language for communication

[schopra at cabler.cableregina.com]

Hi Bijoy, we should be able to communicate in any language we wish.  I have
no problem with English, but Hindi is OK too, or French ... let us open it
up.  If people feel comfortable in Sanskrit let them write in that language.
Translations may follow on request.  That can be done on the net.  I think
it is an exciting ..

>
>While I respect the sentiments that people should be free to 
>communicate in any language they want, I wish to point out
>that the communication is useful when it is understood by
>the people who are assembled.  English seems to be acceptable 
>language of communication(for good or bad).  Any creative writing 
>has however a lot more value when done in one's native language.
>
>Without getting further into the philosophical aspects of 
>communication (which is extremely interesting), let me request 
>that we agree that English be used as the primary language of
>communication.  I will also request that we have a set
>of net volunteers who may help translate material to English
>such that it gets understood.  While saying this, let me volunteer
>to translate stuff from Sanskrit and Hindi to English if such
>postings occur.
>
>It will be cool if people occasionally create postings
>in Sanskrit!
>
>- Bijoy Misra.
>
>
>On Thu, 12 Sep 1996, Lars Martin Fosse wrote:
>
>> Dominik wrote:
>> 
>> >discussion list. The main languages of indological scholarship include
>> >French and German, and postings in these or other languages are welcome,
>> >with or without translation.  
>> 
>> To me as a person with a European educational background, postings in French
>> or German do not create a problem. I am not so sure about Americans, and
>> certainly not so sure about our colleagues in India, some of whom may have
>> thought it more worthwhile to learn other languages than French and German.
>> Putting French and German on an equal footing with English (the one European
>> language that educated Indians are certain to master) is in my opinion a
>> rather eurocentric thing to do these days (and we do want to communicate
>> with Indian colleagues too,don't we?) I think English should be the business
>> language of Indology. Apabhramshas like German and French should be left for
>> internal use in those countries, like Norwegian is left to Norwegians.
>> 
>> Best (provocative?) regards,
>> 
>> Lars Martin Fosse
>> 
>> 
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>
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