"Bdngla Bhasar

E-mail"

Sir. I have been following a discussion on "Bangla Bhasar E-mail" on the Internet. Il is a very important issue that involves our access to the international arena and the fruits of modern technological development.

I cannot agree with a discussant's observation that Bangla, as it is derived from Sanskrit. Is "one of the most scientific one in the present world". How? Docs any of these languages contain the largest or any considerable volume of scientific literature of the present - or past? Or does the largest number of modern scientific terms originate from these languages? Or do these languages have any specific advantage over the most popular language like English in. say. computer uses? 1 have very limited idea about anatomy of languages, but I can easily distinguish the practical strengths that the major languages bear In expressing the modern scientific developments. Sanskrit is both infamous and famous as "the language of the elite" for centuries, but It is difficult to substantiate it as the "most scientific" or a step further - the most modern scientific language. The fact that the most famous of the presently available Bangla fonts do not guarantee the consistency in all situations, shows that there are difficulties in creating Bangla fonts to work consistently with other international fonts and symbols, even If it may not be impossible. Currently there are a few tricks in making e-mails in Bangla possible, but they are neither user-friendly, nor popular amongst the majority Bangladeshi computer users -not to speak about the additional costs involved in using them. This is because most of the computer works we do for our livings are based on universal English (Roman) alphabets. Unless someone has acquired the “extra skill" for using Bangla keyboard or fonts, s/he will never feel comfortable in using them, especially alongside his/her usual standard (English) keyboard/fonts.

As a result, most of the time, to an ordinary computer user, composing In Bangla is a sort of luxury (with an additional cost, complexity and time) or at least an involved task. Considering the undisputed popularity of English alphabets and its position as the de facto language of the computer, we cannot expect to develop Bangla as a competi-tlve/vlable script for computer programming, except its use in word processing for (mainly non-techntcal) internal/zonal uses. The most cost-effective, practical and viable solution to this is may be to write Bangla In English (Roman) alphabets. This will enable us to accept a computer as-it-is without need for any Involved/difficult and non-standard modifications. This will have other major advantages too. The common people would not have to learn two sets of scripts (Bangla and English: 39 + 26 alphabets ++ numbers and symbols) to make their knowledge functional at all levels. This will make easier the access of mass Bangla literate people to the universal and International English language literatures. This will make our language readable to foreigners too.

They will not have to learn any new script to learn Bangla worrls/languagc. And foreigners on the road will be able to follow the signboards and the names of places without assistance from locals. These will make our land more accessible, less difficult and more popular to foreign Investors and tourists.

This may sound to many like a bizarre task and. apparently the idea can only come from minds with lack of love and feelings for own mother language and script. But. for certain, many have tried this solution and it works. Many nations have realised that, and have already consciously done that considering these practical advantages. Now they are proud with their success. Amongst them are the economic tigers -Singapore. Malaysia and Indonesia. They have purposely /officially done It quite some time ago. They have officially accepted English script for writing their own languages In place of their own scripts (Jawri. Javanese. Mandarin, etc.). Singapore has totally done away with its own language and script and accepted English for all practical purposes. This has had tremendous effect in all spheres of their socio-economic development of the last decades. We have no way but to follow their footsteps If we really hope to get rid of poverty through easier access to modern technological developments.

A. Monayem Akhand Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia Sir. Opinions seem to be divided on the above subject. I do not see any problem in

reading Bangla In Latin script and I am sure many will agree. There might be some who will find it difficult to read. That should not preclude Bengali written in Latin script. The idea Is not new anyway. We have been reading high quality Bengali poetry on the Internet written in Latin without nv difficulties. y

Mehnaz Alam Sir, I do not agree with idea of making e-mails written in Bengali with English alphabets It will take longer time to type Bengali with English alphabets

Annie Barua

Arkansas. USA