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Respect all languages; don't be biased... and dumb!
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E-mailMade Popular Jul 14 2008
India :
My mother tongue is Hindi and, If my memory is not failing me, even my late father used the same language to express his love and care for me and my family. In fact, he used the same language whenever he reprimanded me for anything that was not done as per his exclusive wishes.
When I decided to ditch the monosyllables, even I adopted Hindi as my primary language for conveying my thoughts and feelings for others. So, its safe for me to conclude that Hindi is the most loved language in my family. And, Hindi happens to be my national language too.
But now the question arises; does the above facts (and my love for Hindi) give me the right to feel biased against other languages of my nation, or the world? I don’t think so. I love Hindi, but I just can’t persuade myself to shun other languages or to undermine their importance.
Be it the global language English, other international languages which are totally alien to me (that includes Turkish. Hi Siminya, I miss you!), or, not to miss, the various regional languages spoken in my country India; each language commands equal respect from each citizen of this world.
I do a major portion of my professional work in English but I never feel disturbed because I’m not giving preference to my mother tongue or my national language in my professional life. On the contrary, I feel proud that in spite of using English as the primary language in my professional life (one which gives me my daily bread), I have kept my love and respect for Hindi intact.
I have friends from all communities and circles; some speak Hindi, some Bangla, Tamil, Gujarati and so on. But what binds us different-language-speaking folks together is English. So, I can safely assert that I LOVE ENGLISH AS MUCH AS I LOVE HINDI - because besides being the language which keeps my kitchen fire burning, it also happens to be the language that ensures me a good spot socially.
I have online friends from all the corners of the globe, but I never experience any difficulty communicating with them; thankfully, English is there to keep the wheels rotating. I’m sure each of my friends; be it Russian, English, Latvian, Filipino, German or having any other nationality, has respect for his mother tongue; but I’m happy that no one is intolerant towards other languages. In fact, they always try to learn my mother tongue so that our bond becomes more strong.
Just tell me, If I adopt a bigoted outlook and start advocating that Hindi is the the only language that an Indian should love and use as a communication tool, where would I reach? Nowhere!
There is no shame in accepting the importance of languages other than our national language or our mother tongue. If we respect other languages, we will automatically gain respect for our language; if we try to shove it down the brains of others, we are dis-respecting our own language by presenting a biased view.
I love Hindi; but I’m not dumb!
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Galing mo, Aneez! Hanep! Bilib ako kung paano mo naituloy ang pag-uusap dito tungkol sa usaping lenggwahe at kung sino ang may karapatang mag-sabi na mas matino at matalino ang pumipili sa sariling wika o higit na kumikiling sa kahalagahan ng ibang pananalita.
Naniniwala ako sa sinabi mo na lahat tayo ay dapat maging bukas ang isipan sa lahat ng paraan ng ugnayan sa pamamagitang salita. Tama ka, na kadalasan, ganitong paniniwala ang marka ng tunay na talino ng tao.
Higit na kapaki-pakinabang kung ang tao ay gagamit ng pananalita na mas madaling maintindihan ng nakararami. Ito ang buod ng tunay na ugnayan at pagkakaunawaan.
Ako man ay manunulat sa isang banyagang wika dahil kadalasan ay ito ang pangangailangan sa aking hanapbuhay. Ngunit, hindi ko pa rin iwinawaksi ang kahalagahan ng aking sariling wika sapagka’t ito ang humubog sa aking katauhan, at patuloy na humuhubog sa aking bayang sinilangan.
Mabuhay!
Y’love me, too, don’t ’ya? :)
Naniniwala ako sa sinabi mo na lahat tayo ay dapat maging bukas ang isipan sa lahat ng paraan ng ugnayan sa pamamagitang salita. Tama ka, na kadalasan, ganitong paniniwala ang marka ng tunay na talino ng tao.
Higit na kapaki-pakinabang kung ang tao ay gagamit ng pananalita na mas madaling maintindihan ng nakararami. Ito ang buod ng tunay na ugnayan at pagkakaunawaan.
Ako man ay manunulat sa isang banyagang wika dahil kadalasan ay ito ang pangangailangan sa aking hanapbuhay. Ngunit, hindi ko pa rin iwinawaksi ang kahalagahan ng aking sariling wika sapagka’t ito ang humubog sa aking katauhan, at patuloy na humuhubog sa aking bayang sinilangan.
Mabuhay!
