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Google's addition of Konkani in translation applauded

  •   Fri, May 13 2022 08:52:53 AM

Panaji, May 13 (IANS): The lovers of Konkani language have hailed the efforts of Google to add this language to Google Translate. Konkani is widely spoken in Goa, many parts of Karnataka and Maharashtra.

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has congratulated the Google team behind this initiative.

"It is heartening to know that #Konkani language has been added in Google Translate. It's a remarkable feat for our language. This will help in enhancing global outreach for Konkani speaking people as well as global access to Konkani language." Sawant tweeted.

Konkani, Goa's official language is written in Devanagari and Roman scripts.

Mukesh Thali, writer, translator, lexicographer and Google translator for Konkani, said that it was awaited for long and now the dream has come to fruition. "We welcome it. This software facilitates the process of translation and as a translator, I will use it as a support for my creative literary translation work too," Thali said.

The Dalgado Konkani Akademi (DKA) which works for the promotion of Konkani in Roman script, has welcomed the efforts of Google.

"It would be great if this service is also given in Roman script, so those who are not familiar with Devanagari could find it easy in Roman script. However, I am happy that such a step has been taken by Google to give space for Konkani language," noted writer and President of DKA Vincy Quadros told IANS.

Arun Sakhardande, Konkani stalwart and President of Goa Konkani Akademi, also welcomed the initiative of Google team. "There is a need to bring good literature books of other languages into Konkani. This tool of Google will help our translators," Sakhardande said.

Sanjiv Verenkar, noted poet and Sahitya Akademi award winner, said that this new development has given access to Konkani on an international platform. "I am happy to see Konkani is developing and getting space at international level," Verenkar said.

Senior writer and translator Sheela Kolambkar, residing in Mumbai, said that she "feels proud that Google has included Konkani in their list of languages for translation. This move will help translators to a great extent. Konkani is a rapidly evolving language and such an online facility was the need of the hour," she said.

Wilson Kateel, a noted Konkani poet from Mangaluru, said that this initiative will help students and others who want to learn Konkani or translate their work.

 

 

 

 
  

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Comment on this article

  • KS Mayya, Mangalore/Bangalore

    Sat, May 14 2022

    Academically it will be a interesting subject. (a) I am sure over the years, Konkani would have many dialects depending on where it migrated and set itself up. For example Konkani of Mangalore, and Goa may have subtle differences. Can Google engine be able to interpret it accurately. (b) If indeed it can I am sure the data gather thereof should be able to give the change from the baseline depending on how far it is has migrated. (c) The Konkani of our Konkani brethren and that spoken by our Christian friends also is subtly different. I am sure, if some detailed study can be done, few Master's and PhD thesis can evolve out of this fine mix of AI and linguistics.

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • John Tauro, M'lore

    Sat, May 14 2022

    I think Konkani is the only language written in 3 or more different scripts. It's more important to have a unified single script for a better understanding of the language and its dialects; in addition to promotion and development of the language.

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  • Ben D'Souza Prabhu, Mangalore, Bombay Bandra now in Canada

    Fri, May 13 2022

    Some people are having the impression that this " KONKANI " Language is an imported one ! Thanks to their ignorance ? Let them at least know that this is the language developed by your ancestors while they were in the " KONKAN BELT OF OUR COAST " freely used by them those days !!!

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  • Jossey Saldanha, Raheja Waterfront

    Fri, May 13 2022

    Vets are lucky because their patients cannot Google ...

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Mathew, Udupi

    Fri, May 13 2022

    As a Konkani speaker, i must say it is a good start. Better if all scripts could be accommodated in the near future. Also, it is high time Tulu gets this recognition.

    DisAgree Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Gabriel Lewis, Brahmavar

    Fri, May 13 2022

    But what about our Udupi-Mangalore Catholic Konkani ?? !! This is unfair. We want Google to follow our Konkani 💪 Goan Konkani is different from Mangalore Catholic Konkani. & Goan Konkani doesn't have respect towards elders as well. They call both younger n elders as 'Re' & 'Go' 🤭🤭🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

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  • Mohan Prabhu, Mangalore/Ottawa, Canada

    Fri, May 13 2022

    This is wonderful. I have been promoting in a very modest way the learning of Konkani through English in Roman script so that people wishing to learn do not have the need to learn any of the Indian languages in which Konkani is written, as most people around the world know the Roman script which is scripta franca. My book has the basic features such as the rules of pronunciation (of Konkani), rules of Grammar, basic exercises in Konkani with interlined translation and simple one page tales and fables with Konkani translaton, and a basic vocabulary for each of those exercises and fables. In addition, it has a large vocabulary in the Appendix to the book which is geared to the appropriate parts of speech of grammar. The book with about 100 pages Text and 460 pages of Emglish-Konkani, Konkani-English vocabulary is now in PDF form as all the softcover copies I had ordered were given away in the last twelve months. The book is self-published and printed at the University of Ottawa. The editor of the book is Shri Pundalik Prabhu, P.Eng of Kingston, Ottawa, a very close friend of mine. The boot was released 14 months ago (March 2021). I would be happy to make PDF copies of the book available on request, but the email to which the request should be sent is mohanprabhu0117@gmail.com as the outlook email does not accept submissions. Dr. Mohan Prabhu, LL.D, QC, Ottawa

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  • prakash, Manipal

    Fri, May 13 2022

    This is a good news... Devanagari script is used for Marathi and few use in Goa as well for Konkani besides English script... Kannada script is widely used in coastal Karnataka... Something is better than nothing... Soon Google may add our script too...

    DisAgree Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Daniel, Mangalore

    Fri, May 13 2022

    Good, Technology is very good but can be misused as follows... From the begining BigTech is capturing most of user mobile / PC data in the name of better serving the client. Now with AI, BigData, all the details stored centrally and with robotics, BigTech owners (elite) want to control humanity. Further in the name of Covid with hightech nano particle mRNA vaccines injected, Now Dr Yuval Naoh Harari, a self proclaimed gay, who is also an advisor to World Economy Forum President Klaus Schwab openly claims that Now Surveilance Gone Under The Skin, humans are now hackable animals or Transhumans, technology merged with humans and the human freewill is OVER, for total slavery or enslavement of humanity ? His many short videos on them available on youtube.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ram Rahim Robert, manglaore

    Fri, May 13 2022

    what we get script is in devanagari...not in kannada...so those who can understand it is good

    DisAgree [1] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • John Tauro, M'lore

    Sat, May 14 2022

    Of course it is easier for those who have learnt Hindi which is also written in Devanagari script. Hindi is now taught all over India as a second or third language and so it will be easier for them to understand.

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  • j.anata, Mangaluru / Bengaluru

    Fri, May 13 2022

    Congratulations to Konkanis and a big thanks to Google! Keep up the great work!! By the way, Konkani is also spoken widely in Kerala too - From Kasaragod till Allapuzha, Kollam

    DisAgree Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse


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