Dear Editor,
I am writing with reference to the letter titled “Songs can be written in English with the Indian beat”. (08.01 08). Music can speak to one’s soul more than a lot of other things can, what music is and why it moves people so deeply is a profound question. The author makes many valid points including that 100% of Guyanese speak English and very few Guyanese understand the Hindi words of the songs. I would like to add a few comments.
Songs in Hindi are popular in many parts of the world and many of the listeners do not speak or understand Hindi, or even have an ancestral or cultural link to India. Many of my friends from northern Nigeria grew up on a diet of Bollywood music and films.
I, as a Guyanese, listen to many different types of music and much of it is not in a language I understand .Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville” and Puccini’s “La Boh
“The author makes many valid points including that 100% of Guyanese speak English and very few Guyanese understand the Hindi words of the songs.” Hmmm you’ve just agreed with the author that you and him don’t care and recognonize the languages that the Amerindians speak(how original!). FYI there are many guyanese who don’t speak english! I speak three languages,but last time i visited guyana i did’nt understant half the sentenses that came out of people’s mouths(they claim it was english).