Y’love me, too, don’t ’ya? :)
(Global Perspectives)
Hey Grace, your words are as pleasant as you :) And hey, you are my first love, aren’t you?
Thanks a lot for your comment.
Thanks a lot for your comment.
(Local Perspectives)
Translated version of Grace’s comment:
Oh wow, Aneez! (sarcastically). I’m amazed at how you continued the discussion here about language and who has a right to say that those who use their own language are more intelligent than those who value other languages apart from their own.
I believe in what you say that we all have to be open minded on various ways on how to communicate. You’re right, that most often than not, this is a mark of intelligence.
It’s most useful if man uses language that is easier to understand by all. This is the true essence of communication.
I am a writer of a national paper that uses the local language, and I am used to writing this way because this is my living. However, I am not trying to veer away from my own language because this is my identity, this molded me to who I am, and this continues to mold my country.
Greetings!
Oh wow, Aneez! (sarcastically). I’m amazed at how you continued the discussion here about language and who has a right to say that those who use their own language are more intelligent than those who value other languages apart from their own.
I believe in what you say that we all have to be open minded on various ways on how to communicate. You’re right, that most often than not, this is a mark of intelligence.
It’s most useful if man uses language that is easier to understand by all. This is the true essence of communication.
I am a writer of a national paper that uses the local language, and I am used to writing this way because this is my living. However, I am not trying to veer away from my own language because this is my identity, this molded me to who I am, and this continues to mold my country.
Greetings!
(Local Perspectives)
Thank you so much for the translation Jonty. I’m really glad that the world is still home to people who believe in harmony.
And this is the only reason that we have the much-needed edge over those crooked brains.
Thanks for your comment.
And this is the only reason that we have the much-needed edge over those crooked brains.
Thanks for your comment.
(Local Perspectives)
LOL Aneez and Jonty, quite impressive! I’m so proud of you, guys!
I purposely didn’t give a translation (even if Deepa was requesting for one earlier, hehe...) precisely because I wanted to see if any translations will come up. And voila! Yes one did!
Just a few notes: :)
(1)I can’t figure how the (sarcastically) finds a place there. I thought because one cannot really translate ”Hanep!” It’s a Tagalog colloquial that isn’t normally found in dictionaries and translation software. Anyway, ”Hanep!” is colloquially translated as ”Great!”
(2) Ako man ay manunulat sa isang banyagang wika dahil kadalasan ay ito ang pangangailangan sa aking hanapbuhay. Ngunit, hindi ko pa rin iwinawaksi ang kahalagahan ng aking sariling wika sapagka’t ito ang humubog sa aking katauhan, at patuloy na humuhubog sa aking bayang sinilangan.
More accurate translation:
I, too, am a writer in a foreign language because that is what’s required in my work. But I do not set aside my own language because it is what molds my person, and continues to mold my motherland.
You guys are great!
I purposely didn’t give a translation (even if Deepa was requesting for one earlier, hehe...) precisely because I wanted to see if any translations will come up. And voila! Yes one did!
Just a few notes: :)
(1)I can’t figure how the (sarcastically) finds a place there. I thought because one cannot really translate ”Hanep!” It’s a Tagalog colloquial that isn’t normally found in dictionaries and translation software. Anyway, ”Hanep!” is colloquially translated as ”Great!”
(2) Ako man ay manunulat sa isang banyagang wika dahil kadalasan ay ito ang pangangailangan sa aking hanapbuhay. Ngunit, hindi ko pa rin iwinawaksi ang kahalagahan ng aking sariling wika sapagka’t ito ang humubog sa aking katauhan, at patuloy na humuhubog sa aking bayang sinilangan.
More accurate translation:
I, too, am a writer in a foreign language because that is what’s required in my work. But I do not set aside my own language because it is what molds my person, and continues to mold my motherland.
You guys are great!
(Global Perspectives)
Oh Grace, thanks a lot for your kind words. The translation was not intended to be correct word by word. I hope it did more than enough to relay the essence.
Trying to be modest with your spin of the last paragraph? ;-) Just kidding, please don’t mind. Keep your comments coming.
Trying to be modest with your spin of the last paragraph? ;-) Just kidding, please don’t mind. Keep your comments coming.
(Local Perspectives)
You’re oh so welcome, Jonty! I’m truly amazed that you went the distance to translate the long thing, hehe... But, I must say, I’m truly impressed with what you did! :)
(Global Perspectives)
This gave me a new insight. Aneez graciously accepted my message and comment even if he didn’t understand the language it was written in.
