http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=13800&n_tit=Goa%3A+TSKK+Releases+Booklet+on+Konkani+Orthography+in+Roman+Script
News -- Goa: TSKK Releases Booklet on Konkani Orthography in Roman Script TSKK press release Margao, Aug 19: "TSKK Romi Lipi", a booklet of 52 pages which deals with the modified Roman orthography of Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr (TSKK) to write Konkani in Roman script, was released by veteran Konkani singer Ullas Buyanv on August 15 during a public function organized by Dalgado Konknni Akademi at Grace Church Hall, Marg�o. Konkanis who read, write and support Konkani in Roman script were present for the function. The book is written by Dr Pratap Naik, S.J and it is published by TSKK, Alto Porvorim. While releasing the book Buyanv said, though he is a Konkani speaker and supporter of Konkani, for his religious purpose he uses Sanskrit and Marathi. This is the ground reality with practically the entire Hindu community of Goa. If the entire Hindu community uses Marathi for their religious purpose, the Goan catholic community has the right to continue and foster their religious tradition using Konkani in Roman script. Further he said that the Portuguese-ruled Goa for 450 years. The British never ruled Goa. Even then, present day Goans have accepted English and discarded Portuguese. This is the sad part of the story. Goans once again should take interest to study Portuguese to understand old documents and records related to land and property. Dalgado Konknni Akademi (DKA) president Tomazinho Cardozo explained to the audience the aims and objectives of DKA. He said that every Goan should take pride to speak Konkani and to read Konkani in any script. He stressed the point that without Konkani Goa will lose its identity, and Goans will become strangers in their own land. Pratap Naik, the director of TSKK compared Devanagari and Roman scripts to two wheels of a cart. With these two wheels the cart will move smoothly. Both the wheels are equally important and necessary for Konkani to exist, to flourish and to progress. He further challenged those who oppose Roman script saying that they should give up cashew, pineapple, papaya, potato, desk, table, bench, chair, computer, scooter and hundreds of objects of foreign origin. If these objects of foreign origin are part of Goan way of life then Roman script with its 494 years of history in Goa is the integral part of Goan life. Roman script for Konkani has come to remain in Goa and it will continue to remain. Grace church parish priest Cleto Pereira was the guest of honour. DKA secretary Salvador Fernandes proposed vote of thanks. Michael Gracias, a budding tiatrist, was the compere of the function. The function was followed by a quiz competition on the theme 'Independence of India'. TSKK's efforts TSKK took the initiative to modify the existing Roman orthography to suit the Konkani speech sounds, the requirements of e-mail and other computer applications. TSKK has evolved an orthography for Konkani which is scientific and at the same time user friendly. TSKK orthography makes use of a linear typing system without diacritics, making use of only the standard computer keyboard. It has used 24 alphabets of the Roman alphabet and added only two phonetic symbols available on the keyboard. Except three major and one minor speech sound all other speech sounds of Konkani are correctly represented in TSKK orthography. At present among all the orthographies used to write Konkani, TSKK Orthography is the closest to the pronunciation. It has 96% accuracy. A 100% accuracy could not be attained because TSKK orthography makes use of physically visible computer keyboard and avoids diacritical marks. One has to read what is written just like Sanskrit orthography. Therefore it is ideal and best suited to write Konkani. This booklet contains a few Konkani texts in TSKK Roman Orthography, Devanagari and Kannada scripts. TSKK hopes that these texts will help Konkanis, and others to read and write Konkani in Roman script. The booklet is available at TSKK office, Zito Almeida, Margao, St Paul's Bookshop, Panaji, Varsha Bookstall, Panaji and at Bom Jesus Bookstall, Old Goa. -- Cheers, Gabe Menezes. London, England
