No script is natural for any language, says Fr Ferrão at Gulab Awards

Gulab Award winners with the guests at a programme organised at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao on Sunday. Santosh Mirajkar

MARGAO

People have become too focused on scripts, noted author Fr Victor Ferrão said on Sunday, adding that top linguists have stated there is no such thing as a ‘natural script’ anywhere in the world.  

He was speaking during the presentation of the Gulab Awards 2024 and the Felicio Cardoso Journalism Award 2024 at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao. The event was held to mark the 72nd birth anniversary of Gulab founder, the late Fr Freddy J Da Costa.  

“There is a belief in some circles that Devanagari is the natural script for Konkani. But top linguists say there is no script that is natural to any language. Some people say otherwise because of politics,” Fr Victor said.  

He emphasised that language cannot be reduced to just writing.

“We need the body, tongue, soul and more to speak a language. It cannot be limited to a script,” he added.  

Chief Guest Agnelo Alcasoas recalled the historic Konkani movement that led to Konkani becoming Goa’s official language.

He assured his support for the promotion of Konkani.  

At the function, Prabhakar Dattatray Bhide was given the Gulab Personality of the Year award, while tiatrist Teotonio Costa received the Gulab Writer of the Year award. Rupesh Samant, Head of PTI’s Goa Bureau and Director of Goa News Hub, received the Felicio Cardoso Journalism Award 2024. 

Veteran tiatrist and freedom fighter Cyriaco Dias was felicitated for his contribution to tiatr and the freedom movement, while former judge and Konkani cultural advocate Vincent D’Silva was recognised for his legal, civic and cultural contributions.