I sit trying to make sense of the statement being made. Unfortunately none of it makes much sense to me.
Parts of sentences, propositions and the ideas all in a jumble, where the subject, object and the rest seems to be lacking in structure while the pauses seem all misplaced.
I, be seated with two who do understand what be told, in Tamil. I unfortunately with zero level of Tamil language proficiency apart from the capacity to read a few words, try to jot down what be told in a struggle to comprehend the statement being made.
Those who do comprehend the language, show their frustration over the translation, highlight the mistakes being made, which at certain points be total an inversion of what be told! There be questions made statements, affirmative into negative. I pity these parties trying to make sense in a dialogue spoken in two codes, with a mediator trying to facilitate it, but failing to make sense that be wished by both parties in their translation.
( To be noted: I be not a speaker of Tamil, nor do I understand the language, just a mere observer of the process, but a witness to the disappointment of those who did be Tamil speakers, and an eavesdropper of what be their translation of what be the translation provided during the session.)
One question raised by my inner being: Is not this cause for concern?
The question be quite rhetoric and simultaneously ironic. The fact being that all the statements made at the commission raise among the causes of the conflict the issue of language! The Sinhala only Act! Miscommunication and miscomprehension of communal groups due to language! And what be not!
Should not one prevent this form of confusion taking place at the most during the Lessons Leant and Reconciliation, so that there may be a few lessons leant in the process?
I think most of us be “asleep” blissfully unaware of the miscomprehension of what be around us, what is heard around us, what be told around us.
I ponder while the battle of comprehension continues: the Commissioners: the translator: and the speaker.
The public, ignorant of the language discrepancy jotting down words uttered at high speed.
Those speakers of Tamil: stare, open mouthed, forgetting to jot down what be told!
Lesson leant for the day: I need to learn Tamil!
PS: I have nothing against the translator, merely believe in the fact that there be a need for a better communication of what be uttered by the Tamil speakers at the sessions.