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In my effort to keep abreast of trends in Konknni writing, some time ago I
posted my query regarding the use of "y" instead of "i". I had Sebastian Borges
explain the reasons in a lenghty piece followed by Miguel Braganza in a short
piece.
I also followed it up with another post regarding my effort to write in Konknni
Roman script and the help and guidance I received during my youth in Mumbai.
I continue to learn the naunces of the language as it has evolved or keeps
evolving to rise up to a standard form, the form used for formal writing. I
would like to occasionally write in Konknni Roman script as best I can. I know
that it will not be easy after more than 35 years gap. But when I will write is
another question that I cannot answer at this time.
To beginn writing on lines dictated by Fr. Mathew Almedia, S.J, in his
textbook, Romi Lipient Konknni Kors, published by Thomas Stephens Konknni Kendr
(TSKK) in 2007, I would have to first study the book. Going through it and
understanding it throughly would take a lot of time.
As Miguel indirectly provoked me and others like me saying that it is better to
write however badly it may be than never write at all. It seems a good
suggestion that I would like to acknowledge with due respect. If and when I
begin to write I am sure I will write faultily. However, my quest to write
perfectly will remain.
I would like to clarify that my attempt should not be construed as nitpicking.
On the question of writing perfectly, I once again seek answers from those who
know the subject better.
I read the Yadostik (souvenir) published on the occasion of the Poilem Konknni
(Romi Lip) Sahitya ani Sonvskruti Sommelon, organised by the Dalgado Konknni
Akademi in December 2008.
I am going to pinpoint things I would like to be clarified. Some of what I
think are mistakes could be just "typos".
My eyes caught two different spellings "Moddganv" and "Moddgonv" on the cover
page. In his Ogrlekh, Michael Gracias starts with "Az" and in the next line
writes "Aiz", with an "i".
He writes "mogiank" without the cedula on the "o" while Fr.Conceicoa D'Silva,
in his article later in the souvenir, writes "mog" with the cedula
(unfortunately, I am not aware how to get the "special character" in ASCII). On
the cover "Sommelon" has a "o" in "lon" while Gracias writes with "a". He gives
wrong year, 2009.
Shockingly, the chief minister of Goa Digambar Kamat's message appears in
English. It would have been "perfect" if it was translated in Konknni even
though the CM wrote in English. I do not want to read between the lines here,
but why did the CM not write or got it written in Konknni?
Later in the souvenir, some writers have praised the CM for trying to help
the cause of Romi Konknni. But the example of the CM writing in Konknni itself
seems like an act of hypocrisy. That the message is badly written is another
matter.
Check it out, "I am very glad to know that Dalgado Konkani Akademi, an
organisation working for the promotion and development of Konkani in Roman
script, is organising the POILEM KONKNNI (Romi Lip) SAHITYA ANI SONVSKRUTI
SOMMELAN on December 20 and 21, 2008 at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao and also
releasing a souvenir on the occasion." What is "is organising" and what is
"also releasing"? In the next paragraph, the "a" is missing in "bredth".
In his next paragraph he says, "I hope tht the souvenir will provide an insight
to the readers to delve in Konknni movement and literature." I think the right
word should have been "into" instead of "in." In his concluding para, the word
"and" is used instead of "ani."
Churchill Alemao, Mauvin Godinho and Jose Phillip D'Souza's messages appear in
Konknni. In their messages, and also elsewhere, Konknni appears wwith both
upper-case "K" and lower-case "k". Same is the case with "l", when writting
"Romi Lipint" or "Romi Lipi" some contributors has used upper-case "L" as well
as lower-case "l"
In his Odeokh Uloita, Premanand A. Lotlikar uses both upper- and lower-case "h"
in writing "Hebrev", a language he says Jesus spoke. There is still a debate
raging whether Jesus spoke Hebrew or Aramaic, both possibly both.
He uses lower-case "p" in "purtugez" and lower-case "i" in "inglez", also
spelling it with an "x" in the same sentence, "Chodd pavtti Goykar jednam
ekamekak melltat tendam fokot inglez katortat, ti magir ramddi inglix poream
zalear zata." Also "hindu" and "muslim" start with lower-case "h" and "m".
Instead of "caste" it has gone as "cast" in his two lines of English
translation, "Let us not identify our Roman Script with any particular cast,
commnity or religion. It is one of the scripts of Konknni, irespective of cast
and religion." Why "script" with a upper-case "S"?, and why was these two lines
not put into brackets? He also writes "sommelon" with both "o" and "a", and has
"eka-mekachea" and "ekamekachea" written with and without the "hyphen."
I will stop now, but will continue later to show how different writers engage
in different word usages, different spellings and line constructions.
Eugene Correia
A humble Konknni lover
