
of the broom given so much emphasis? An immediate explanation
was that the woman should not sweep the floor while she is waiting
for Lakshmi because of the dust that might inadvertently pollute her
guest. Informants also suggested that a house should never be too
tidy as a mark of intensive activity, hence wealth. Our informants also
acknowledged a metaphoric association between Lakshmi and the
broom: in autumn peasant women celebrate Lakshmi and buy plenty
of brooms for this occasion. The broom itself may therefore convey a
symbolic connotation of housework being essential in the production
of wealth, at the same time asserting the central role of women in this
process. This may be put in contrast with songs evoking Ram at sunrise:
his name is evocative of energetic daily moves, male precedence, need
for brotherly companionship and guidance, sin, prayer and worship,
all images which are absent from scenes of Lakshmi’s visit.