The New Nation - Internet Edition

Some oddities in the English language!

Munir Muztaba Ali

An high court ruling stayed all proceedings of the trial court today of the extortion case against Hasina by businessman Azam J. Choudhury until an earlier ruling regarding the legality of placing the case under emergency power rules is heard. ' No sir, I am neither euphoric nor downhearted about the news. The ruling is probably going to be overturned by the nation's highest court anyway, as the trend of our courts does not suggest otherwise, but what I am confused about the news is the language in which the news has been entertained. Since language is the tool of my trade, I could not help noticing the use of the article 'an' before the 'h' word 'high' and wondered why the English language was made unnecessarily so confusing.

Why do we have to have two articles of the same meaning? Why two, or sometimes three or more, of anything meaning the same? Like he or she, do or does, am, is, or are, etc. I do not think the Mahabharata would be desecrated and the English language would be spoiled if I said, following the pattern above, "I put on an hat and ventured into an hot weather to go look for an house and saw an helicopter while listening to an heartfelt song tuned on an harmonica and ate an hamburger."

The main business of a language is to communicate, and if the previous sentence is capable of communicating what exactly I intended to convey, then what's the heck? But as a language expert, you would probably say that you understand me alright, but my English does not conform to the standard practice. I understand I often fail to conform to the so called Standard English, but that's because the Standard English is fraught with confusion for the infusion of too many unnecessary stuff in it. As I said before, the use of those double words meaning the same is unnecessary, and recalling their proper use put extra strains on my brain. Take the use of 'he' and 'she' (and their objective and possessive versions of him/her and his/her) for an example.

While growing up a few decades ago, I remember using only 'he' for an indefinite person, but it is no longer proper because such a usage now-a-days is accused of being gender biased. So we have to say things like "the student should complete and turn in his or her assignment himself or herself, and he or she should not let any body else turn it in for him or her" how odd they may sound. Such odd sounding awkward formula of 'he' or 'she' is stuck with us because we refuse to accept suggestions of a simple singular pronoun denoting or specifying no gender. Instead of accepting such an easy and logical solution to this conundrum, we, the laymen and scholars alike, have chosen simply to substitute the awkward 'he' or 'she' by 'they', especially after words such as 'anyone' and 'no one', which may imply a reference to more than one, but the words are absolutely singular nonetheless. If such a substitution is universally accepted, I do not see any problems.

The language users will get used to it any way. Some famous writers have accepted it and used it frequently with relative ease in their works. "To be sure, you know no actual good of me-but no body thinks of that when they fall in love", wrote Jane Austen in Pride and Prejudice; "Every one to rest themselves betake", Shakespeare wrote in Lucrece; and Thackeray wrote in Vanity Fair, "A person can't help their birth". I see, again, a remarkable following of this pattern among the Bangladeshi news writers. A recent news item read as follows: Deputy Inspector General of Prisons, Maj. Shamsul Haider Siddiqui, told the Daily Star that there would be no regular briefing on Hasina's health conditions as "it is not right to brief everyday on the health of a person when they are detained." The problem with such a usage, however, is that the rule following pedants would say that it is not grammatically correct, and they would insist that it must be replaced by that proverbial formula of 'he' or 'she'.

So the logical solution to this problem would be to come up with a single word for singular pronoun specifying no gender. I would like to suggest the words 'fhe' 'fhim', and 'fhis' for 'he' or 'she', 'him' or 'her', and 'his' or 'her' respectively. Are you laughing, my dear? But if we do not have any problems with gender-neutral 'they' 'them' and 'their' for plural, why should we have any problems with one word for singular? After all, many languages of the world are functioning just fine with gender-neutral pronouns. I come from one, my beloved Bangla, and I am so used to using a single, gender-neutral pronoun in Bangla that when I speak English I often find the correct use of 'he' or 'she' to be an onerous task. So many times have I subjected myself to be embarrassed by referring to a man as 'she' and a woman as 'he'. I am sure 'fhe', 'fhim', and 'fhis' will permanently palliate the pain that I often suffer from such embarrassing situations. I know you are wondering why I have added an 'f' to the gender-biased pronouns of 'he', 'him', and 'his'. Well, probably you have guessed it. In an era of feminist awakening, if my suggestions of a single singular pronoun have any chances of catching the imagination of others and ensuring their approval, then the addendum of that 'f' is wise, practical, and shrewd indeed.

