Re: [Goanet] Proud to speak my Mother Tongue

[Naguesh Bhatcar]

Goyan bhailey Hindi uloita. Sogley Goenkar "Inglez" uloita.

Everyone talks highly about preserving Goan culture and Konkani.
If a survey is taken of how many Goans in Goa, converse with their kids in 
Konkani, I am pretty sure, it will be a very low number!
English has become the language of choice in a majority of Goan household.

Naguesh Bhatcar


From: Goanet  on behalf of Bernado Colaco 

Sent: Sunday, August 2, 2020 11:27 PM
To: goanet@lists.goanet.org 
Subject: [Goanet] Proud to speak my Mother Tongue

Aij Goem novo lok hindi uloita. Tujem concani ghelem fondann. Portuges lokhah 
fokot ghali marit rauhat.
BC


PROUD TO SPEAK MY MOTHER TONGUE

*There was a time, especially during the colonial era in Goa*
*and other parts of India, when many of our Goans would not be*
*seen talking in their own mother tongue; not that these individuals*
*couldn't speak the language. For them,  speaking in a foreign*
*tongue gave them that air of superiority(at least so they thought!).*
*They felt important. Speaking in Konkani was considered below their*
*dignity.  SHAME ON THEM!*
***


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[Goanet] Proud to speak my Mother Tongue

[Bernado Colaco]

 Aij Goem novo lok hindi uloita. Tujem concani ghelem fondann. Portuges lokhah 
fokot ghali marit rauhat.
BC


PROUD TO SPEAK MY MOTHER TONGUE

*There was a time, especially during the colonial era in Goa*
*and other parts of India, when many of our Goans would not be*
*seen talking in their own mother tongue; not that these individuals*
*couldn't speak the language. For them,  speaking in a foreign*
*tongue gave them that air of superiority(at least so they thought!).*
*They felt important. Speaking in Konkani was considered below their*
*dignity.  SHAME ON THEM!*
***
  

[Goanet] Proud to speak my Mother Tongue

[Mervyn Maciel]

I'd just like to share a short article I'd written several years ago





PROUD TO SPEAK MY MOTHER TONGUE

*There was a time, especially during the colonial era in Goa*
*and other parts of India, when many of our Goans would not be*
*seen talking in their own mother tongue; not that these individuals*
*couldn't speak the language. For them,  speaking in a foreign*
*tongue gave them that air of superiority(at least so they thought!).*
*They felt important. Speaking in Konkani was considered below their*
*dignity.  SHAME ON THEM!*
*  As a lover of Konkani myself and all that our culture embodies,*
*I find it difficult to gauge the motives of these "foreign" Goans.*
*The following verses(sadly, the only ones I can remember) - from*
*a poem composed during my school days by that well-known*
*Jesuit historian, the late Fr. Claude Saldanha, S.J. - seem to sum up*
*everything. Referring to these self styled foreigners as **kalafirngis-*
*Black Europeans),** this, in 1940, is what he wrote:*

*   'They are shy to talk sweet Konkani*
*Because they think it's low,*
*They rattle off in company*
*A foreign tongue for show.*
*   The men put on some pantaloons*
*And think they look quite fine,*
*They hardly know - the good buffoons*
* That borrowed plumes don't shine!*
*Melodious mandos -swaying songs*
*With all their hearts they hate*
*Which cannot swing the girls around*
*With arms at any rate.*
*   And so they say, 'the mando's dead'*
*   Not meant for cultured folk,*
*   But all their culture it is said*
*   Would not impress a bloke!*

*Konkani is such a sweet language, with greetings and*
*expressions not found in other foreign languages.*
*Take the daily salutation, for example  --*
*   'Deo boro dis diun(May God give you a good day)*
*or 'Deo bori rath diun(May God give you a good night).*
*And what of that nightly blessing from our Elders?*
* 'Deo bori rath amcam somestam di  Saiba etc(Lord,*
*give us a good night etc etc).*
*This last expression has certainly more meat  to it than the*
*plain 'Thank you'. Besides, all these also have one*
*thing in common - they embody Christian principles.*
*Far from being ashamed of our mother tongue, folk*
*songs and dances, let us make every effort to revive*
*and keep them going forever.*
*Future generations will thank us for this.*

*Mervyn Maciel*