That means either of two things: that communication is possible beyond language or that Aneez believes I’ll never say anything not good to him. :)
Either way sounds good! :)
Humayo tayo sa mundong ibabaw!
That means either of two things: that communication is possible beyond language or that Aneez believes I’ll never say anything not good to him. :)
Either way sounds good! :)
Humayo tayo sa mundong ibabaw!
(Global Perspectives)
LOL...that was nice Grace. If only you could put the translated version too. Btw, Aneez has rightly and clearly put his point across. It is impossible to exist in India without being familiar with at least these two languages - Hindi and English. And living in Mumbai, it is expected that we know a bit of Marathi too. All this over and above your mother tongue. Am glad that to exist in this multi-linguistic country.
(Local Perspectives)
Languagew can help us express our thoughts and it can be specifc for any person.
(Global Perspectives)
One needs to stand apart and take a dispassionate look at the whole thing to arrive at an evenhanded and unprejudiced conclusion. A good article.
(Local Perspectives)
Thanks a lot Paul. Meanwhile, I hope this gesture of mine gets magnified hundredfold with sincere support from you all. :)
(Local Perspectives)
wc Aneez. Upholding what is right - against all odds - is the duty of all.
(Local Perspectives)
Yes, that’s right. We must respect each and every language throughout the world. Because mother tongue is something that a person grows up with it. There is a special attachment with the first language you learn from your loving parents. Isn’t it? We all love our mother tongues more than any other language and hence, we must understand the same feeling in the hearts of others.
Neither Hindi nor English is my mother tongue; still these are the languages I need to communicate in now. And I don’t have the slightest feeling for that. Rather it’s good that I am familiar with all these. There are many other Indian languages, I want to learn. Rigidness and hatred to other language can only bring enemies, and nothing else.
Neither Hindi nor English is my mother tongue; still these are the languages I need to communicate in now. And I don’t have the slightest feeling for that. Rather it’s good that I am familiar with all these. There are many other Indian languages, I want to learn. Rigidness and hatred to other language can only bring enemies, and nothing else.
(Local Perspectives)
Very well said, Sasmita. When we expect good from others, we must set an example first.
Thanx
Thanx
(Local Perspectives)
the arguments remain age old but im delighted that Aneez has brought it up at a time when people are creating disharmony over language when there was no other issue left to fight with...
(Local Perspectives)
Maybe now they can channelize their anger towards me :) But no probs with that; they’ll enter ignorant but leave englightened!
Thanx for your comment Farheen!
Thanx for your comment Farheen!
(Local Perspectives)
Kudos Aneez! Excellent write up! For a change, I fully agree with your views :P)!!
(Local Perspectives)
Lol.. you know I’m feeling all blocked up. Gosh, its very hard to control myself and avoid a fight with you but alas, I can’t oppose my own views! :)
Thanx a lot Reshmi!!
Thanx a lot Reshmi!!
(Local Perspectives)
aneez is getting all charged up after writing this piece of valuable thought, but my dear too muh of extra confidence is bad for health
(Local Perspectives)
Hey Farheen, its not about (extra) confidence; its all about freedom of choice and our ability to defend it!
BTW, my articles are just a byproduct of my daily routine of ruminating the thoughts, I don’t spill it regularly but I know how to defend my views once they manage to take off from my mind and get embedded on the canvas.
Don’t you know me? :)
I don’t write a lot but I fight a lot!!
BTW, my articles are just a byproduct of my daily routine of ruminating the thoughts, I don’t spill it regularly but I know how to defend my views once they manage to take off from my mind and get embedded on the canvas.
Don’t you know me? :)
I don’t write a lot but I fight a lot!!
(Local Perspectives)
You are right Aneez. Loving one's own mother tongue doesn't mean we should disrespect other languages. Raj Thackeray's party in Maharashtra has shown how low they can stoop in the name of preserving the "mother tongue of the state". Trying to impose Hindi on non-Hindi speaking states would make matters worse.
(Local Perspectives)
This language debate is dragging too far now here in Instablogs. I read Arvind's posts and the comments that followed. This is too much. In a free country we cannot impose something forcibly on others. Hindi is the medium that a Marathi uses to speak to a Kashmiri. That's in 90% of the cases. If it happens to be English at times what's the harm?
(Local Perspectives)
Unfortunately, they keep their minds shut, so there’s little we can do for these ignorant peoples. They waste their energy running in the wrong direction.
