Dear Snatosh, On this point I could not agree with you. If you are interested in the correct usage the prize should be called 'Goemcho inaam'. Prize is hardly the word a 71 year old in Goa would use ,except if speaking to an NRI or the good old afrikaander. If the word 'inaam' is not used the alternate term is the portuguese adaptation,'prem'(pronounced as in the English word 'pram').A prize is masculine in Konkani...just like our Chimbelcho cheddo. No one would think of saying Chimbelchem Boy! The option to change is yours.Who are we to insist... when we are not funding the award? Besides,Helga ,Joaquim and I could all be wrong. Better to consult an authority, say Thomas Stephan Konkani Kendra at Porvorim or the Goa Konkani Academy. Fr.Pratap Naik,s.j. or Adv.Uday Bhembre are better equipped to lay this matter to rest. Cheers,
Miguel --------Original Message ------- Joachim Fernandes wrote: > >I have read about the ''Goenchem'' prize and think it is a >commendable idea. >......................................... > >As a resident Goan who speaks colloquial Konkani, ''Goemchem'' prize >sounded a bit amiss to me. Should it not be Goemcho prize? > Joachimbab, Thanks for your kind words. Regarding "Goencho" or "Goenchem", as a colloquial Konkani-speaking former resident of Chimbel (for 26 years) I think both goencho and goenchem are used when referring to a prize in Goan Konknni. Goencho is used by Saaxticars and goenchem by most of the rest of the goencars. When my father who has been a resident Goan for 71 years asks my son how many prizes he has got, he says: "Aarre boila, tuka kitlim prizam mell'leam re?" Cheers, Santosh eep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
