Yes you are both correct in your assumptions in what you say, Konkani is a
language & merits the status the Indian Goverment has said it is an OFFICIAL
language of India. It must NOT be lost to the ever-increasing popularity for
speaking English or Hindi (of its various forms, all also officially recognised
& eons older than Konkani), but this reminds me of the Mauritian Creole, which
is not only a spoken language but a written one also.
There are many forms of Creole throughout the world, the Mauritian Creole is
different to its neighbours, Reunion. Its also totally different to the
Seychelles Creole language. Creole, or a "patwa" / "patois" of the American
South is also different, some differences within (some are major differences in
the "West Indies" also if affected or effected by the "Colonialists" own
language, be it English, Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, French etc. Originally
devised, or developed so that the "masters" were unable to understand the
slaves or bonded labourers, the Mauritian Creole developed from the French
influence.
But as all languages, eventually if not used, some die out in due course,
taken over by the major languages, presently English being the most widely
used, but closely followed by Spanish speaking, Chinese, French & of course
many dozens of others of which will continue to thrive, as long as English,
Spanish & French etc are not forced (as in African countries and smaller
islands such as Mauritius) who are "proud" to be associated with England AND
France but Creole is spoken in the home, some families now preferring to speak
French in their houses, have set aside grandma & grandad's language to speak
only French in front of them and outside the home also.
So what is the origin of Konkani, was it developed or evolved so that the
Portuguese "masters" were kept in the dark when Goans wanted to communicate
with each other, ensuring secrecy in their communications?
Let us hope that Goans continue the tradition of speaking Konkani in their
homes AND on the streets, otherwise the next generation will be so engrossed in
alll things USA / European that English may well take over in less than half a
century's time.
Its been estimated that in the USA the population of Spanish speakers have
tripled in the last decade. In the next half century, the majority of the
population will be Spanish speakers, and a major turn-about in politics will
follow........
But of course figures are figures and they are manipulated to suit the person
who is espousing.
LONG LIVE KONKANI............... I wish I had been able to continue with my
konkani aged 11, but like the Portuguese I learned, it was not used in the UK
at the time we arrived (no Goans & no Portuguese influences, much to my
mother's delight no doubt), so it was totally wiped from my mind.
One of my regrets also! But it snot too late for the next generation of
Goans, as long as everyone who speaks and writes it, ensures it is used to the
max!
John Monteiro
Berkshire, England
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Paulo Colaco Dias <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: I was surprised that nobody else
except Bernado and me responded to Joao Botelho Gomes. I put that down to
people not understanding Portuguese.
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Language is indeed a complex issue in Goa. FN
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