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Bhaashaa speaks out for Divehi
City linguistic institute to help preserve the official language of the Maldives
News - City
Posted On Monday, February 01, 2010
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| Indian High Commissioner Dnyaneshwar Mule (in pink shirt) inaugurates the Bhaashaa website |
This was informed on Monday by Dnyaneshwar Mule, the Indian High Commissioner in Maldives, and Swati Raje, director of Bhaashaa.
Mule, who has earlier worked in Serbia, Russia and Japan, told Pune Mirror that Divehi originates from Prakrit, also the origin of Marathi and Gujarathi languages.
“We are now trying to preserve and nourish Divehi folklore and folksongs. With the help of Bhaashaa, we will translate Divehi children’s stories into Marathi, wherein Bhaashaa will extend help in their publication,” he explained.
He added that Marathi language experts would also help Maldives in linguistic research.
Similarly, Raje informed that Bhaashaa has signed an agreement of international co-operation with the National Centre for Linguistics & Historical Research of the Maldives government.
Both sides will work for preservation of linguistic heritage. While Raje is just back from a visit to the Maldives, officials from there will come to Pune very soon.
Raje explained that Divehi is an Indo-Germanic family of languages, like Marathi, wherein several words in Divehi were also found in Marathi.
In fact, the people of Minicoy Island, in the Lakshadweep, spoke in Divehi. On Monday, Mule inaugurated the Bhaashaa website in Pune.
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