Dear Mr.Borges, This is definitely an illustrative piece. So where does the pedagogy of learning in one's "Mother tongue" lead us when we teach a "language" through the written word? Would it be better to teach the pre-primary school students in their respective dialects? I would think so. The script would not be an issue when only spoken words are to be learnt for speaking in the mother tongue or dialect.
We learnt the basic words from our mothers till age six years. There was no reading and writing! In the era of working/employed parents, the pre-primary schools need to be more representative of our home environment than a class room environment if we really want our children to learn our "Mai bhas"...not the Antruzi Konknni that is our Official Language or the Novo Korar language adopted by Fr.Cruz Fernandes.[Padri is an easily understood word, the puritan yagnik is not.The sacrifice offering is very vaguely symbolic in action...and the padri's role goes well beyond mass.The word 'Yagnik', though accurate, sounds inappropriate.]] Mai bhas is Amchi bhas...nothing 'official' about it! Let us see/hear what the discussion at Xavier Centre for Historical Research throws up on 06 October at 6 P.M. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sebastian Borges" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, September 30, 2005 3:40 PM > There is vast difference between the language *spoken* by the child at home and in the neighbourhood and the > "Antruzi" dialect that is found *printed* in her text books. Thus the child is more confused than > enlightened. Therefore, the universally accepted principle that the child is best instructed in her > mother tongue at the primary level is not valid in the existing situation. > Any Goan Catholic, especially one living in the "Old Conquests" belt, will wholeheartedly agree with > the above contention because the dialect printed in the books is not spoken in one's locality. What is wrong with the dialect used in the "Povitr Pustok - Novo Korar"? Sounds reasonable! > But, pray, which Goan Catholic child *speaks* this > dialect? (a) = Biblical print version, (b) = colloquial version of Velim, Salcete, (c) = colloquial version of Mapusa, Bardez, > (d) = "Antruzi" print rendition. [Please note that Antruz = Ponda taluka.] > 5. 1Cor 11, 2 (a) Tumi sodanch mhozo ugddas kortat > ani hanvem xikoilam tem tumi samballttat dekhun, hanv > tumkam vakhanntam. > (b) Tum' sodam muzugdddas kotai ani ãi xikoil tem > sabattai, dekun anv tunk xabax munttam. > (c) Tumi mhazo sodanch ugddas kot'tat ani aien > xikoilam tem tumi sambautat dekun anv tumkam > vakanntam. > (d) Tumi sodanch mhoji iad kortat ani hanvem > xikoilam tem tumi samballttat dekhun hanv tumchi tust > tokhnnai kortam. > While on this subject, one might also ponder over the > question: Is there any place in the world where the > child's textbooks are printed in her *colloquial > version* of the language? > Let the authorities of the Roman Catholic Church > in Goa ponder over the above points before they take > the plunge into the Roman or Graeco-Roman orthography > for school text books in Konkani.. > S. M. Borges .............................................................. Whom the Konkani language has brought together, let the scripts not tear asunder! Viva Goa. Miguel
