From: selvakum@watserv1.uwaterloo.ca (C.R.Selvakumar - Electrical Engineering)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.tamil
Subject: naangam tamizh ( technical Tamizh)
Keywords: naangaam tamizh, technical Tamizh
Date: 28 Jul 92 20:26:56 GMT
Organization: University of Waterloo

In article <BruJFI.E3E@ireq.hydro.qc.ca>, srini@ireq-num.hydro.qc.ca writes:
> In article <1992Jul22.004050.24006@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu> ssankara@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Sornam Sankara) writes:
> 
> >     (ii) Technical terms cannot be translated into Indian languages.
> 
   K.Srinivasan writes: 

> 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.
  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

      I honestly believe that creating technical words is no big problem
      and can be achieved with a modest effort in a reasonably short time . 

      I entirely agree with your observations except that "a body"
      for regulating or recognizing a word or a phrase as standard is
      quite unncessary and fraught with difficulties ! I believe there 
      are such "Academie" for French and Hebrew languages but not very 
      much respected or significantly influencial in enforcing standards 
     ( It's is what I've heard and I don't know much about these). 
      Some significant standardization of terms can take place due to 
      governmental stipulations and encouragements but then it becomes 
      political and regional contrary to the desirable situation you had 
      nicely stated as "apolitical and international". 

      Several examples of standardization due to governmental sponsorship 
      can be cited such as the terms "aaLunar' for governor, "urimam" for 
      licence etc. 

      Since language is a remarkably "live" thing it evolves best 
      in a natural and free environment, however several groups of individuals
      who show innovative enterprise can significantly influence the evolving
      language. Although standard terminology is desirable it *evolves* by
      natural process (can be spontaneous popular adoption due to simplicity
      or transparency of meaning or by persistent use by the peer groups). 
      If you wish we can regularly attempt to coin sets of
      words in this SCT forum and may be we can then communicate to text-book 
      committees or even to any author/prospective-author etc. 

      As tholkaapiar says ( I think!) "kadi soll illai kaalaththup_padinE "

      [ kadi = difficult,  kaalaththup_padinE = when used over a period of time]
 
      Since communication facilities and other technological aids are 
      available it is easy to make a profound impact in the area of language 
      enrichment by a relatively small group of individuals but popularization
      requires some significant cooperation by the media and pesistent efforts
      by peer groups (in due course SCT may become one of the peer groups). 

      I believe soc.culture.tamil can be an excellent forum for such 
      experiments as language enrichment in selected areas like engineering
      (people from medical and other areas seem to be not using the kaNi as
       much as negineers) and debating issues related to language per se.

      
> >
> >S.Sankarapandi
> >ssankara@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
> 
> K. Srinivasan  srini@ireq-num.hydro.qc.ca

  anbudan

  Selva Selvakumar
Newsgroups: soc.culture.tamil