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Goanetters visiting Viva Goa 2006 in Toronto, Canada on July 29, can use
the BMX booth as a meeting point. Please list your name on the message
board that will be provided, courtesy of BMX.
http://bmxgoa.com
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Mogall Goenkar bhav-bhoinnanim,
It is that time of the year when Goans worldwide celebrate World Goa Day!
Although I don't read every message that is posted on Goan forums, I have
recently made an attempt to read messages connected with World Goa Day.
What I have learnt is that Goan communities, mainly in Western countries,
meet once a year and remind themselves that they are of Goan origin. They
do this by interacting among themselves through a dance, picnic, gathering,
etc. They also introduce Goan dishes and sweets to give it a Goan taste.
Does this really portray us as Goans? Don't you think something is missing
here? None of the reports I read mentioned a Konkani word in them other
than the playing of Konkani music and the singing of mandos in some cases.
So, how can the gathering be identified as Goan? If people in the USA, the
UK, Canada, Australia, etc. meet and speak in English, how does a non-Goan
attending these functions differentiate (him)herself from a Goan? In fact,
that person might question the attendee(s): "Is this a Goan function? But
everybody speaks English/French! Don't you have your own language?" By the
same token, if Konkani was used at a function that could have made a
difference and the outsider might have been forced to ask the host "What did
he/she say?" What language is that?" This is where a proud Goan would say:
"That's my mother tongue the Konkani language!"
I also understand that August 20 of each year is declared as World Goa Day.
August 20 each year is also celebrated in Goa and the Konkani world as
Konkani Day. That is the date that our language, Konkani, was included in
the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
As we celebrate World Goa Day this year, my earnest request to Goans
worldwide is to introduce our Konkani language in your functions in order to
make them more Goa-oriented by speaking our mother tongue. I am not forcing
everyone to speak the language but at least the announcers/Emcees should
make an effort to welcome/greet the crowd in Konkani. Here are a few
sentences which could be used at World Goa Day functions abroad:
The announcer/Emcee introduces himself and wishes the crowd thus:
"Somestank mae-mogacho ievkar " (Welcome everybody).
Or
"Somestank Dev bori sanz dium" (Good evening everybody).
At the end of the program, he/she winds up the function by wishing the
folks:
"Dev boro dis dium" (Good morning), if the function ends in the morning
Or
"Dev bori rat dium" (Good night), if the function ends at night.
Last but not the least; they should not forget to thank the crowd in Konkani
by saying "Dev borem korum!"
I am confident these few words will not only add color to the function but
will also go a long way to establish the roots of our language in the
Diaspora!
The attendees may also use the following simple phrases to enquire about
each other at a function:
Tum kosso asa/Tum koxem asa? (How are you?)
Hanv boro asa/Hanv borem asa. (I am fine.)
Tum Goyeam kednam gelolo/Tum Goyeam kednam gelelem? (When did you last
visit Goa?)
Hanv Goyeam porum gelolom/Hanv Goyeam porum gelelem. (I had been to Goa
last year.)
Tuzo ghorkar koso asa/Tuji ghorkarn koxi asa? (How is your husband/wife?)
Mozo ghorkar boro asa/Moji ghorkarn bori asa. (My husband/wife is fine).
Tumchim bhurgim koxim asat? (How are your children?)
Amchim bhurgim borim asat. (Our children are fine).
Aichi manddavoll ani jevonn tumkam koxem laglem? (How did you like today's
arrangement and food?
Aichi manddavoll ani jevonn amkam ekdom borem laglem. (We liked today's
arrangement and food very much.)
Borem tor, fuddlea vorsa mellche! (OK then, see you next year!)
Let us keep in mind that our language is the key to our identity and
distinctiveness that identifies us as "Goenkars" (Goans) anywhere in the
world!
Have a wonderful World Goa Day 2006!
Moi-mogan,
Domnic Fernandes
Anjuna/Dhahran, KSA
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