Some of those who voted YES had this to say:
• Yes in the true sense Nagamese cannot be called a language. It is a mixture of many different languages. It is the melting pot of languages. No, technically it is not a language. But in usage it is akin to a language. So I support the decision to promote Nagamese. This will open avenues for more research and studies to promote it into a language.
• Yes, it is the only language which majority of the nagas knows it and widely spoken.
• Yes. Reasons: 1. No other tribal languages is uniting us or can unite as much as Naganese. 2. That is our language (by which many villagers/ Nagas)are communicating today. 3. I feel very proud and can feel a sense of oneness when I talk to the Nagas in Manipur, Assam, Arunachal as well as Burma.
• Yes. No option. It may take centuries to evolve a pure Naga language. Any one of the existing numerous dialects cannot be converted to acceptable official language. So why not leave aside our pride and adopt Nagamese as temporary official language until some expert Naga linguists come up with something that can be accepted by all Nagas? After all we’ve already adopted it besides English in all exchanges, official or non-official.
• yes because we should let others know that we are also exist in the indian soil
• Yes and we should be proud of Nagamese because it is through the emergence of this dialect, Nagas could not only communicate with our neighbours but it also help us communicate clearly between the Nagas.
• I am a non naga and have never lived in nagaland but if my opinion matters then Yes, even though it has no owner...even though it would not be my first choice among the various other dialects....But this is the only common language which unites all the tribes...In my opinion its a positive step.. In case any other dialect is chosen then it would or might cause conflicts....
• I agree fully with the move of GoI as Nagas do not have a common language and Nagamese whatever be its origin is the only binding factor that still binds Nagas despite major differences. English should not be official as we cannot communicate with illiterate villagers in communication. In my experience and short stint under GoN service, i am relieved atleast that Nagamese saves the day in transferring our ideology with illiterate villagers. Let us all retrospect and introspect our dialect (Nagas) and our ego to accept other tribes language as official ... its an opportunity to accept.
• Yes... As cos of this so called Nagamese only we the Nagas are living under one umbrella but ways of communicating not only within our nagas but even to the outside Nagaland.... N we must be proud that this alien language is the one n only responsible communication system available within us and to the other alien people.... We may or may not like it... But with each rising sun and a dawn..starts with nagamese n ends with nagamese..... And this nagamese is can will be the only language that can be recognisable in our naga society... As all of us can least speak or learn to speak in a short span of time...... One might say promote or recognise English... Which is not feasible at all.... And also our local dialects are of so many with distinct with each tribes...which one n not to promote...which seems impossible task at all... We can still preserve our own local dialects at the same promote nagamese seems to be the only possible way.
• Yes! Its a mixture of all nagas of Nagaland tribes dialect besides Bengali or Assames
• Whether they promote it or not it has already Spread beyond NAGALAND smile emoticon... Yes, yes yes
Some of those who voted NO had this to say:
• To the extent Nagamese is emphasized, to that extent will we see English neglected • No. it’s a mixture of two or three languages mix together, which is a language that never originated from our ‘Nagaland.’ Nagaland is a long of diversity, united in a common goal. We remain as one. Never.
• No, would it not be better if it stays like that, instead of recognizing it into an official language? It has been an all way communication for us Nagas, but it can never be placed above our so many tribal languages that we are proud of… We should never let a foreign language intrude into a major.
• it cannot be. as its just a dialect, not a language. Differences should make out between a language and a dialect. however, this can be a official "Dialect".
• It is against our Naga National interest i feel. It may be harmful in a long run
• Sorry but try knowing the difference between language and dialect thoroughly first.
• No. Nagamese is neither a language nor dialect. We should preserve and promote our regional dialects that are going extinct and concentrate on polishing English. This feels like a move to dilute our Naganess because there is nothing Naga about Nagamese unfortunately.
• Agreed. The move is totally instigated by some self styled half witted person within us, I guessed.
• I would say yes, only if English also remains another official language. There are still many people in Nagaland who aren't able to speak in English and this move would help bring them to the forefront. No one can deny that Nagamese has had a big role in shaping the economic and cultural history of our state. It doesn't have a script yes, but neither does Khasi, and it is still one of the official languages of Meghalaya. Our state can have more than one official language, much like Manipur, Goa, Karnataka, West Bengal, etc.
• No, because we should not promote something that doesn't belong to us intrinsically. Let that job of promotion of language be left with the Nagas, not GOI. It's scary that our forefathers culture may never be revived again; if Nagamese is promoted.
