That was one gem of an expose on the linguistics embroglio in Goa. This is the first time I've read a perspicuous unravelling of this complicated subject. Do we have a language pandemonium or what? You've astutely explained the Goa language brouhaha in the light of so many factors and forces.........cultural, religious, historical and regional, etc. What you have produced is nothing short of a "piece-de-resistance". Bravo!!! You can write.
After the day is done what is it that the language advocates on all sides of this debate are really trying to achieve? If they're truly worried about Goa surviving, nay thriving, in the modern world and the future, let's be realistic. When are they going to shed their differences and prejudices be they regional, religion-based, caste-derived or cultural for the common good of India and Goa in particular? To the outsider it appears the contending parties concerned are missing the forest because of the trees. Metaphorically, Goa is a gold mine from so many aspects. I hope the good inhabitants of this lovely land will stop dissipating their energies and resources in this futile controversy and give common sense, harmony and true patriotism a fighting chance. Yes, I'm fascinated by the lilt of Konkani and its bucolic charm and idiom and hope it's preserved ad infinitum to perpetuate Goa's and the Konkan's rich culture and heritage. But let's not lose sight of reality. Let's get the protagonists to develop it's classical literature regardless of the script used. That's the best way to initiate its universal recognition. Give the world a Shakespeare, a Cervantes, a Hemingway, a Jane Austen in the Konkani language. Then have these works translated into the leading languages of the world starting with English. That's the best way to answer the critics of this charming language honoured recently with recognition in the Indian constitution. Politics alone cannot do it, but literary genius and hard work can. As a reputed maven of cyberspace and an excellent writer in the English medium, I hope you can convince fellow Goans back home to sink their differences and realize that only by adopting and promoting a uniform language of international stature with a technical and expanding vocabulary can we make true progress. Multiculturism in a harmonious environment should by no means be suppressed but should not be confused with fissiparous divisions that could only lead to jingoism and ultimately disintegration. Keep up the good work. Sincerely Arnold _______________________________________________ Goanet mailing list Goanet@lists.goanet.org http://lists.goanet.org/listinfo.cgi/goanet-goanet.org