Bengalis are people from Bengal. Bangkali sounded similar to Bengali because the "beng" sound is not common in chinese. It is the same as asking if "roti" is the same for all chinese dialect. While roti may be used by all chinese dialects in Malaysia to refer to bread, the chinese word for roti is "mian bao". I am not sure how indians will refer to Bengalis. I believe it would be similar. After all it is the name of a state in India where these people came from. How many way you think people will refer to Johoreans or Kelantanese. I am sure the sound sylabble "Jo" and "hor" will be intact no matter what language.

Now I am confuse. What is you topic actually?

Before I write my apologies to the Sikhs. I do not mean any insults.

I think it is the turban. Sikhs wear turbans. As I understand it, it a religious thing to wear a turban. Bengalis also wear turbans. I guess they had a strong turkish and arabic influence being closer to those nations.

Naruto,
Perhaps they did during the colonial days.

Mereka di gelar Benggali Putih sebab bermisai dan berjanggut.

Paraphrasing from my history book.

This post has been edited by faceless: Oct 15 2010, 09:49 AM

Now I wonder why Indians are called Keling. Anyone has a decent speculation.

Thanks Naruto,

So, it is actually Inida's old name during the Kalinga empire.

I am intrigued by the other explaination in the link you gave
"keling I - IB paku besi yg berkepala dua (utk melekatkan dua keping besi); mengeling melekatkan (menyatukan) besi dgn menggunakan keling."

I agree. This is how people use the word from their tone of voice and context. I also wonder if this evolution into a swear word only applies in Malaysia. Since Bengal still exist today do Indians in India consider it a term meaning a guy form Bengal province. Like Kelantanese being a guy form Kelantan.
Have you any idea when Keling became know as India? I hope it is some new empire and not colonization. For that matter I am not sure where the word China came form. In chinese china is translated as middle kindom. The sound China does not even match any chinese dialect for middle kingdom.

Good question. Some people from northern China cant even tell.

I think you did not get Wodnenus's point. During that time people do dont travel so much since transportation technology is not that advance like today. As such people are ignorant about strange races for distance land. China has so many dialects that it is not so easy for people to tell their location base on their dialect. Even today (with our information age), some still have may not be able to tell easily.

Now you are confusing me. I thought singh is a surname for those whose religion is sikhs. I am surprise that it is a surname for all punjubis.