From: espdm@warwick.ac.uk (RANGANATHA RAO GURURAJ)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.tamil
Subject: Re: Linguistic barrier ?
Date: 27 Jul 92 17:26:24 GMT
Organization: Computing Services, Warwick University, UK

In reply to my query <bkannan@ha24.eng.ua.edu (Balaji Kannan)> writes :

>     IMO, this is sheer Nonsense! [At least,this sentence-construct
>     makes me think so. What next? Japanese and Germans had brains
>     in them ?]
    
Dont jump to conclusions please...

>   While it is true that the Japs have Scientific Education in their
>   own tongue, they  have been adept at hacking away English 
>   words and "Japanesing" them.

They might adept at japanesing words. But the question remains...
Why do they do it..? Does that not highlight the need for maintaining
science education and research in local language ?


>   The Japanese are particular masters at the art of seizing a
>   foreign word and alternately beating it and aerating it until
>   it sounds something like a native product. <examples deleted>

>   The same is true of Scientific terms that had to flow Eastward.
>    At the same time, the Japs have made their own contributions
>   to Science [terms too] and the English have not shied away from
>   borrowing them. More so in Manufacturing,[Japs being the undisputed
>   Masters today]  which they have revolutionized and from whom
>   the West have a lot to borrow. [though it is said  that
>   the real management/manufacturing Gurus are in the U.S. Ironically,
>   it is the Japs and not the Americans that listen to these American Gurus
>   and the American companies eventually learn  from the Japs]."Kanban" 
>   and "Poka-Yoke" [for e.g.] are the two of the more popular Japanese 
>   catch-words used in the manufacturing industry today.

I think u are trying to trace the roots of language in use today. Kanban
and Poka -yoke have been copied for their concepts and the words have 
just migrated from Mfg Pundits. Definitely one should have heard
of fool-proofing and Pull -systems in the mfg side in place of these
Japanese words.....

My question is slightly different. Forget which language is dominating..
Do we require a language that can reach everyone in the country at all
stages of education to be effective?

>  What is the relation between Hindi and Science that
>  one cannot find in other Indian languages?
>  What makes you believe,faintly though,that Hindi should be
>  made the common language?

 >   [Incidentally, I learn that not more than 16% of the Indian population
 >   speak any one language. Mind you, I said speak.]

It is not the question of Hindi, in particular being made the common
language. It is having a common language for the country.. Do u have
any other language in mind which can do the job better, incidentally
considering the population and the variety of languages
across the country ?

> Scientific Research is carried out with  vigor in 
> all developed countries. Maybe the amount US spends on
> Scientific Research is just  way ahead of the rest. Two
> thirds of all Scientific papers are published in English

At this stage, do you mean that English should continue as the
common link or not ? It is not very clear....

<lots of examples deleted>

> Balaji Kannan

The points that need to be clarified are :

1. Considering the impact of English on science and vice verza,
does fostering English education sound right ?

2. If yes, then what purpose do local languages serve, just poetry
and jokes...?

Balaji's efforts in his critical review are appreciated.

Mikka Nandri

R Gururaj
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"Tamizhukku Eedu inai Yedhum illai"
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