Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1998 08:57:47 +0500
Subject: Language and colonialism


At 05:37 PM 9/9/98 -0500, BH wrote in a post headed "Re: no fighting no
biting" :

>Hey Clarisse,
>
>I think you're a little late here--the debate has already chilled.
>
>But the debate, childish as it was at times, also brought up some very
important
>issues related to linguistics and colonialism.  And one need only read a book

This is a very interesting and significant point.

Over the last few years, a few colleagues and I in India have been working
with people in organisations with a postulate (among others) of the split
between thoughts/beliefs on the one hand, and feelings/actions on the
other. Which we believe to be a direct consequence of colonialism.

This split is particularly discernible with people whose primary training
and education have been largely in the English language in India. So that
they think (like me) principally in English.

Thoughts and beliefs seem to be anchored largely in western frames and
metaphors, while feelings and action patterns remain rooted in primary
Indian traditions. Resulting in behavioural inconsistencies, diffusion and
patterns often seen as hypocritical. These do have pretty serious
implications in organisations, governance, bureaucracies, and in society as
a whole.

>From my very limited understanding as also readings of the works of
Naipaul, Nirode C. Chaudhuri, etc., their writings seem to reflect this
split quite strongly.

[Must add that this split (or "divorce" as I sometimes refer to it) is also
discernible with people who don't think in English. And my current working
hypothesis is that the split is induced *also* by the influence of
(organisation) structures and systems, whose designs in India, are entirely
from western frameworks. Colonialism, of course, involves replacement of
all indigenous structures and systems by ones whose forms and frames are
quite alien to the indigenous culture.]

A colleague, Dr. Pulin K. Garg, has also conceptualised a very interesting
notion -- "transience" -- which captures the essence of this postulation of
the disjunction between thoughts/beliefs and actions/feelings consequent
upon colonisation. If anyone is interested, I can send the reference for a
publication on this -- can't locate it immediately.


(To introduce myself, I'm a "behavioural scientist" and organisation
consultant in India. Also teach Organisation Behaviour in
management/business schools here. Over the last 20 odd years I've been
working with the psychological, psycho-social and organisational issues
related to the colonial experiences in India and the post-Independence
aftermath. Am not terribly familiar with post-colonial thought, and have
joined this list some time back principally to discuss and learn
post-colonial theory).


Cheers.


<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Shyamal Gupta
25D, Selimpore Road, Calcutta 700 031. INDIA
Voice/Fax : 91-33-4736164
E-Mail : shyamal-AT-iname.com 
	  shyamal-AT-giascl01.vsnl.net.in
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