Rachana
On #smc-project Anivar also linked me to “Rachana and the renaissance of the original Malayalam script” which briefly explains the origin of the Malayalam script, and the problems with the “typewriter” variant created in the 1970s, and what the objectives of the Rachana (GPL) font were:
The unique character set of a language developed by a people over centuries together, transcending all social divisions is not just a geometrical sign but a symbol of their culture.
The return to the original script is the only way to surmount the disintegration of language learning, comprehension, writing and printing in Malayalam.
A language should be revised and modernised when deficiencies are observed in use and communication. And not based on the limitations of a transient historical phenomenon of a typewriter machine.
Modern information technology has made it possible to include and manage the exhaustive character set of Malayalam in any application. Rather than cut the alphabets to fit a machine, technology should be tamed to serve the language.
The original Malayalam alphabets should be made ready for use in the modern language technology. The current information technology is perfectly suitable for this task.
And this quote is classic:
“Rachana is the most meaningful endeavour in the search for the cultural identity of the Malayali people in this age of globalisation.”
In this age of globalisation, I wonder what people will make of a kid in the UK making a Malayalam typeface, and how that sits with the search for cultural identity by the Malayali people. “Mohh,” as we used to say.
The Rachana by David Crossland, except the quotations and unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.
Comments
Leave a Reply
