language of slaves or the uncultured

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum subscribers,

[The following is an insightful communication between Maitreya and

Vijayabhaskar. Although, the issues are not directly related with HIV/AIDS, I am

inclined to post this message. There is a need for am in-depth exploration of

issues related of descriptions of AIDS related issues in Indian languages. In

India most of AIDS related policy, literature, information and knowledge is

created in English. Based on my familiarity with few of the Indian languages, I

have noticed a qualitative difference in journalistic writing on AIDS related

issues in English and in some of the Indian languages. Hope the following

message may contribute to the much need informed discourse on the use of

language in AIDS related information and communication in India. Moderator]

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Dear All,

This mail is not related to HIV but I thought it was important to write about it

so we as Indians are aware of what the words of foriegn languages (English

Included) mean. I am referring to the use of " VERNACULAR " in the Maitreyi's

email.

" ...To start with the settings, there was only three small writings in our

vernacular language, malayalam.... "

This mail is not meant to criticize anyone but is intended to create awareness.

I myself have used the work " vernacular " many times thinking that it meant

" regional " .....until recently I learnt that I was wrong.

According to the Websters Dictionary in the web at

http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary

Main Entry: 1ver·nac·u·lar

Pronunciation: v & ®-'na-ky & -l & r

Function: adjective

Etymology: Latin vernaculus native, from verna slave born in the master's house,

native

Date: 1601

1 a : using a language or dialect native to a region or country " rather than

a literary, cultured, or foreign language "

1 b : of, relating to, or being a " nonstandard " language or dialect of a place,

region, or country c : of, relating to, or being the normal spoken form of a

language

2 : applied to a plant or animal in the common native speech as distinguished

from the Latin nomenclature of scientific classification

3 : of, relating to, or characteristic of a period, place, or group; especially

: of, relating to, or being the common building style of a period or place -

ver·nac·u·lar·ly adverb

I think the Indian languages we refer to as vernacular are as rich as any in the

world and it is derogatory to use that word. It is one of the several

disadvantages we face when we try to describe our society in foreign terms and

languages. Sorry if many of you find this post irrelevant here. I could not

help writing about it after I learnt the truth about the word.

Thank You

Vijayabhaskar Reddy Kandula

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Dear Vijayabhaskar,

Thanks for the tip, I will remember it. But most of the usages change its

meaning and emotional flavour after sometime. I was using that word to mean

native, that's all. It is also good to go back in history to unravel the

hidden class, caste, racial, gender, sexuality or even 'mental' character

of words, which we use daily. Words are the basis of mind and that is how

our character and prejudices form even without our knowledge. So to know

the roots, I agree with you, is also revolutionary. Thank you again.

Moreover, AIDS being a stigmatized disease, your letter definitely is

relevant to this forum.

Love

Maitreya

E-mail: <maitreya@...>

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