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Why retain Kannada numerals?
Written By murali772 - 4 July, 2008
Bangalore Culture kannada language
While the use of the Kannada script (but not on number-plates) does certainly contribute to the propagation of the language and thereby the culture, the numerals do not serve any such purpose at all. The regular 1,2,3 can as well be read ondu, eradu, mooru, so on, without in any way diluting the purity of the language, but in many ways simplifying life, particularly for the non-Kannadiga's who then have only to grapple with the jalebi's, the prospect of which is less intimidating.
Perhaps it is time the Kannada numerals are given a decent burial in say a time capsule on the lawns of the Vidhan Soudha, and the state switched to using just the international 1,2,3, quite like a few other states appear to have already done.
Muralidhar Rao
[Short opinionated post, moving it off front page. {blr_editor}]
COMMENTS
not surprised, but disappointed
murali772 - 5 July, 2008 - 04:26
I am not surprised, but a bit disappointed, at the responses from the expected quarters.
This has actually been accomplished by a few states whose people, I presume, have no lesser love for their respective languages. So, why are we getting so emotional?
Jalebi is a sweet, a favourite of many, including me. Comparing the Kannada script to jalebi does not denigrate either.
Muralidhar Rao
shobha koppad - 4 July, 2008 - 12:44
Murali,
Any state or country makes policies for it's people and not for the convinience of migrants.
Kannada numerals are part of it's glorious history and are one of the unique aspect of our language.
There is no point in starting something as absurd as this in our praja, where we have far better things to look at.
nijavaada - 5 July, 2008 - 15:55
murali772,
Firstly, things done by other states (who have great love for their language) cannot all be imitated by us for various reasons.
For instance we dont want to be those that expect Madhya Pradeshis to speak to us in Kannada while we are in MP! We dont want to be people who go to the capital of a neighbouring state, and be shocked to find that people living there dont speak our tongue, even when being neighbours! Let our love for Kannada be in the fact that we know how to respect it, use it, benefit from it, make a living out of it - all where it should be.
1. Making number plates of Karnataka vehicles in Kannada certainly creates employment for those that can write Kannada. And this is one good reason for this idea to be upheld.
2. Number plates (including numerals) in Kannada are a lot easier to read for the majority of population in Karnataka.
3. I had a classmate in my school who could start reading Kannada characters/numerals within the first year after he joined us from Orissa!! Goes to show how a good enabling system can help any outsider in our context to quickly adapt to the surroundings. By giving them number plates in English, you're but making it more and more difficult for this outsider to gel into his/her surroundings. Choose your more considerate approach to this outsider!
That apart - Okay, I respect your emotion with Jilebis and I agree for now that you didnt deem that comparison a denigration. Needless, but I can quote several occasions where that comparison has happened with a note of denigration.
But pray, tell me how exactly you pronounce Jaliebi at home? Is it Jalebi or Jilebi? I have a gut-feel its the latter way. But here, in front of an audience, you seem to stick to the former - ever wondered why?
Sounds similar to masale-dose and the masala-dosa comparison, doesnt it?
-Nijavaada
silkboard - 6 July, 2008 - 03:25
Really, just when I think a violent outpouring of emotions would begin, this community gets to civil ways of discussion. Someday - not right now, we have some days to go - we may all look back and feel good about all this.
Having grown up eating jalebis for breakfast and evening snacks every other day, I can say that its both. The cook and waiters always called it jilebi (perhaps this is the authentic pronunciation in local dialect of the region that 'owns' this sweet dish), but we always said jalebi :)
I will have to side with Nijavadaa on this one. Murali sir, if you are talking about number plates of vehicles, english numerals make more sense - understood by most, plus its the law, follow it or get it changed, but don't just be a rebel - (don't start a debate on this, its my personal view). But, a general call saying the kannada numerals should make way for romans in the script itself, this is a bit much. Retaining its script in its originality is a local language's right. Letting other languages co-exist along with it, that is a separate point and debate.
If one can read enough of those kannada numerals - on a count basis - so many times every day - one can soon start reading those numerals much more easily - lack of which is what I perceive your problem is.
That aside, I dont agree to your quite-often-quoted-matter that usage of kannada numerals on number plates is not contributing to language and culture propagation. Today it is number plates, tomorrow there might be some more of your kind saying similar things about education in Kannada, ads in Kannada, newspapers in Kannada and so on.
Kannada numerals are there to be used where you intend to reflect a numerical quantity, in Karnataka or anywhere else where Kannada is the official language.
If you being a Kannadiga are inclined to accept those numerals to be jalebis, or whatever crap, you definitely stand no reason to blog about this topic.
Respect your tongue, and then go beyond it.
-Nijavaada
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