As a university professor here in the United States, one of the four major English speaking countries, I always come across students who are so confused regarding the usage of words such as do or does, was or were. Expressions such as "he do" and "we was" are not infrequent here among not only the students but also their teachers and caregivers as well. I, for one, not too long ago, wrote to a Bangladeshi bureaucrat friend who had earlier emailed me from an African country that he was visiting at the time, "When you goes back home, convey my salam to bhabi". He didn't forgive and forget to point out what I had done; a reply came within the shortest possible time, and sure enough, the letter started with a pointed question: Is "when you goes back home" a new American style, my dear professor? I blushed in embarrassment.

Not that I didn't know the difference between 'go' and 'goes', but my friend chose to shame me for the slip. I felt the pinch of pain, and to minimize the shame, I took the help of humor and wrote him back, "Well, if you doesn't want to convey my salam to bhabi when you goes back home, then do it when you comes back home. Oh, I get it now; it's about you being used as a third person, isn't it? You doesn't want to be a third person, I see! You think second person is better than the third person, huh, but here in America we doesn't discriminate; we treat every person equally. If the third person deserves an extra s, then why not second person, or first person for that matter. I see some bureaucratic hubris in you, my dear friend, but see, our politicians don't mind to be in the third person category. Remember Latif Gazi, an MNA from Jessore or Khulna in the Pakistan era? He once said in the parliament, "This are parliamentary house, this are not your own house, I is the Latif Gazi, and I does not care the Sabur Khan". Ah, Latif Gazi, see how he humbled himself with his acceptance of the third person status"! With my self-servicing humor shoved aside, I have no rancor to admit that my original sentence to my friend had a serious grammatical flaw, but my defense is that such a flaw wouldn't have crept into my writing hadn't we have the unnecessary rule of the double use of verbs as they relate to their subjects in the fancy name of subject-verb agreement. If your subject is a third person singular, you must add an 's' or 'es'. I don't understand what would be amiss without this rule. What would be so wrong with all 'do' and no 'does'? Nothing, absolutely nothing! We would get used to writing "I do", "you do", and "he do". May be some day someone will change the rule, and every one else will be alright with either 'do' or 'does'. After all, changing rule in a language is nothing new. It occurs all the time, and that brings me back to the use of the article 'an' for the H-words.

Originally, there was no rule of the use of the article 'an' preceding an H-word since H is neither a vowel nor does it sound like a vowel. Then a few French words, such as hour, honor, honest, and herb, crept into the English language, but their French pronunciations lacked the 'H' sound. Hence, the usage of 'an' to those few words of French origin became a rule. Then a few centuries ago, a fool started using the article 'an' to the word 'historic' arguing that the 'h' sound of 'historic' was not accented, and the language users seemed to agree.

Unfortunately, no such agreement has yet emerged regarding the use of 'an' to the word 'high' as in 'high court', but who knows such an agreement isn't in the offing. In language, as in politics, or in judiciary for that matter, anything is possible. May be some day our judges on the High Court and the Supreme Court will agree on something, and you will accept my favorite spelling of the word "fish", which I spell as "ghoti". Are you laughing too, again, as do my students? Doesn't it sound like fish? My students opine it doesn't remotely sound like fish. Do you have the same opinion? How come? Doesn't 'gh' of your laugh sound like an 'f', 'o' of your 'women' sound like an 'i', and 'ti' of your 'nation' sound like a 'sh'? Then how come GHOTI cannot be read as fish? Think about it!

(Dr. Munir Muztaba Ali teaches English at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.)

Kazi Nazrul Islam : A great poet

Khorshed-Alam Patwary

The first writer who discovered the mind of a modern Bengali Muslim was Kazi Nazrul Islam (1899-1976). Though he was born in West Bengal (India) and married a Hindu woman, Nazrul easily rose to become the mouthpiece of the Bengali Muslims at the turn of the twentieth century, later, after Bangladesh became independent, he was a honoured as national poet). Nazrul was deeply secular and committed to socialist ideals. Yet his emergence as the prominent Muslim poet was because of largely two factors; first, neither the Muslims or Hindu could ignore his poetic genius; and, Nazrul fashioned a new, modern language and literature for Bengali Muslims, rescuing them from the medieval religion centric literature that continued to prevail in the Bengali Muslim circuit. He gave the Bengali Muslims a cause for pride, a new sense of identity. Nazrul was also the voice of a rebellious Bengal. No Bengali writer before him, Muslim or Hindu, had so forcefully articulated the desire for freedom and called for resistance against British colonialism.

Bengali fondly endowed him with the honorific title Vidrohi. His writings politically progressive, secular, was imbued with Islamic values. His books Agnibina (The fiery Lute, 1922) and, Biser Bansi (The poisonous flute 1924) breathed the same sprit of revolt.

