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Hello Rui,
Here are my two bits. As a concept, your suggestion is eminently
fascinating but not when it comes to confining Konakani to the Romi
script. It would appear that in taking the Romi out of your
conjecture; that you though falls apart. Not so at all. In the case of
Konkani, I feel that it should use various scripts but Romi should not
be extinguished. The Goan people though have to really use it, not
just have it around as one strand of identity. It has to be a part of
ones aesthetics and ethics, and even Hindus have to see it as a way
forward across linguistic waters. Being able to do the same thing in
more than one way at the very least would create a few more synapses I
would think. Anyway, when such becomes a continuum of practice, other
paths develop; which is why your though is an invigorating one. A
practice may be created where certain publications are printed
bilingually or trilingually. Poetry certainly (certainly Konkani
poetry) and even magazines. All this takes effort, but has been done
and is being done. Design magazines, and lifestyle magazine among the
obvious genre publications. On a slight tangent--the Japanese use
furigana besides the Kanji since not everyone knows exactly what a
character means or may not know its pronunciation. There is no reason
why even in translations that Konkani words are provided in the text
or in small glossaries. The tranliterated Konkani Romi page, the
Konkani page in Nagari or in Kannada does not have to look like an
English page in visual appearance. It could have insertions favorable
to our unique situation, which will be decided by editors who may see
this as a matter of concern and broadening interest in the language.
Getting to the heart of your idea. Consider now that there are
significant populations from various states represented in Goa, and
that remittances are sent to near and far places in India from amcheam
Goeam. Aside from that all manners of mannerisms--Goan, largely Hindu
and Christians are being absorbed and assimilated in creating
individual personas. Now, aligning this against the physical smallness
of Goa and its core population--perhaps it would soften the
North/South angst, where the language spoken by the fewest, to be
elected as the national language. What I like about your general
thoughts are the conceptual possibilities. But all hell can soon break
loose on this net if people misunderstand that we are playing with
ideas and not poking anyone. This of course is not a dig at Marathi.
Others could make a case for Santhali or Braj or Marathi is they so
wish.
Some musings: If one were to give oneself about 12-15 years of
diligent study, despite our hectic lives one certainly can begin to
talk and think in Konkani in a more grounded way. Perhaps even the
nature of our humour may further evolve. I am trying just that, to get
to attain better fluency. So if I was awakened at 3 in the morning
while in Goa for immediate rendition to Guantanamo, I would hopefully
not be babbling in English before the hood muffles my Goaness.
A few years ago I tried a small experiment (nothing very scientific)
in Goa. I asked my relatives and a few friends to say four sentences
on love. The responses were so horribly rudimentary that I was left
wondering whether I come from a loveless family or as to use my dad's
favorite expression of exasperation--hajams (barbers). And btw,
everyone had loosened up, and chilling and all that, but the
constructs were just not there. No insult meant to hajams--please do
not cut my throat. At least not yet! But there was certainly nothing
frothy about those pitiful expressions of love. But we are quick to
peck the other cheek.
I believe that upon the surrender of the Japanese to the big boys
there were attempts to foist English on the Japanese. Thankfully it
did not happen and so we continue to see the flourishing of the haiku,
tanka, waka and in larger numbers the gogyohka (five line poetry;
go-five, gyoh-line, ka-poetry). Otherwise these practices would be an
extreme rarity. Imagine the other losses besides the ones mentioned
had English or some other tongue replaced their mother tongue.One may
choose a wife, but no ones chooses their mother, hence mother tongue
and with it the possibility to think and dwell in it. Not easy though.
Truly not crazy at all. Your thought is an interesting direction in
thinking laterally which may be applied to other areas. And once again
this is what thrills me about Goanet.
Venantius
