-------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Add your name to the CLEAN GOA INITIATIVE | | | | by visiting this link and following the instructions therein | | | | http://shire.symonds.net/pipermail/goanet/2005-October/033926.html | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Some thoughts on the script divide
Maybe something good can come out of the acrimonious debate on Roman v/s Devnagari script for Konkani. Almost everyone has been compelled to ask him or herself what our mother tongue means to them. Even those who cannot read or write in either script but speak Konkani have strong views on the issue. Perhaps more people will be more conscious of written Konkani now. Perhaps new publications will emerge in both scripts and more people will write in to the existing and new publications and books. Konkani could see a renewal through this catharsis. Why do Goans have such strong views on the script issue even if some of them do not write or read in either script? Maybe there is more than just script to it. The Church uses Konkani in the Roman script and will probably be doing so for another 100 years.Young Christian Goans learn to do Bible readings and sing from the Gaionacho Jhelo and eventually write for the parish bulletin in the Roman script. Many elements from tiatro posters to gravestone epithets are in the Roman script. I feel Konkani read and seen in the Roman script is a strong visual component of what Konkani and being Goan means to the Christian Goan. It triggers an emotional bond which probably is not evoked by the Devnagri script, at least for the present adult generation and the elders. This will probably change with the younger Goans learning in the Devnagri script and the emotional preference may not remain as they become as good as 'biscriptual'. This emotional connect to the Roman script must be sensitively respected by our Devnagiri-using brothers if we want to achieve a common script someday, at least in education and administration. We cannot be blinded just by political and semantic debates and ignore this treasured bond of so many people to Konkani in the Roman script. Our elders on both sides of the debate must come together and resolve the issue amicably before we become schizoid. I would not like to see primary students studying in separate classes in the two scripts based on whether they are Hindu or Christian.That would be heartbreaking. Let us use one script for education and administration and let us encourage a blooming of Konkani in both scripts by equal funding, support and respect for both scripts. Mog asundi. Jose Lourenco PS Fred,Bosco,Herman thanks for posting Amazing Goa on Goanet and for tolerating my short-temper! You guys are doing a great job.