• For me it is a big NO. Ofcourse Nagamese is needed for the Nagas to communicate with each other, without Nagamese I cannot imagine how we Naga as different tribes would understand and communicate. However, that doesn't not necessarily meant that we should make it an official language. Let it just remains as a bazaar dialect as it is. smile emoticon English is more important in a globalized world we are living in. So instead of giving effort in learning Nagamese we should learn english well... that can create many opportunities in local, national as well as international levels. I hope I'm making sense
• No..in a simple way nagamese is not the original language of Nagaland.
• No. because Nagamese doesn't have a script moreover, it's a mixture of different languages.
• NO,Nagamese is a random mixture of Assamese, Bangali, Nepali, Hindi and some Naga local dialect etc... No script, no origin, its nada
• No.. in my opinion if its recognised as a national language of India our identity as Naga's our unique origin is lost.
• No. Yes, we can not deny Nagamese is very important today but let us not forget it is a "trader's language" originally, a lingua franca. Now, on the other hand we have many dialects representing the different tribes and yes we do not have "scripts" like other languages but that does not mean we give more importance to nagamese. Go to the remote villages and see if they also know how to speak nagamese, definitely Not. When we are at a time where our ancestral dialects are disappearing i would rather not promote Nagamese. Whether we make it an official language or not nagamese will exist. So, rather preserve our own dialects before our own history disappears.
• No, Nagamese is neither Assamese or any of naga lingo, it has no grammer and changes everyday as per the user. stick to English as official language as it is also international language and this will improve our chances when going or doing business with the Hindus etc
Some of those who voted OTHERS had this to say:
• Nagamese is not a language. But we need to recognize that Nagamese has become the market language through which we communicate. Whether we like it or not Nagamese is a Lingua franca through which Nagas use it to make communication possible between people who do not share a native language. All Nagas have their own respective language. Whereas Nagamese is only a vehicular lingua that makes it possible for different communities to communicate. Let us take Nagamese for what it is.
• It is better to get rid of nagamese and be saved from been indianised.
• Reason COZ It has mix dialect of others tribe language and not of our own dialect. when we imagine properly, it has none stomach of the person who creates this nagamese.
• HOW To we have to adopt those bengali and assamese and mix hindi to became our cultural and traditional dialect, hah? forgotten the gift of the MAKER MUSIC Means mother language!
• Reason COZ It is as dull knive, It has no meaning for other society and the rest worldwide. A blunt weapon done not much good. English will do a better officer language for the next g, for the whole naga BECAUSE An english as sharp knive that could cut the world for the next g and let none forget we live for the next generation, if without children we are like barren soil that has no flowers-no fruits. Let us think throughly, detailly for the up coming generation, the world wont come learning nagamese though nagaland would gone learning english besides not only ourself-the rest of the world will gone learning english-for english has already grown and yield fruit then ate by the whole world, thank you for the knocking.
• Nagas are rich in culture, but unfortunatly...nagamese is something funny..
• To all die hard opposers, which language amongst the Naga tribe should be propose as Official? Ao, Angami, Chang, Chekhesang, Lotha, Pochury, Phom, Yimchunger, Sumi, Konyak, Sangtam, Khaimniungan, Rengma or Zeliang language as Nagaland's official language? ? Its easier said than done. To choose a lesser evil is better than to stop dreaming i feel. Can we be reasonable for argument sake????
• Divided by tribalism, united by Nagamese
• It would be much better for nagas to give importance to English then to nagamese. English should become the lingua Franca rather than Hindi not nagamese. But we should definitely promote our own dialects.
• Instead of promoting Nagamese why not promotes our naga economy or solve naga problem first.
• I wnt say YES or NO. I just wana ask. Wat should be our NEW official language and.... if a new language is proposed who will teach the language to the so called NAGAS and who s gonna follow.
• New official language?? Nagaland and we nagas doesn't need to adopt new official language, English should remain the official language of the state as it is. Promoting Nagamese as an official language of the state is not a very good idea I guess, as it is a lingua franca and it doesn't origin within the state, moreover nagamese is a mixture of languages.
• Its a litmus test!...naga people are too weak that time has come that naga cant hide anywhere!!!...infact, Naga script or alphameric had beeN produced or published already, but due to selfishness of nagas, it has been kept on pending for recognition till date...