As a poor village boy and an orphan, he was not able to acquire higher formal education. The originality of his poetry was accounted for, to a large extent, by his self-made attitude. And finally, his spontaneous verse reflected, in an amazingly sincere way, the revolutionary moods of Indian youth after the first great war.

Nazrul Islam was a man full of energy and restlessness. In 1917 he enlisted in the army and joined the 49th Bengali regiment service in Karachi. It was during his military service that his first poetic as well as prosaic attempts appeared in Calcutta journals, attracting considerable attention. In 1920 he returned to Calcutta to devote all his time to literature, not only as a poet but also as editor of literary magazines, especially The Dhumketu (comet, 1922).

Nazrul wrote copiously and his more then 50 publication to his credit in a literary career that spend only 23 years, as he was struck with cerebral paralysis in 1942 and spent the last 34 or so years of his life in total inactivity.

Some of his writings were proscribed by the British and even yielded him a year-long imprisonment. This, of course, only strengthened his popularity among the contemporary Bengali youth who adored his revolutionary poetry. Much of his poetry were songs of which he wrote about 3,300 setting them himself to music in a new and very effective style.

It was not, however only political issues which excited and inspired the poet. His verse has a social undertone, often protesting against economic discrimination and exploitation of the poor, with a more instinctive than rationalistic or even philosophical opposition to the wrongs of the contemporary society.

Its exalted diction makes it very difficult to render them adequately into European languages.

My sweet Bangladesh

Irene Bhuiyan

When I was only 8 yrs old went to visit Bangladesh. I would like to share my experiences with others.

I was in the plane which was taking me and family to our homeland. My dad pointed towards the window and then I saw the lush green trees and land, the sky was clear blue. As the plane wheel began to touch the ground my heart started to pump. Thud I At last we all had arrived, oh such thrill and it seem that the excitement was buzzing. Everyone got up as quick as they could and started grafting the bags. Everyone pushed along, some even shoved through the line! My heart still hadn't stopped pumping. I just couldn't wait to see all my cousins, uncles, aunties, grandma and grandpa. My suitcase trolled along beside me. We all stepped out of the airport and there they were, my relatives, they had come to collect us. As I walked over to them I realized mosquitoes on my hand. They were everywhere! I really hate them. We sat in the minibus with all our relatives. I showed my new watch to my cousin brothers Mithun and Tushar bai as I set it to the correct time. We were in the busy Dhaka roads. There was so much traffic, mostly because of the rickshaws. Rickshaw is the type of tricycle transport, it has three wheels and two cosy seats at the back with a pull out roof (for sun shed and protect from rain) the rickshaw puller sits at the front and cycles the rickshaw. But I really enjoyed travelling rickshaw because you can have some fresh air and watch the scenery goes by.

I went to Bangladesh on the occasion of Eid - ul azha. I had always celebrated Eid but their is such a difference between the way we do it over in Bangladesh and the way we do it in Belfast. The sun rose up and so did 1. I just couldn't wait till I wore my dress. This was the most thrilling part of Eid to me. It was a nice dress given by my parents. I had got. nine dresses altogether from my uncles, aunties, grandma and grandpa. So every two ours I changed my dresses. My mum did my hair with a diamond barrette clip. As I rushed outside I saw my little cousin sister Moon and Mouri wearing the violet gowns that I had given as a present. I looked at them both and they seemed so cute. In the morning all the male people go to Eid gah (Eid prayer's field) for the Eid prayers. When they had returned, all the children including me gave salam (take blessings) to their parents and elders and the children receive money in return.

It's call Salami. I noticed all children were very happy to receive that. My grandma cooked lots of deliciou dishes like, polau, corma, and special mouth watering sweet dishes like kheer, pudding, shemai, etc. I spent that day to visit our relatives' house with my cousins in the village and shared Eid bliss to each other. The most son-awful part to me was when people slaughtered the animals (call Qurbani). I felt very sympathetic for the animals but later on I understood that as a Muslim, we have to do it for religious purpose.

However, the memories of Eid will always remain to me special. Whenever I visit to Bangladesh I always miss two people a lot, they are my Boro Amma and my Granny (I called her Diamond). They had passed away of us but they will always remain in my heart. May Allah be peace upon them.

I have just come to the end of my story and this is the most painful moment to me. When I had to leave my relatives especially my Grandma. As I sat on the minibus, my grandma was holding my hands and her eyes were filled with tears. As minibus was leaving, my hands were being separated from my grandma's and my heart was filled with sorrow.

Book Review

Pushpanjoli (A book of poems in Bengali) by Fyyaz Husyn. Published by Riyeze Uddin Chapole, Vorer Shishir, Nurjahan Road, Dhaka, Boimela 8th Falgun, 1414 ( 21 February 2008). Cover, Moniruzzaman, DD I/16, : Page 116 Price : Tk 180.00 $ 5 & £ 3.

