रोमन लिपि क्यों?

भारत एक बहु भाषी बहु लिपि वाला देश है और इसमें ढेर सारी लिपिया फैली हुईं है। इस सभी भाषाओं के वैकल्पिक लिपि के रूप में रोमन का प्रयोग होना चाहिये. रोमन लिपि में सिर्फ 26 वर्ण है जो अधिक सुगमता से उपयोग किये जा सकते हैं।
भारत के व्यावसायिक जगत में अंग्रेजी व्यापारिक भाषा के रूम में स्वीकार कर ली गयी है। क्या आप बंगाली शेयर धारक को बंगाली में शेयर सार्टीफिकेट भेजेंगे या तमिल ग्राहक को तमिल में ? सभी शेयर पत्र, डिविडेन्ड वारन्ट, बिल आदि अंग्रेजी में होते हैं। यदि आप देवनागरी में लिखे पर हिन्दी में हस्ताक्षर करते है तो आपको एक गवाह से भी हस्ताक्षर कराने पढ़ते ही कि आपको ये सारी बात समझा दी गयी है।
और भी बहुत से तर्क हैं। विस्तार में श्री मधुकर एन गोगोटे का निम्न लिखा लेख पढि़ये

The Chairman's remarks included the following:

... Average man ...
does not bother with subtle phonetic differences. We have given outline
sound-symbol relations. Let every language modify them, if they wish. After all,
we have no enforcing power. We do not recommend use of diacritical marks (bars,
dots above/below letters) since they are not available on all machines, and so
we have adopted colon symbol, to distinguish a few sounds. We prefer small
letters, reserving capital at beginning of a name...

Cinema people should
be persuaded, but generally they consult astrologers for 'lucky' number of
letters in titles, and accordingly they use spellings GITA, GITAA, GEETAA
and so on. A script has no religion. Hindu scriptures are propagated abroad in
English (Roman script). Marathi Christians in Vasai (north of Bombay) use
Devanagari for Bible, and Bangladesh Muslims use Bengali script for their
prayers. Please do not confuse Roman script as a part of Christian religion ...
Please note that the existing scripts are not to be discarded. They are helpful
to transmit knowledge. Roman script would be only an alternative. If this is
made clear, 90% resistance melts down. Roman letter sequence can be altered
bringing lip consonants together, for instance <p, ph, b, bh, m), but we
prefer popular sequence <abcd ... xyz> for phone books, dictionaries,
etc...

Hindi/Marathi use common Devanagari script for differing words,
but we manage. Similarly we have to manage using cement in English,
siment in Hindi and so on...

... Fixing sound-symbol relations is
only 1% of the job, 99% is how to popularize Roman lipi, how to produce writers
and readers for that script. Do not spend time further on sound-symbol
relations. No scheme would satisfy everyone. Scientists have chosen C for
carbon, Ca for calcium. Why not Ca for carbon and C for
calcium? One does not argue about it One accepts standard symbols, closing
debate.

Why Roman Lipi?

1. India is a multi-language, multi-script vast country. Various scripts are
in use for a long time at different levels. They are vehicles of knowledge and
literature. They must be used and studied. But Roman lipi (script) should be
encouraged as an optional script. Roman lipi consists of 26 letter <abcd ...
xyz>. It would benefit us in a number of ways.

2. Main industries in
India have accepted English as business language. "Send this share certificate
in Bengali script to a Bengali investor. Send this scooter with Tamil label to a
Tamil customer" - such problems are not wanted by industries. So all
correspondence, invoices, share certificates, dividend warrants, engineering
drawings, legal contracts, audited accounts etc are in English. Most office
equipments such as typewriters, teleprinters, computers serve English language
and print Roman script. Industrial goods such as soaps, toothpastes, radio sets,
fans, even village bricks display Roman alphabets. People are familiar with
them.

3. Only 3% Indians know English, but since the literacy level is
36%, it means that 8% literates know English. They are spread throughout the
country. Their number is fast growing, as English is taught as a second language
in all high schools. English newspapers account for 20% total newspaper
circulation. Professional bodies of doctors, engineers etc insist on English
medium for higher education, to keep abreast with latest knowledge and to
exchange views at seminars.

4. Though we use English our hearts are with
mothertongues. We can understand and express thoughts much better in our
languages than in English. For an average Indian, it is difficult to acquire
mastery in English. Our mothertongues should prosper, so that knowledge is
transmitted to all strata of society. Newspapers and books are printed in our
scripts, but as regards office equipment, people look to economy. It costs
money, afterall, to buy and maintain 2 typewriters for 2 scripts or a
multi-script expensive electronic machine. General trend is to buy machines only
for English, and use a mere pen to write our languages. This lowers prestige of
our languages. Today it is electronic machines, tomorrow it may be some other
machines. If we accept Roman lipi, our languages will be immediately linked to
the world's latest machines.

