On Change of Script for Sindhi Language

A BRIEF NOTE:
Before we speak of change of Script for the Sindhi language in view of the technological advance in the recent times, it would be necessary to think about the nature of the present script. Before the present Persio -Arabic script was adopted there were more than 13 scripts prevalent for writing Sindhi It was at the time when language was committed to writing in a manuscript form and literacy was a personal privilege and printing technology and mass education had not come into vogue. At that time the nature of writing was phonetic, one would write as one would pronounce. As the pronunciations of various words differed from region to region or rather from person to person the old Manuscripts have come to us with the same words spelled differently by various copiers of the texts. In the age when the printing technology and mass education was introduced the need arose for the standardization of the script. In 1854 the committee appointed by East India Company taking into consideration the various languages as a source for Sindhi vocabulary introduced the script with 52 letters so as not to lose philological source of the words and ensure correct pronunciation. In this way Sindhi script like English script changed from phonetic to ideographic script  making it standard writing irrespective of the way any word is pronounced at various places and people. The written word conveys the same connotation and denotation in whichever way it may be pronounced.

It may be noted that an eminent English writer Bernard Shaw left a considerable amount in his will to simplify the present English Language script but the will has not been implemented for reason of tradition and it would render it phonetic thereby rendering the literature already published in English language obsolete.

On change of script for any language it would be pertinent to quote a profound observation of Jawharlal  Nehru:

“A change in script is very vital change for any Language with a rich past, for script is the intimate part of literature. Change the script and a different word and picture arise, different sounds and different ideas- an almost insurmountable barrier is put between the old literature and the new and it becomes foreign language that is dead.”

At the time the present script was devised it was estimated by the said committee that Sindhi language had 12000 words of Sanskrit origin, 3500 indigenous, 2500 Arabic and 2000 of Persian origin apart from various tribes like Greeks, Scythians and host of other tribes that invaded or migrated to Sind from time to time.

To represent every sound an alphabet of 52 letters (36 Consonants and 16 Vowels) was devised that continues till this day.

Unfortunately in Indian context the misguided efforts of political leaders to change script of Sindhi Language to Devnagri script has proved to be disastrous as it was introduced without being standardized and no plan for transliteration of the exiting literature. (Efforts by Government sponsored organizations and of some zealots of this move have been woefully inadequate) with the result the new generation has grown with scant knowledge of the rich literary heritage. This division has led to loss of almost two generations of Indian Sindhi speaking people from their mother tongue.

Now due to technological advance and vast Sindhi Diaspora there have emerged voices for Roman based script for Sindhi Language. In this respect if any additional script (May it be Roman Based) may not be dismissed but before sucha venture is attempted the following prerequisites are UTMOST necessary.

• A Committee consisting of experts in the field of language and phonology be formed to devise the script of 52 letters representing the present script.
• The script may be mandated by an authority for enforcement in Uniform manner. It would be necessary to publish a dictionary of Sindhi words as representative spelling so that it does not degenerate into phonetic mode leading to chaos.
• A time bound phased plan of transliteration of existing Sindhi Literature be drawn up.
• It should be ensured that the development of the transliteration soft ware is made.
• The present software in case of Translation is in infancy and often the translations are often atrocious or hilarious. Such a situation has to be avoided.
• All this calls for huge resources and a mandate that could be done only by a state.
• In this field the experience gained by other countries like China- Japan in their quest for Romanization of script may prove to be useful.