From: srini@ireq-num.hydro.qc.ca
Newsgroups: soc.culture.tamil
Subject: naangaam thamizh (Technical Tamil)
Date: 23 Jul 92 14:40:30 GMT
Reply-To: srini@ireq-num.hydro.qc.ca (K.Srinivasan)
Organization: IREQ, Hydro-Quebec, QC, Canada
Originator: srini@acr

In article <1992Jul22.004050.24006@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu> ssankara@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Sornam Sankara) writes:
>
>     There are many sceptical views expressed against learning science through
>Indian languages.   The following are the important ones often utilized by the
>pro-English lobbyists.
>
>     (i) Scripts of Indian languages are too many and unsuitable for using in
>computers and scientific instruments.

I see no problem with Tamil script. It can fit totally with in a byte space,
just like any European language.

>     (ii) Technical terms cannot be translated into Indian languages.

We just saw how easy it was to coin a technical word for 'network' and
'newsgroup'. It is easy to find words. The difficult part is to get
it accepted by all and to popularize them. It is a question of attitude
of the people, not a problem of finding words. Tamil and Sanskrit are
are blessed with an abundance of words, due to their age. English, French and
other languages are also coining words all the time. The acceptance is
easier because of an organized effort (example if Larousse dictionary
includes it, it becomes legal). We do not yet have any such forum.
(Like if LIFCO dictionary includes it it is official). The body should
be apolitical, and in case of Tamil, should be international.
Prof.Selvakumar should comment on this idea.

>
>     (iii) We have too many languages and that we cannot afford to spend money
>in preparing all the languages for science.
>
Let the languages develop at their own pace and within their own means.
Typewriters in all languages did not evolve together. (I think it was
Tamil, which was first). Printing came to Tamil/Malayalam first.
Films were first in Tamil/Telugu/Hindi. Radio first in TN, I think,
(a mobile one used to broadcast Bharathiyar freedom songs in the Tanjore
area, brought by some rich Tamil businessman from England. Later he moved
to Pondichery along with Bharathi, and the songs used to be received by
radios in Tanjore. First hand info from my mother, who had heard one
such radio in Papanasam, Tanjore District).

>     (iv) When all the languages grow in science, we cannot develope a united
>opinion/feeling in India and it will lead to disintegration of our states.
>

Friendship comes from within. not by force. If the union is so fragile,
other factors, like denial of opportunities, can also break it.
In fact, the statement could be generalized to state, " (iv) When languages
grow, we cannot develope a united opinion/feeling ........."
The technical part of a language is not the major part.

>     (v) When the scientists or engineers are educated in mother tongue how
>will they interact with their fellowmen in other Indian states or other
>countries.
>

The same way French, German technical people interact with each other
and with Americans.

>     (vi) How the educated people will migrate and live in other states and
>will it not stifle the free transfer of talents and opportunities between our
>states.
>

If it is easy for non-technical linguistic adaptation, why should it be more
difficult for technical words? The later is needed only for ones own speciality
and not for everyday life.

>     (vii) Will it not affect the recruitment for jobs or studies by creating
>langauge biases.
>

These problems, very much related to all the other kind of quotas and
reservations are deterrants to overall progress. All I can think of is
that, we could use this as a justification to abandon all progressive ideas.

>
>S.Sankarapandi
>ssankara@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu

K. Srinivasan  srini@ireq-num.hydro.qc.ca