(Local Perspectives)
Hindi serves no purpose at all other than to communicate between people of two non Hindi speaking people or between one Hindi speaking person and one non Hindi speaking person. The reason is Hindi is spoken by more than any other language in India.
(Local Perspectives)
Fighting over what language should be national language and what should be used is hardly the way to move forward. Reading Arvind's posts I can only say that if he is concerned about the gradual 'demise' of Hindi, then instead of trying to impose it to non-Hindi population, the speakers and practitioners of the language should take measures within themselves.
(Local Perspectives)
Hi Salil, read the recent comments on Arvind’s article, you’ll get a clear picture about the thinking of these peoples.
(Local Perspectives)
Aneez, your article is cool and frank.
I agree with your opinion.Language is just for communication nothing else. No language is better than other one, everything is equally good. All depends on how well we use it for human interest.
I agree with your opinion.Language is just for communication nothing else. No language is better than other one, everything is equally good. All depends on how well we use it for human interest.
(Local Perspectives)
India should have Hindi as their national and official language if it is not already. When I visited India to Bangalore to get my grandfather treated we were talking with other passengers in the train in Hindi. Then I realised that most Indians speak Hindi and understand it. Even Bollywood has influenced Bangladeshis so much that they can understand Hindi and some can even speak broken Hindi like me.
(Global Perspectives)
When you respect other languages, you respect other cultures too...
and that opens up your horizons a lot...
I was born in UP, raised in HP, my academic background was English all through, and my best friends are Punjabi...
i feel like i get to have the best of all these worlds....
lingually and otherwise... i can savor the pahari jokes, the English limmericks, the Punjabi songs and the thet bhojpuri slant of Raju Srivastava as well!!! Thats the benefit of living in a multi-lingual, multi-cultural nation!!!
and that opens up your horizons a lot...
I was born in UP, raised in HP, my academic background was English all through, and my best friends are Punjabi...
i feel like i get to have the best of all these worlds....
lingually and otherwise... i can savor the pahari jokes, the English limmericks, the Punjabi songs and the thet bhojpuri slant of Raju Srivastava as well!!! Thats the benefit of living in a multi-lingual, multi-cultural nation!!!
(Local Perspectives)
Language is a medium which allow us communicate and exchange ideas among with different localities and culture.
(Global Perspectives)
Very true, but there are some stupid samples in this society who take it in wrong sense and try to establish that their language is superior to all other languages.
Ignorant souls don’t realize that all languages stand at par. They miss the important truth that we give importance to languages only because we need a medium to communicate with others.
Ignorant souls don’t realize that all languages stand at par. They miss the important truth that we give importance to languages only because we need a medium to communicate with others.
(Local Perspectives)
Nice article Aneez, i kind of knew that this was due :P after what happened on Sinmaya’s thread :P
I so feel that this article is for someone commenting on that thread but I am not going to point towards anyone, as of now. :P
And I agree to every point of yours, though at one point of time the thought of people in India pissed me off, but now I dont give a damn because they love their language as much as I love mine. :)
I mean, how will it make any difference. We can still communicate and share our feelings and that’s the most important thing.
I too hope that Sinmaya gets back at it :)
I so feel that this article is for someone commenting on that thread but I am not going to point towards anyone, as of now. :P
And I agree to every point of yours, though at one point of time the thought of people in India pissed me off, but now I dont give a damn because they love their language as much as I love mine. :)
I mean, how will it make any difference. We can still communicate and share our feelings and that’s the most important thing.
I too hope that Sinmaya gets back at it :)
(Local Perspectives)
Hi Nishant,
You almost reached there :)
But there’s another reason too behind this article of mine.
Anyway, thanks a lot for your comment and yea, I’m sure we’ll see Siminya soon.
You almost reached there :)
But there’s another reason too behind this article of mine.
Anyway, thanks a lot for your comment and yea, I’m sure we’ll see Siminya soon.
(Local Perspectives)
Well, it’s better to be dumb when you feel it could be a bit biased.
Throughout an article by Bobette, I kept on advocating the futility of script if it’s not comprehensible. I wasn’t neither understood nor supported.
Then, we made ourselves subject to a piece by Arvind where all of us, indirectly, went on to back up what my purport in Siminya’s episode was.
I may be sometimes rigid and arrogant. So, I don’t feel any language is that a problem but it should be comprehensible to all. I do respect all languages, still it’s not acceptable if it limits comprehension that’s of utmost importance.
Throughout an article by Bobette, I kept on advocating the futility of script if it’s not comprehensible. I wasn’t neither understood nor supported.
