From: kep@calmasd.Prime.COM (Patteaswaran)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.tamil
Subject: Re: naangaam thamizh (Technical Tamil) (little bit long)
Date: 23 Jul 92 20:49:13 GMT
Organization: Computervision, San Diego, CA

In article <BruJFI.E3E@ireq.hydro.qc.ca> srini@ireq-num.hydro.qc.ca (K.Srinivasan) writes:
>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.

	I totally agree .

>
>>     (ii) Technical terms cannot be translated into Indian languages.
		
	That is not true. If you really want, YOU CAN.
>
>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.
		... some things deleted ...
>>
>>S.Sankarapandi
>>ssankara@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
>
>K. Srinivasan  srini@ireq-num.hydro.qc.ca


	
	If a technical term is to come into a language, it should be because 
the originator (DEVELOPER of something new) of the term belonged to that 
language group or a lot of people belonging to that language group felt a 
NEED for a term in that language. Example : Polish notation, Raman's effect 
etc. for the first category and most of the computer jargons for the second 
category. There is no doubting that the size of the second category is much 
more than that of the first.

	We cannot rule out that technical terms are not flowing into Tamil.
If you visit a workshop where laborers are working, they use a lot of terms
and a significant portion of it is in Tamil. Example : 'Nool' ( represents
one eighth of an inch ), 'Kadaiarathu' ( machining using a Lathe ) and
a lot more of such words. This points out that when there is a NEED for such
words in Tamil and they automatically flow in some way or the other. But
such automatic creation/adoption of words can result in disparities, with 
different section of the population using different words for the same technical
term. So what is required is a group which can gather these terms from the USERS
or DEVELOPERS of these terms and sort of standardize them. This requires that
there should be USERS/DEVELOPERS of these terms. For a field like Computer 
Science, there are very little users in Tamil as such and even little
who contribute to the field itself in Tamil ( this is the current scenario and
can change ).

	According to my opinion, what can be done is that the technical
experts in their respective fields must come together and start forming
the terms. If the terms are succint, precise and easy to use, they will
AUTOMATICALLY STAND in the language. ( We seem to be using the term bus 
rather than 'Perundhu' because it seems to be easier to use. Ther can be
another example in favour of Tamil, of course ). In doing so, they should 
not restrict themselves to purely Tamil words. A good set of adaptation is 
definitely required. ( I heard that the Germans use the word 'computer'. I am 
not very sure ). If such a rich set of words are formed, they will definitely
become 'standards' like and people have no other go but using the terms
that the majority in that field are using.

	But all this seems to be good if people want things to be done
in Tamil. But I get a feeling that the baseline is whether to have it
in Tamil itself or not. This calls for language and education experts
who can comment on whether "it is the most beneficial to learn technical
things in one's own mother tongue or not". If the answer to this is in
the affirmative, I don't think money and time will be any factor at all
in proceeding with translations, technical term formations and all other
related constructive efforts.

	Thanks for reading upto this.

	Anbudan

Easwaran.


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YAdum Ore YAvarum Kelir

K.P.Easwaran
kep@calmasd.prime.com

San Diego
CA
USA
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