reax to How Language Shapes Our Thought

[Smruti]

Dear all,

Hope you all have had a chance to read the paper. Praveen reacted very
positively. Thanks.

The paper has elicited many reactions, mostly of awe at the work
itself followed by the familiar sense of "I knew this but here is the
evidence" from hordes of friends and colleagues that I shared it
with.

You may have heard of Kamala Ganesh, head of department (Sociology),
University of Mumbai. She happens to be a good friend, intellectual
springboard and guide to many of us younger people in the city. Here
is her reaction to the paper...

"Thanks Smruti for bringing this fascinating paper to my notice.
One question that arises is how different
langauges came to have these different structures. Partly, could
the difference be a reflection of the
difference in experience of the world by different groups (ie
material experience shaping
simultaneously culture, perception and language )?
Best
Kamala"


Language shapes us more than we can imagine. It is the doorway to
culture, literature, poetry, music, relationships, even pure thought
and ideas.

One of most favourite examples is the Marathi word "maaher" or the
HIndi equivalent "maika". Try as you might, you cannot agree on the
English equivalent -- the literal "mothers' home" falls way too short,
by miles. It does not even begin to communicate the sheer emotional
depth of "maaher" or "maika", it cannot capture the essence of what
such a place means to a married daughter, it completely bypasses the
sense of "having come home" to security, comfort, support, joy,
freedom that's associated with "maaher" or "maika". Mother's house is,
well, mother's house. "Maaher" is so much more.

Another favourite exercise I often do with students is with the word
Secularism. In Oriental and Islamic contexts, it is an alien word. Our
HIndi translation -- "Dharm Nirpekshata" -- does not come close. We
will be hard pressed to find correct or good equivalents in the
Eastern languages. My premise is that the word "Secularism" evolved
entirely out of an European experience, French and other revolutions
that dramatically altered the landscape of those societies, that it is
rooted in the early control of the Church over the State -- two
institutions that govern two aspects of individual's life -- and
therefore insists on separation of the Church and State. In Eastern
cultures, religion is not that easily separable from other aspects of
life. Religious instructions inform and underlay everday life, conduct
and relationships. It is more difficult to understand, appreciate and
then separate religion from other aspects of life, especially public
life. So, we in India, can at best arrive at "dharm nirpekshata" but
not really secularism in the meanings it encompasses.

Keep reading and keep writing
Sm