Then, we made ourselves subject to a piece by Arvind where all of us, indirectly, went on to back up what my purport in Siminya’s episode was.
I may be sometimes rigid and arrogant. So, I don’t feel any language is that a problem but it should be comprehensible to all. I do respect all languages, still it’s not acceptable if it limits comprehension that’s of utmost importance.
(Local Perspectives)
I supported you there, Desh. I just kept quiet because I didn’t want to get further into the fray.
There was much brouhaha about that Turkish blog about the language it was posted in, but the real issue was that nobody knew if it was originally hers or not.
Then, it was found out later on that it wasn’t hers. So, the real issue there was since it was another’s news, it should have been just posted as a newslink and not an article.
That more important issue was eclipsed by all the clamor and fervor about languages used and embraced.
There was much brouhaha about that Turkish blog about the language it was posted in, but the real issue was that nobody knew if it was originally hers or not.
Then, it was found out later on that it wasn’t hers. So, the real issue there was since it was another’s news, it should have been just posted as a newslink and not an article.
That more important issue was eclipsed by all the clamor and fervor about languages used and embraced.
(Global Perspectives)
Hi Desh,
I respect your opinion that a language should be comprehensible but even if its not, it does not harm us in any way. In fact, it gives us a chance to increase our knowledge by trying to interpret that language.
Ultimately, we all agree that one of the basic role of languages is to strengthen human relations.
I hope you can make out the difference between Bobette’s and Arvind’s post. While the former advocates for a better understanding of another language, the latter reminds us of just one word - hatred- hatred for other languages which generally don’t take much time to grow itself out of proportion and spread unrest in the society.
I respect your opinion that a language should be comprehensible but even if its not, it does not harm us in any way. In fact, it gives us a chance to increase our knowledge by trying to interpret that language.
Ultimately, we all agree that one of the basic role of languages is to strengthen human relations.
I hope you can make out the difference between Bobette’s and Arvind’s post. While the former advocates for a better understanding of another language, the latter reminds us of just one word - hatred- hatred for other languages which generally don’t take much time to grow itself out of proportion and spread unrest in the society.
(Local Perspectives)
P.S. If you take a look at the first comment made by my beloved friend Grace (which happens to be in her native language) and my reply to it, you can easily understand that alien language is not at all the real problem.
I’m glad, no one jumped in here to raise a cry over her language.
I’m glad, no one jumped in here to raise a cry over her language.
(Local Perspectives)
I do understand, Aneez.
We’re all here for a good cause- expressing what we feel- and will always remain to be, and undoubtedly, language is the medium.
I do realize it doesn’t make any good sense if we keep on discussing what happened in past.
Your intentions in writing this piece are really praiseworthy and constructive as well. You deserve to be congratulated for that. Keep up the good work, bro’.
We’re all here for a good cause- expressing what we feel- and will always remain to be, and undoubtedly, language is the medium.
I do realize it doesn’t make any good sense if we keep on discussing what happened in past.
Your intentions in writing this piece are really praiseworthy and constructive as well. You deserve to be congratulated for that. Keep up the good work, bro’.
(Local Perspectives)
Great Thanks Jonty for translating Grace’s thoughts and making it more understandable :)
(Local Perspectives)
Hi Grace
Aneez graciously accepted my message and comment even if he didn’t understand the language it was written in. That means either of two things: that communication is possible beyond language or that Aneez believes I’ll never say anything not good to him.
Luckily, both the clauses are applicable here :)
However, I feel the former has more weightage with regards to my article... but, I should confess, I’m really flattered by the latter!
Thanks for the sweet comment grace, it gives me one more reason to believe in you- ”you possess a beautiful mind.”
Aneez graciously accepted my message and comment even if he didn’t understand the language it was written in. That means either of two things: that communication is possible beyond language or that Aneez believes I’ll never say anything not good to him.
Luckily, both the clauses are applicable here :)
However, I feel the former has more weightage with regards to my article... but, I should confess, I’m really flattered by the latter!
Thanks for the sweet comment grace, it gives me one more reason to believe in you- ”you possess a beautiful mind.”
(Local Perspectives)
Add your Comment
I love learning languages myself and you know what, if you learn French or other European languages, your English improves!! I love English too, probably it is the only language I’m most fluent in.. However, people must not bring in regional sentiments when talking about Hindi or English, for both are the Lingua Franca of Indians. Hindi though, is more wide spread. I hope we don’t see another ugly argument here... :)