The medium of instruction throughout my school days was English. As a child/student, I was compelled to speak English in school[ by well-intentioned nuns and priests]. I spoke konkani at home and on the playfield[although both my parents taught English and Portuguese/French in their schools] .Today I can speak Konkani well enough to record konkani programmes for the radio and TV or, when necessary, to speak for half an hour without using words from other languages [when not necessary.]. Konkani is my Mai bhas...my mother tongue.
The medium of instruction in the 'primary school' section today is Konkani[read, Devanagri Goanese]. It has the express support of the Goa Government[ as salaries and grants] and the Catholic Diocese[as pedagogy and morality]. My three children have studied texts,environmental science,history and geography in Konkani. At the end of the 'primary section' they are happy to be 'done with' the language. The yougest child is in the fourth standard and is looking forward to the end of his misery[of studying Konkani]. To him it is an oppressive language in an oppressive script. It is not his Mai bhas because the word Mai is invariably associated with 'mai mog' which he cannot find in what he is studying...or is compelled to study. His mother tongue is English. The good pedagogues have taken konkani to the morgue. May their souls rest in piss. Viva Konkani. Viva Goa. Miguel Date: Sun, 9 Nov 2003 10:37:27 +0530 (IST) > From: "Frederick Noronha (FN)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: [Goanet]From Down-Under !! > On Sat, 8 Nov 2003, Cornel DaCosta wrote: > > > Dear Alvaro, > > I too have been most perplexed that the more literate Goans have invariably dropped Konkani for English or Portuguese etc. Fred added..... This is happening in Goa too. Not just among the diaspora. Let's face it: for many English is the language of opportunity. If that's true for us, > how can we deny the reality to others? > > It's probably not true that Goans -- at least today -- are "ashamed" to speak in Konkani. Most don't do so simply because they can't express themselves adequately in this language, or are more comfortable in their adopted tongues. The lack of training facilities, in Goa or in cyberspace, for Konkani complicates the issue. So do the divisions of the language on the basis of dialect, community and caste. What we need to ask ourselves: are any original ideas being created in Konkani today, specially those which are relevant to the local situation? Undeniably a *lot* is happening on the literature front, even if divided on the basis of script. But what about the other fields? > Rather than just painting ourselves in emotive corners, can we think of doing something that could make a difference. Digitising Konkani content is among long-awaited task. Even cultural events -- of all communities -- are hardly getting recorded or preserved for posterity. Take the mando festivals held each yearend, for instance. Promoting Internet-based (and CD/cassette-based) Konkani language options is another need. There > are specialists who can give a deeper idea. But all this needs a multi-disciplinary approach, involving people of differing backgrounds. > > Can we raise to the challenge, if we're serious? FN > > --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.530 / Virus Database: 325 - Release Date: 10/22/2003 ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
