Computers and Indian Languages
by
Harsh Kumar
Let me begin by reminding that the computers do not understand any languages other than “0” and “1”. All codes/words/programs are finally translated into these two digits before being processed in the computer (Figure 1&2).
Let us understand what is required for representing any language on computers. There are only two essential requirements to represent a language on computers:
However, since humans are not very comfortable in using just these two symbols and they use a language to communicate with each other they have taught their language to computers. For example in the picture on the right hand side (Figure 2) it is shown that to copy one file “file.doc” from drive “a” to drive “b” we write “copy a:\file.doc b:\” [common DOS command]. The code to which word/command “copy” refers to accepts two arguments and copies the file name passed by the first argument to the location/name passed by the second argument. It does not matter whether we call the command “copy”, “COPY” “Kapi” or even just “xyz” or for that matter word in “Fig. 3”, which is the equivalent word in Hindi. This will work as long as the code it refers to is the same and the two required arguments are passed on. We must understand that it is our decision as to what we want to call this command (code). The command will do whatever it has been programmed to do, no matter what we call it. It is mentioned that codes for all the “reserved” words for every computer language are available and all one has to do to port a language is to change the “labels” by which these codes are addressed. This may, perhaps, appear rather simplistic but it is certainly not far form the truth.
Figure 3
The computers understand English because they were developed by people who used English. A number of other countries, having economic power or number power, too have computers in their language, (e.g., China, Japan, Germany, France etc.). Some of the countries had felt so strongly about the issue of “language on computer” that they had sent government representatives to the computer companies in the US to have the computer in their language. Unfortunately we in India did/could not demand and have the computers that understand our language.
Let me mention what is the essential requirement representing any language on computers. There are only two essential requirements (necessary conditions) to represent a language on computers:
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The language must have a Script, and
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There must be a way to represent/show the script on the computers.
Our languages have a script and there are applications available to represent them on computers and, therefore, computers can and must understand them. We have to understand and accept that the fault why computers do not understand our language does not lie in our language. We have no one but only ourselves to blame why the computers do not understand our language.
When we are discussing the language issue we must recognize and praise the efforts of some of the organizations that have worked to facilitate use of Indian Languages on computers. However, this is not enough. We must have computers (i.e., the Operating System, Application Development tools, programs etc.), which understand our languages and for working on them our people do not have to learn “English”. Not having such computers will create very anomalous situation in our country. Before I talk about the anomaly this situation may/will create, I must stress on one basic fact. The fact is that, in our country in the 21st century one has to know “English” to be able to use computers. If one does not know this language then one cannot use the computers and take advantage of the basic tool of this century.If we do not take steps to change this situation, the English knowing group will use computers, get full benefits of the Information Technology revolution and forge ahead and the group not knowing English, which is perhaps economically not as strong, will be left behind. In order to reduce the gap between these two groups, I am for making “Computers in Indian Language” a reality rather than levying extra taxing the “English knowing Computer using” population. This effort to put Indian languages on Linux, the FREE operating system will go a long way to check this widening gap, besides generating a new area for employment (Figure 4 below).
Figure 4.
We in India, often boast of our large computer trained manpower resource. This is an ever-growing resource because of the growing population and the fact that we do not find any town in India, which does not have a computer-training center. All the boys and girls passing out of these will certainly not be able to get jobs in the US and other countries. We will have to find jobs for them in India. I cannot think of finding a better way of creating jobs for them than hoping that they will take to developing software in the local language on Linux, the “Free OS’, and satisfy the needs of the local markets. This will not only help them in finding jobs but will also channelize benefits of IT to the non-English speaking group. I do sincerely hope, wish and pray that computing in Indian languages picks up otherwise after a few years we may have the dubious distinction of having the largest pool of unemployed “IT-Trained” manpower in the world.
Please visit the following site to see a detailed paper, “Science, Technology and Politics of Computing in Indian Language”, on the above subject.
Please mail me your feedback or any question you have on this.