5. All English printing machines in India
are made by our efforts. Foreigners are not imposing Roman script on us. So we
should not mind using these machines for development of our languages. Roman
script can be adjusted to indicate various vowels and consonants.

6. Each
script has separate numeral symbols. But we have accepted global numerals
0123456789 for phone dials, calculators etc. All of us have benefitted thereby.
Tamil and Malayalam languages have accepted global numerals for all books and
newspapers. Devanagari numeral one looks like global numeral nine,
causing confusion. So Marathi textbooks and science magazines have accepted
global numerals.

7. Indian scripts are multi-tier with symbols attached
to each other at different levels. Word murti ('idol') is written in
Devanagari equivalent to muitr,with <u> below <in> and
<r> above <t>.

8. Love for our scripts is understandable.
But an overloyalty is dangerous to unity and progress. Demands are being whipped
up (and already partly fulfilled) to print phone books and vehicle number plates
in local scripts. When this change is completed, the police would be unable to
identify vehicles coming from other states. Obviously, crime will thrive. A
doctor cannot be called if a phone book is unreadable. Recognition to Roman
lipi will curb this harmful fragmentation. In cities some signboards are in
English and local language. But mostly everywhere they are in local script
baffling unfamiliar visitors. It is desirable to replaint them in local
language, both in current script and Roman lipi. Today Hindi-Tamil,
Marathi-Kannada etc dictionaries are very difficult to make or use. A Marathi
person does not know symbols or their dictionary sequence in Kannada script, and
vice versa. They do not read each other's literature, though hundreds of words
are common. They do not come closer by minds, though they are geographical
neighbours. Hindi is a fine language, but it could not be cultivated as our
national language. Watching a Hindi film is good entertainment but using Hindi
as official language is a serious business. It requires extensive machine
support, dictionary support at all levels. Until Hindi takes Roman lipi, its
literature writers may be only Varma and Sharma, but no Barua, Banerjee, Reddy,
Aiyar or Patel. Roman alphabets, by themselves, are mere diagrams. But their
acceptance would signify the birth of machine-consciousness and mutual
considerateness, vitally necessary for progress.

Popularization.

9. During last 2 years, RLP had concentrated on Marathi language, and
arranged several talks, articles in newspapers, discussions at annual literary
conference, and so on. Bombay Doordarshan took note of our campaign, and invited
RLP for a half hour program. It was telecast on Maharashtra-Goa network in April
1988. Several editors, authors, scientists, thinkers, even common people favour
Roman lipi. Of course there is opposition too, but that is natural in a
democracy. In 19th century, Marathi switched over from Modi script to
Devanagari. Bombay-Pune is a highly industrialized belt and that changes
people's outlook towards script. People read stock-exchange quotations in
a-b-c-d sequence. People see English keyboards everywhere. These factors have
helped in advancing Roman lipi among Marathi people. Role of RLP is to stimulate
and coordinate efforts. Later on media, universities etc. would popularize Roman
lipi. Government would take interest when public opinion is
aroused.

Simplified Marathi.

10. RLP intends to publish a Marathi-English guide book of about 500 words,
typical 100 sentences, and basic grammar rules. As a prelude to that book, we
here present 5 Marathi sentences, about 25 Marathi words with English
translations. Roman lipi is quite capable of writing according to standard
grammar (Set A). In fact it may improve on present orthography. Madhe,
garam are written unphonetically in Devanagari, equivalent to madhye,
garama.

11. Several non-Marathi persons in Bombay desire a practical,
quick-to-learn guidebook for Marathi, relaxing some rules of grammar. They do
not seek high proficiency. A few mistakes here and there, but they would like to
talk to Marathi people and understand their TV programs. They have no time to go
to classes. They are repelled by complex grammar. To build bridges of
goodwill and communication between various language speakers, some grammar
simplification seems desirable. It is true that every language has evolved a
grammar after years of usage and research. It should be followed for
standardization. But for a beginner, an unknown language should be made
attractive and easy. If he develops keen interest he will lateron learn standard
grammar, current script and so on. On a trial basis, we present Set B with
simplified grammar. Therein we have omitted the colon symbol. Postpositions are
separated from main words. Hyphen (dash) is introduced before endings. This is
meant for dictionary convenience. Actually there is no pause at the hyphen. Set
C is word-to-word translation of Set B. Proper translation is given in Set
D.

12. Marathi grammar contains gender, inflections etc. Verb aahe
can be used with I, he, she. On same logic, jaail, jaain verb
variety is reduced to jaail. Adjective laal ('red') is invariable.
On same line, hirvaa, hirvi, hirve, hirvyaa (a variable adjective
according to gender, number, case) are reduced to a common form hirve
('green'). Nouns desh ('country'), bhaashaa ('language') have
common form in singular and plural. Similarly, pustak ('book') need not
have a separate plural form pustake. Marathi counting 1 to 100 should be
simplified like English cyclic counting. There are many other endings, as in
jaa-taanaa ('while going'), which have not appeared in these examples.
There are few special words, such as gele ('went') which need not be
replaced by an artificial word jaa-le. It will be seen that the grammar
simplification is marginal and not drastic. With the aid of dictionary, one can
quickly learn a simplified language. Of course, idioms cannot be literally
translated.

