tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71930340298107115.post5966337555207279225..comments2023-02-23T14:01:09.808+05:30Comments on Within the Purview: A Suitable Book: Vikram Seth in Conversation with Somnath Batabyal at the Jaipur Literature FestivalDivya Dubeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17322385417060648073noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71930340298107115.post-10771109365175201092011-10-27T19:18:07.079+05:302011-10-27T19:18:07.079+05:30Dear Vijayraghavan,
Good to see you here. :) Yes, ...Dear Vijayraghavan,<br />Good to see you here. :) Yes, I do agree with you. <br />In fact, in India, more and more literary awards have now started including translations of works from regional languages into English as well.Divya Dubeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17322385417060648073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71930340298107115.post-59949047845223516592011-10-27T17:29:36.718+05:302011-10-27T17:29:36.718+05:30Dear Divya, you are absolutely correct when you sa...Dear Divya, you are absolutely correct when you say that anyone for whom English is not the first language, might use a version of the language that's coloured by their mother tongue/any language they're more familiar with.I have heard a English professor heartily praise a book of translations from Kannada Vachana Literature into English while another, obviously possessing lesser linguistic capabilities, commenting on it adversely. <br />Should we categorize the language of the illiterates or less read people as a non-language? does a story in that language not merit consideration?vijayaraghavanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11632184536740003337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71930340298107115.post-78023898377247955452011-04-13T11:01:03.209+05:302011-04-13T11:01:03.209+05:30Dear Isabella,
A lot of it is deliberate. It's...Dear Isabella,<br />A lot of it is deliberate. It's not about the status of English in India. You'd find thousands who speak and write impeccable King's/Queen's English. :)<br />At the same time, it's true that a lot of Indians or, for that matter, anyone for whom English is not the first language, might use a version of the language that's coloured by their mother tongue/any language they're more familiar with. <br />In our case, call it 'Indian English' if you like. After all, many words the Oxford dictionary accepts today are Hindi words, and words from other languages.<br />Seth's writing is even more enjoyable because he's portrayed a certain culture we know and recognise well. There's subtlety and humour (certain bits are hilarious!), but can probably be appreciated more by people who're familiar with the milieu. <br />The version of English you see is a deliberate device. Sometimes the sentences are a literal translation of Hindi sentences into English -- not very uncommon here. He captures the personalities/scenes very well. :)Divya Dubeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17322385417060648073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71930340298107115.post-50379954298188226782011-04-12T18:11:13.336+05:302011-04-12T18:11:13.336+05:30When reading the works of Mr Seth, do you and your...When reading the works of Mr Seth, do you and your correspondents consider that his use of the English language has anything to say about the status of English in India (one might think of episodes in A Suitable Boy where Lata's brother is working with Englishmen and trying to impress them). I ask as an English woman living in England. Do you think his use of particular forms of language changes with the different characters he portrays as well as the story he is telling? How would you define the differences between Mr Seth's English and that of the average Englishman living in, say, London?Isabella Lawrencenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71930340298107115.post-28720090605682468882011-02-22T21:04:19.063+05:302011-02-22T21:04:19.063+05:30Hey G, Lovely to see you here! :) And hope you'...Hey G, Lovely to see you here! :) And hope you'll keep peeping in now n then. I look forward to that!Divya Dubeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17322385417060648073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71930340298107115.post-28191762118371767802011-02-22T18:12:37.296+05:302011-02-22T18:12:37.296+05:30Divya my dear you are flying high. What a wonderfu...Divya my dear you are flying high. What a wonderful moment this must have been. I remember being in school and choosing A Suitable Boy for a book prize, I received some funny looks that day, perhaps it didn't sound scholarly enough but I still enjoyed it immensely. Looking forward to the sequel.Geeta Mehtanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71930340298107115.post-32937370189946848502011-02-21T11:44:19.862+05:302011-02-21T11:44:19.862+05:30Sat bang in the front row! In fact, waited all day...Sat bang in the front row! In fact, waited all day for it! :P <br /><br />Yes, it was worth the wait! And I agree with you. I loved An Equal Music better, and Beastly Tales is an old fav anyway. :)Divya Dubeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17322385417060648073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71930340298107115.post-12432874290050386412011-02-21T11:28:36.184+05:302011-02-21T11:28:36.184+05:30I so envy you! actually spoke to HIM!I just love h...I so envy you! actually spoke to HIM!I just love him you know!Absolute love!Loved A Suitable Boy, loved An Equal Music, maybe even better than A Suitable Boy! Am so looking forward to the sequel. And Beastly Tales is my favourite :)Urmila Dasguptanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71930340298107115.post-67165814463273072662011-02-21T09:54:32.195+05:302011-02-21T09:54:32.195+05:30Thanks Sree, Priyanka. :)Thanks Sree, Priyanka. :)Divya Dubeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17322385417060648073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71930340298107115.post-68558892331673735672011-02-20T12:16:23.073+05:302011-02-20T12:16:23.073+05:30had enjoyed Suitable Boy ...looking forward to the...had enjoyed Suitable Boy ...looking forward to the Girl now...thanks for this sneak peek Divya :)Pinkuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06714914168230658950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71930340298107115.post-14341189226414406422011-02-19T23:44:17.497+05:302011-02-19T23:44:17.497+05:30the flow of the article is awesome...and the words...the flow of the article is awesome...and the words are well used.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04438485027325463439noreply@blogger.com