Do you think it was the wrong choice?

[SOMALI GENERAL]

What's your view on Siad Barre's decision to opt for the latin script over the indigenous Far Somaali? And if you're in favour of Far Somaali than how can the script be revived?

Feel free to input your thoughts/opinions on the matter and no derailing.

 

[Adheer Warsame]

I'm in favour of far Somali, it's our heritage and we dump it for some euro script. The colonisers have truly won.
Far soomaali can be revived with the next generation, that's if somalia brings back its institutions though

 

[merka]

Most people here won't like this but we should have used a modified Arabic script.

 

[SOMALI GENERAL]

I'm in favour of far Somali, it's our heritage and we dump it for some euro script. The colonisers have truly won.
Far soomaali can be revived with the next generation, that's if somalia brings back its institutions though

Exactly, the gov't has an opportunity to launch a literacy campaign to teach Far Somaali to all the people, but focus should primarily be on the next generation as you said.

 

[SOMALI GENERAL]

Most people here won't like this but we should have used a modified Arabic script.

Fair enough, but many would argue that the Wadaad script is not fully suitable for Af Somaali.

 

[merka]

Fair enough, but many would argue that the Wadaad script is not fully suitable for Af Somaali.

According to the Somali Republic report Wadaad script was suitable for af-maxaa tiri but not for af-maay. That's one of the reasons why they decided to go with the Latin script.

 

[Galaeri]

We should have used that Osmanya script or that revised version. I forgot what it was called. Other African nations, like Ethiopia for instance use their own script.

 

[SOMALI GENERAL]

According to the Somali Republic report Wadaad script was suitable for af-maxaa tiri but not for af-maay. That's one of the reasons why they decided to go with the Latin script.

Ok those are valid points, however we still need a script that reflects our culture and heritage. If we use the Wadaad script, then foreigners would see Arabic culture not Somali Culture.

 

[SOMALI GENERAL]

We should have used that Osmanya script or that revised version. I forgot what it was called. Other African nations, like Ethiopia for instance use their own script.

Exactly, Far Somaali is a reflection of our culture. Ethiopia have done a good job of preserving their Ge'ez script, plus when ever you see their script you'll always associate it with Ethiopia and its history which is a major cultural asset for them.

 

[AceofSom]

it will do for now. At the end of the day, 90% of written scripts comes from the same source (expectation: Chinese script)

 

[McLovin]

Slow down patriots. Adopting a new script would mean making all the new printing presses, type writers keyboard softwares and introducing this new script decades after the people are barely grasping the Latin script. With the lack of resources this is simply not feasible we have bigger fish to fry

 

[SOMALI GENERAL]

Slow down patriots. Adopting a new script would mean making all the new printing presses, type writers keyboard softwares and introducing this new script decades after the people are barely grasping the Latin script. With the lack of resources this is simply not feasible we have bigger fish to fry

Yes its going to be an expensive project, but the revival of the script will be a great cultural asset for Somalia. As you said, economically now its not feasible to revive the script, but once Somalia starts modernising/developing then the opportunity to revive the script will be more affordable and practical.

 

[McLovin]

our original script was stolen by dirty xabash

 

[McLovin]

its true

So was it a smash and grab type joint or did they sneak in the middle of the night and snatch it

 

[merka]

Yes its going to be an expensive project, but the revival of the script will be a great cultural asset for Somalia. As you said, economically now its not feasible to revive the script, but once Somalia starts modernising/developing then the opportunity to revive the script will be more affordable and practical.

Honestly we just need to standardize the way we write Somali. Everyone seems to write it the way they want.

 

[Lord Flacko]

It won't work. We need to modify the Latin script way more than just x for h and c for æ. It would be better if Barre had chosen the Arabic script as all government documents were written using it and it was the most widely known at the time.

Far Soomali is also a choice but it's too 'foreign' at this point, and would complicate things as Somalis would learn that script at school alongside the Latin script when learning English and then they have to deal with the Arabic script in dugsi or when learning Arabic.

The Turks modified the Latin script and we should do the same, then standardize it across all Somali regions which requires cooperation

 

[SultanuuFicaan]

Update the latin script, get rid of double vowels and replace them with special diacritics. OO, AA, EE, II and UU needs to be rid off.

Add the three key tones that differentiates the difference between Inan and Inan (gender difference) and Dameer iyo Dameer (gender difference).

Add the remaining Maay characters, TH, JH, P, NG, Y' AND GH.

Remaining arabic letters.

Or you could just combine the osmanya/kaddare as recommended by various linguists from the 1960's and do the above as mentioned. Kaddare was seen as the best unique somali script while Osmanya has numerals and a special character for the glottal stop.

Somalis are lazy so don't expect any changes but at this point of time, just do both and use them both.

 

[Gambar]

I don't think the script is important, one good thing afweyne did was start a literacy campaign and that should be continued. Illiteracy is a huge issue with Somalis and is one of the reasons why the diaspora isn't doing so well after having been here for over two decades. Besides the language barrier, many Somalis are also illiterate or lack basic literacy.

 

[SultanuuFicaan]

Arabic script can't be used.

http://dspace-roma3.caspur.it/bitstream/2307/2620/1/Linguistic Report 1961.pdf > 1961 UN report

Read from page 67-68.

And http://dspace-roma3.caspur.it/bitstream/2307/1517/1/Somalia. the writing of Somali_lavorato.pdf

By Andrzejewski, B.W.

 

[Faqash]

easier said then done.i like the latin.