[Assam] Sankaradeva vs Xongkordew

[Ram Sarangapani]

Barua,
>The way you are advocating for the Sanskrit spelling '>Sankaradeva' against
Assamese spelling 'Xongkordew', is >same as advocating for (say) the
spelling 'Pankaradeba' in >place of 'Xongordew'

  I advocated NO SUCH THING. You are once again putting words in my mouth.
Show me where I said that? And I am surprised you didn't catch th drift or
essence of my posts on the subject.

*I do not have a problem* with the advocacy of  "Xongordew" or "Xongordeu".
In fact, I think that is how it should be.

But, if you going to tell me it is because Assamese are losing their
identity, that is why it needs changing (in fact that was ONE reason
advocated in the discussions), or because it is being Sankritized - I have a
problem.

Why? I will even answer that.
1) If Assamese ARE NOT losing their identity
2) If it was not Sankritized
*Then will you accept "Sankaradeva" instead?*

I hope, you and others would NOT on those grounds.
It is extremely simple:
**
*IT should be "Xongordew" because THAT IS HOW ASSAMESE WANT it.  And that is
how we would like others to pronounce it as well.*
**
You tell me, isn't that a good reason? Why do you need other reasons?
**
Nothing else matters - the other reasons some netters are trying to dish out
are simply  frivolous.

And when such reasons are forwarded, it brings out other issues: ie maybe,
this is more of an identity problem and not so much from maintaining the
sanctity of the language itself.

And if you want to talk about Assamese losing their identity, by all means -
let us discuss that, but as separate issue, as it a very important issue,
IMHO.

>With this type of advocacy, you will qualify yourself to go >back to the
basics of alphabet in Assamese and English

Hehehe! Guilty as charged. But aren't you glad though, that I am the only
one?

And I hope this is all clear as mud :)

--Ram



On 9/15/06, Barua25 <barua25 at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>   >I had prefaced my argument with "devil's advocate' and my feelings on
> this are:
>
> >Is writing out "Sankaradeva" not appropriate because
> >(a) We know better now - it should be Xonkordeva
> >(b) Because it is Sankritized (and we want nothing to do with that)
> >(c) Its an identity crises
>
> Ram:
> I don't know whether you had relaised your position while adocating this
> way.  Sincerely, with this type of devil's advocacy, you are simply trying
> to prove that either you are clueless about the Assamese langauge as well as
> the English language. The way you are advocating for the Sanskrit spelling
> 'Sankaradeva' against Assamese spelling 'Xongkordew', is same as advocating
> for (say) the spelling 'Pankaradeba' in place of 'Xongordew'  I don't see
> any difference, and I too can put forward my devil's advocacy for the
> spelling 'Pankaradeba'  or any other 'bhusung pohu' spelling thus:
>
> Is 'Pankaradeba' writing not appropriate because
> (a) We know better - it should be Xongkordew?.
> (b) Because it sounds foreign, and you donot want anything foreign (*Osin
> kathor thwrakw nologaba*)?.
> (c) Its an identity crisis?
>
> With this type of advocacy, you will qualify yourself to go back to the
> basics of alphabet in Assamese and English.
> Rajen Barua
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> *From:* Ram Sarangapani <assamrs at gmail.com>
> *To:* Chan Mahanta <cmahanta at charter.net>
> *Cc:* BBaruah at aol.com ; Dilip/Dil Deka <dilipdeka at yahoo.com> ;
> Assam at assamnet.org
> *Sent:* Friday, September 15, 2006 11:58 AM
> *Subject:* Re: [Assam] Book on life,ideals of Sankaradeva released(The
> Assam Tribune, 1...
>
>
> C'da,
>
> I thought I would go to some other topic butthought I too should get a
> chance to beat this dead horse - one last time.
>
>  >*** You have been unable to explain WHY Xonkordev should be
> >Sankaradeva.
>
> I am surprised, C'da - you are assuming that "I" think it should be
> Sankardeva?
> I had prefaced my argument with "devil's advocate' and my feelings on this
> are:
>
> Is writing out "Sankaradeva" not appropriate because
> (a) We know better now - it should be Xonkordeva
> (b) Because it is Sankritized (and we want nothing to do with that)
> (c) Its an identity crises
>
> Just wanted to make sure we want it to be Xonkordev because that is how
> the Assamese prononce it - thats it - the best reason. Nothing else matters.
> Why bring in stuff like identity, Sankritized, Hindi influence, or even
> the logical abilities of past literary people?
>
> >*** Like Rajen explained very well, Oxomiya language does not >need
> Xongskrit or Hindi or Bengali approval to stand on its own
>
> And did "I" claim it did? Not even hinted at that. Words in my mouth
> again.
>
> >*** Oxomiyas need to know who they are what they call >THEMSELVES, first
>
> True, and this you want to accomplish by transliterating in English? How
> big is that Oxomiya audience that seeks the English language to find out how
> to pronounce words in THEIR own language.
>
> Whats wrong with the picture here? Am I missing something, or are you guys
> just catering to a select few?
> I say, go for it.
>
> >Bengalis, Hindiwallas etc. are free to pronounce it or write it the >way
> they see fit among themselves. But when they come to >Assam and call their
> hosts strange  names, they would do so at >their own risk.
>
> And when they do come over to Assam, you are going to help these folks to
> properly pronounce Assamese words with the help of the English language. I
> would love to see the Bihari rickshawalla browsing for this transliteration
> in Ingrezi? Good luck again.
>
> :)
>
> --Ram
>
>
>
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