Re: Bengali Script

From: Javier Sola (lists@khmeros.info)
Date: Fri Jul 09 2010 - 02:53:40 CDT

  • Next message: John Dlugosz: "RE: Bengali Script"

    I have been doing localization of software to Bangla for several years.
    I work with the Bangla Academy (note the work Bangla in the English name
    of the academy), the Ministry of information Teachnology, the Office of
    the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Education. Among other things we
    are working on the standardization of computer language in Bangla.

    I only speak English with them... and they will never say Bengalí,
    always refer to their language as Bangla (in English), and insist that
    that is the name in English.

    The process of moving names back to the original from the colonial
    English is not new to South Asia. In India for example, nowadays in
    English, you still have to say Mumbai or Chennai, in spite of the old
    English names of Bombay or Madras. These are official English language
    used in those countries.

    Standards are standards, and should not change, so it will probably
    remain as bengalí in 369.

    Local language names do not have to agree with the English names. Khmer
    in Cambodia would sound Khmae when speaking Khmer. What is the main
    language of Myanmar in English, Burmese or Myanmar?... officially
    Myanmar, but still burmese in the standard. Which one is correct?

    Which leads to one more complex question? What is English? Is it what
    you speak in England? or is it the version of English spoken of each
    country? Can each country determine the English names of its language,
    country and places?

    Javier

    William J Poser wrote:
    > Actually, Bengali is called "Bangla" in Bengali but "Bengali" has been and
    > still is the usual English name, both in common usage and in sources
    > such as the Ethnolog. There is no disrespect in the English
    > name for a language or country not being the same as that used in that
    > language or country, as one can see from the fact that the English name
    > is almost always different from the self-designation. This is true of every
    > other language with which I am familiar, which of course is to be expected
    > since different languages have different sound systems. If you know
    > Bengali, you will know that "English" is not called "English" in Bengali.
    >
    > Bill
    >
    >
    >
    >

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