13. We request non-Marathi readers to comment whether they
found the translation process easy enough. Please give Set A, Set B, Set C
sentences in your language, in Roman lipi, to give end translation as in Set D.
Underline words in your language. Give dictionary of' relevant words. Explain
areas of grammar simplification, Let us compare notes. Explain special symbols
if required.

Sound-symbol Relations.

14. Sound-symbol relations for Roman lipi can be best explained to people
with their script symbols. Here they are based on English words. Symbols are so
chosen that the English printing machines can be immediately used, without any
change, for our languages. The script has be-en made reasonably phonetic. But
minor sound variations are ignored. Afterall, current scripts too are not
perfectly phonetic. The script should be compact and easy for writing, reading
and printing. A colon symbol is used to distinguish shades of sound.

15.
Vowels are as follows: <a> (u in up), <aa> (a
in army), <ae> (a in apple), <aw> (aw in
law), <e> (egg), <i> (it), o (open),
<u> (u in put). Note that <ai, au> are read as
<a> followed by <i, u>, and not as in English words main,
author. Long vowels are <e:> (ay in may), <i:>
(ce in meet), <o:> (oa in road), <u:>
(oo in cool).

16. Consonants are as follows: <b>
(boy), <ch> (church), <d> (th in they),
<g> (girl), <h> (he), <j> (jam),
<k> (king), <l> (lamp), <m> (man),
<n> (no), <p> (pin), <r> (run), <s>
(sit), <sh> (she), <t> (soft t, not in
English), <v> (w in woman), <y> (yes),
<z> (zebra). Note that <ch, sh> contain non-phonetic
<h>. But <h> is phonetically added in <bh, chh, dh, gh> etc.
English uses sounds of <jh> (s in measure), <ph>
(ph in phone), <th> (thin), <vh> (v in
victory). For hard sounds add colon: <d:> (d in dog),
<1:> (hard l), <n:> (hard n), <t:> (t in
toy).

17. Minor variations may be made to suit particular
languages. Thus Hindi, Gujarati require vowel nasalizer <m:> as in Hindi
kyum: ('why'). Marathi does not need <e:, i:, o:, u:>. Tamil,
Malayalam use peculiar sound <zh>. Urdu uses <f, q> and so
on.

18. Names will be respelled as gaandhi, jawn in place of
Gandhi, John. If this is not possible due to reasons of documents, retain
old spelling, with first letter capital. Note that Marathi words van
('forest'), sun ('daughter in law') are read like English words won,
soon.

SET A (Marathi).
mumbaipaasun dillilaa i vimaanaane
jaain. pinjryaamadhe ek hirvaa popat: aahe. kaal khup paaus pad:laa.
chauryaahattar nambarchaa peshant:laa dawkt:ar aushaddh detaat. tyaalaa garam
kawphi aavad:te.

SET B (Simplified Grammar).
mumbai paasun
dilli-laa mi vimaan-ne jaa-il. pinjraa madhe ek hirve popat aahe. kaal khup
paaus pad-le. sattar chaar nambar-che peshant-laa dawktar aushadh de-to. te-laa
garam kawphi aavad-to.

SET C (Word-to-word translation of Set
B).
Bombay-from to-Delhi I by-plane will-go. Cage-within one green parrot
is. Yesterday much rain fell. Seventy four number's to-patient doctor medicine
gives. To-that hot coffee likes.

SET D (Normal English).
I
shall fly from Bombay to Delhi. There is a green parrot in cage. It rained
heavily yesterday. Doctor gives medicine to patient number seventy-four. He
likes hot coffee.

WORD DICTIONARY
aahe is aavad
'like' (verb), 'liking' (noun). aushadh 'medicine'. chaar 'four'.
dawktar 'doctor'. de 'give'. dilli 'Delhi'. ek
'one'. garam 'hot'. hirve 'green'. jaa 'go'. kaal
'time, yesterday'. kawphi 'coffee'. khup 'much'. twdhe
'within'. mi '1'. mumbai 'Bombay'. nambar 'number'.
paasun 'from'. paaus 'rain'. pad 'fall'. peshant
'patient'. pinjraa 'cage'. popat 'parrot'. sattar
'seventy'. te 'that, he, she'. vitwan 'aeroplane'.


ENDINGS DICTIONARY
-che (after noun): possessive sense.
-il (after verb): future tense. -laa (after noun): 'to'.
-le (after verb): past tense. -ne (after noun): 'by'. -to
(after verb): present tense.

BASIC GRAMMAR
a) Verb is placed at
end of sentence. b) Marathi uses postpositions and not prepositions. Thus
mumbai paasun 'from Bombay'. c) Nouns have same form in singular,
plural.