'Pushpanjoli' means offering a handful of flowers. Devotion leads to this offering. Thus the name of the poetry 'Pushpanjoli' signifies that the poems are dedicated on devotion.

The first chapter is on the Supreme Being, the Creator of the Universe. The second is on the great Prophet (SM). Then the great festivals which include Victory Day, Birthday of Hazrat Muhammad (SM), Shab-e-Quadar, Martyrs' Day, Haz, Shab-e-Meraz, Ashura, Shab-e-Barat and Ramzan.

The chapter 'Desh -kal' includes Joy Bangla, Victory Day, Independence, Suppressed people, Fortunate Bangladesh and Poet's questions.

The chapter 'Probhat Chhata' includes Fundamentalism, Quranul Karim, Marriage tie, Universal peace : Islamic faith, White people, Azan, Youth, Life, Great hero Haridar Ali, Mother Fatema, Monishikuler Shiromoni, Dhaka: my city and Mother.

The chapter 'Sudhanirjhar' contains a series of poems dedicated in search of truth.

The last chapter 'Magon-Jachon' has two poems closing with an urge to cross over all darkness to reach light and regain the heritage of respectable position.

The poems reflect the impulse and passion of the poet. He has patriotic and humanistic outlook. His deep sympathy towards the suffering people is worth appreciation. The poems mostly represent his search for truth. In some cases, the poet seems to be lacking in conveying the message and spirit, he intends to, because of coining of terms, not in the original Islamic form. For example, the word 'Allah' is unique. No alternative word can express the same spirit of the Supreme Being, which it connotes.

The book has been dedicated to the suppressed people of Bangladesh.

The printing and binding of the book is good. The cover design with a handful of flowers focuses on the name of the book 'Pushpanjoli.'

We wish the poet success in his literary career.

--Abdul Muqit Chowdhury

Poem

Human descendant

Syed Lutful Haque

Six crore years ago Were you a human

Or being one of the animals

Lived years thousands and crores

Been one of the monkeys?

Like tiger-lion or wolf

No cruelty you have

Yet hunted with ease

Intelligent than animals you are

Beast-king lion bows you.

Animals have no mask

Defeated by you frequently

You are multi-face like octopus

Kept yourself coloured

Unparallel you the actor.

You are incarnation, vampire

You are father, you mother

You are grabber, you saviour

You are great in kindness and humanity

Human descendant in beings you are.

Translation: Main Uddin Ahmed

Longings

Ferdousi Mahmood

At last you came

Bathed under brilliance of saintly seven stars

Across all barriers of magnanimity

Because of my strong will and determination

Got shelter on shore with soiled body

What was the logic to get involved in mudslinging so fiercely

At last you came

To my sea beach cottage

Why do you fear the down pour

Friendship with shark grows in water only

When tide hits you look at the sky for rain

When it ebbs you sit on dry land

Though I live in shoal

Do you know your weeping makes other cry

And your laughing other weep as well, this I know

Learn to live through experiences

There is no fear

If logic is freed

But pain increases

Translation: Zainul Abedin

It takes a life

Rieta Rahman

One lives through the life

Life yet remains obscure

Learning and unlearning together

Entice one to hope, and

Aspire still the never clear

Loving and unloving stays (so)

In life caring and uncaring

Both come and go

Distress and stresses along

Heed not; alienate and also

Remotes one from

Living and the unliving again,

The spirit yet contains

a sense enbolden spirituality

Marely lingering functionaries

Enliven emcombatent to

Love pursue and encompass

That who rejunivates

A means to aquire

Importance

That yet testifies a secret

Takes a life.

Share market

Mozid Mahmud

The poet has gone to the share market

But I like the tamed dog of Nilkantha

Habitually look for you along the river side

An otter a kingfisher and I a man

Begotten in the moon

Would you buy one? Very profitable!

Ten of Tagore's song

Agnibina Private Limited

Das Dutt and one of two of

Bose Company may be available

Holding these papers in my chest pocket with fingers tight

I have been running in the sun

The sun divides into seven distinct colours

Blue orange yellow and at last

Utter hallucination

Who doesn't love to be drenched in

My nose jaw and arms

Bathe replete in confusion

Within few days so much changes the market

So much rises the point

Beximco Fish sells instead of Tagore Company

Apex Food instead of Rupashi Bangla

and Monno Ceramic instead of you

Acting as the Director of such a major Company

Observing dew drops on paddy-sheaves

Its only I who's advancing to

Your company.