The Kite Runner Play Guide - Actors Theatre of Louisville

GLOSSARYAfghan speech is a mosaic of many languages, the most dominant being Dari, the Afghan variant of Farsi (Persian) and Pashto, thelanguage of the Pashtun ethnic group. As a Muslim country, many Arabic terms are also used in Afghanistan.AGHAa Dari term for nobleman or commander,though it is used in daily language like“Mister.”ALLAH-U-AKBARan Arabic phrase meaning “God is great.”BACHEMa Dari term of affection meaning “mychild.”BASArabic for “enough.”Kite FightingKite fighting, a sport practicedin nations around the globe,is played in large tournamentswhere competitors eliminatetheir opponents to be the lastkite in the sky. To do this, kitestrings are coated with manja, amixture of broken glass, glue, andsometimes metal scraps that coatthe kite string, allowing the deftflyer to cut the strings of otherkites and send them falling to theground. Kite fighting tournamentsin Afghanistan are popularparticularly in the winter.Kids participating in Kite Fighting. Photo byHumaira GhilzaiBINI PUCHUQa derogatory term for a Hazara personmeaning “flat-nose.”BOBORESHa Dari phrase meaning “cut him,” inreference to kite flying.JANadded to the end of a name and used as aterm of endearment.KAKA-JANliterally, beloved uncle. Used as a term ofrespect for an older man.KALASHNIKOVRussian assault rifle, also known as AK-47KHODA HAFEZa Dari phrase for saying goodbye, literally“God keep you safe.”MUJADIHEENan Arabic term for a group of Muslimsengaged in conflict or war. During theSoviet occupation of Afghanistan, itreferred to the loose association of groupsreacting against the communist suppressionof traditional Muslim customs.MULLAHa term of Persian origin for a Muslim maneducated in Islamic theology and sacredlaw.SAHIBan Arabic term meaning “friend,” but isused like the title “Sir”.SALAAMan Arabic greeting for “Hello.”TablaThe tabla is a common instrumentin South Asian music, particularly inAfghanistan, Pakistan, and NorthernIndia. It consists of two drums thatare played in tandem: a larger, metaldrum for bass notes called bayan anda smaller, wooden drum for highernotes called dayan. The tabla is achallenging instrument to play, withcomplex rhythm patterns and fingerand wrist movements that take yearsto master. Tablas usually accompanyother instruments or vocalists—soloperformance is a relatively recentphenomenon, developing in the lasthundred years or so.Example of a Tabla drumSHAHBASHDari for “Bravo!”SHOWARIa Dari term for the Soviets.TALIBArabic for “scholar.” This term was alsoused to refer to officials in the Taliban.TASHAKURDari for “thank you.”15