WRT: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mukto-mona/message/36124

Dear Mr Raihan,

Greetings, and thanks for your response.

Whether Avijit's writing is indeed superior to yours, in either
Bengali or English, was not the issue; hence you need not admit
anything in that regard. I stated clearly that perhaps your intent to
write in Banglish was "different," although I have seen others doing
the same for certain reasons. I shared my experience with some of
them at social gatherings. Stating again, it is my position Bangla is
a rich quilt of a language that does not need random bullet holes made
with English words or phrases, likely for the `composer' to appear
more lucid or sophisticated. It is likely so deluded by many Bengalis
who insert English words, half sentences and even sentences, when
talking or writing in Bengali. I personally consider it an insult to
our beloved mother tongue. [If anyone feels it is not an insult but,
rather, an honor of Bangla, I would be interested to learn your POV!]

Mr Raihan, because I specified YOUR intention to use Banglish was
likely different, I do not see any misunderstanding on my part about
your motive. I speculated none—beyond `different'. Moreover, I did
not suggest your essay contained anything "hidden". It was thus
unnecessary for you to confirm that there wasn't.

How you should rank your writing qualitatively compared to others is
up to you. But that was not the issue either. However, based upon
your admission you are good at neither language, may I respectfully
suggest you consider focusing on either one and become better at it
first? After all, both are rich languages.

In my opinion it's equally disrespectful to cram an English essay
with Bengali words, and to cram a Bengali-language essay with English
words. I hope you will agree with me on this. Because you `wrote' I
called you a `writer' but it hardly meant I called you a WRITER, as
in an `author'. I could not consider you a speech-giver after perusing
your response to Avijit, as it was in written form and not a speech
that I heard. I hope this will clear up my choice of the word: writer.

You wrote: "I usually do not care much about "mixing up Bengali and
English" during my writing, as English is an international language."
This seems quite confusing, since the second half does not follow the
first. If you "usually" do not care to mix up the two languages, then
may I ask how UN-usual a circumstance it was for you to read Avijit's
essay, due to which you decided to stir up a cocktail of both? In
addition, just because English is `an international language' it
hardly follows logically that you do not care to mix up the two
'usually'.

For some of us it may be a social norm, to speak/write in Banglish.
The soul-searching question may well be: "Why do we do it?" Doing
so might well indicate our beloved Bangla is not good enough for
sophisticated expression. Some free-stylists may argue it is just a
matter of taste. Perhaps. But most likely there are other, stronger
reasons why some of us do it.

Could we make a bet? Let's challenge anyone who enjoys doing it
purportedly just for the 'taste' / style. What if he/she confronts
an arguer who can express himself adequately in both languages? If
the arguer can demonstrate it at the drop of a hat, do you think
the `stylish' speaker/writer will likely switch to full Bangla? My
personal experience over 23 years suggests it would be quite likely.

What does anyone think?

Regards,

Syed M. Islam