Hi Barua,
I am glad the Statesman publised your article. It is quite informative and one can lear a lot. But reading the papers and letters to the editor, one gets the inpression, ASOM is here to stay and the GOA is backing it up.
While browsing, I did come across several references to Assamese as derivative of Sanskrit (you of course do not agree with this). Some of the sources refered to Bani Kanta Kakati, Hemkox etc.
I can send you some of these if I come across them. I don't know how authentic they are.
BTW: Here is a link that may interest you and others regarding the "voiceless velar fricative "
The link is very interesting and refers to Assamese also. Interestingly, it seems the English language sometimes also uses the voiceless velar fricative.
Here is the link.
Hope it is useful to you.
--Ram
On 3/7/06, Rajen Barua <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Thanks.The Statesman, Kolkata has already published it. A friend from Kolkata sent it to me.We will have to keep on fighting."Amar Oxom" Editor Dr Nagen Saikia, Ex Oxom Xahityo Xobha President, is preparing to publish my article in Assamese and contunue the debate.I think this is an issue for Assamese lifeline.Many have not seen it as such yet.Let us see.Thanks for your support.Rajen----- Original Message -----From: Chan MahantaSent: Tuesday, March 07, 2006 9:04 AMSubject: Re: [Assam] Asom or Oxom, phonetically speaking
Good note Rajen. Hope they publish it.
c
At 8:33 AM -0600 3/7/06, Rajen Barua wrote:Letters to the editorTHE STATESMAN, KOLKATA 4 March 2006Asom or Oxom, phonetically speaking
Sir, — I am writing this letter with reference to a decision by the Assam government to change the name of the state to Asom. This is a wrong decision for certain reasons. Asom is a Sanskritised spelling and not an Assamese spelling. The proper Assamese spelling in the Roman script should be Oxom. The Assamese gutteral kh sound is a well-recognised velar fricative, and is also found among other languages including Greek and Russian. The International Phonetic Association has designated the Greek letter, 'X', for this Assamese sound. This sound is not represented by the letter, 'S', as written in the word Asom. As such it is 'X' and not 'S' that should be used. Again, the first letter should be 'O' and not 'A'.
The letter 'A' is used in Sanskrit and Hindi where they have two 'A's. In Assamese we have only one 'A'. The correct vowel for the Assamese pronunciation should be 'O'. The Assam government by taking a decision to use the Sanskritised form of spelling — Asom instead of Oxom — is trying to kill the proper Assamese ethnic sound 'XO'. This will be a great letdown for the entire Assamese people, and we request the Assam government not to meddle with the Assamese language. If it has to change the name, it should adopt the correct spelling, i.e. Oxom.
— Yours, etc., Rajen Barua,
Katy (Texas), USA, 4 March.
_______________________________________________
assam mailing list
assam@assamnet.org
http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
_______________________________________________
assam mailing list
assam@assamnet.org
http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
_______________________________________________ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
