Respected Dehaiers:
I see some unhappy references being made to my statement in
which I said '...on the other hand, I see Arabic, a more developed
and more widely spoken language, as potentially domineering and
even a potential threat to Tigrigna itself. Tigrigna is not a
developed language. It doesn't go too far beyond the conversational
level.....' etc.
First of all, to those who may have taken this statement out of
context and saw it as something derogatory and demeaning, I say, I
am sorry, it wasn't meant to sound like that. In retrospect, I say perhaps,
I should have coined my words more carefully. An apology is in order.
However, indefense of myself, I wasn't trying to be judgemental or
saying it in contempt of my own language. I was simply trying to draw a
comparative parallel between Arabic which is a language of semi-international
status, & Tigrigna, one of a proud people but at the same time of people
verymuch confined in space and number.
My friends, you can correct me if I am wrong, but Tigrigna, a
product of Ge'eez, is a language that has survived on its own. Yes,
proud it is, survive it did, but develop it didn't. For the most part of
its history, Tigrigna was always under one ruler after the other, each
with his own language & culture. It was never given the light of day
to grow and flourish on its own. With the exeption of some of the customary
laws, which are believed to have been written several hundred years ago, I
doubt if the written history of Tigrigna literature per se goes beyond one
n
hundred years. But, being a product of Ge'eez, there is no doubt that,
Tigrigna has an immense potential to flourish, grow and reach the stars. It
needs time & a lot of effort. Naked stubbornnes & good wishes are not enough.
Again it is my opinion, but if Tigrigna and Teegre for that matter
are to be elevated to languages of the Sciences and Academics, the
establishment of a 'Ge'eez Academy' within the University system will be
very crucial. Ge'eez is the only source where Tigrigna and Teegre can go
& have all the nourshment they need. This is what I meant when I said Tigrigna
has to go back to Ge'eez to recreate itself. That is what all Roman languages
do..they go back to Latin and get themselves nourished.
When it comes to language and script, with the exception of Arab Africans,
almost all other Africans are not as proud and as lucky as we are. They have
mother-tongues, but they may not have mother-languages. We have both. To some
of us Tigrigna is a mother-tongue, and to some of us Teegre is, but Ge'eez
remains a mother-language. I see a distinction between a mother language &
a mother-tongue. Don't you?
Tesfai Kflu
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