A Naga woman in traditional garb

Kohima, June 18: After using it for as long as they can remember, a section of Nagas has begun to think that Nagamese, the link dialect of the 20-odd tribes of this ethnically-sensitive state, has outlived its utility.

“It is a corrupt lingua franca and we need to encourage people to speak in their own tongues,” says state planning minister Shurhozelie.

Addressing a recent seminar on the topic, the senior politician, who is also a writer, advocated “a proper language policy”.

Nagamese is an unrefined version of Assamese, with Hindi, Nepalese and English words thrown in. It has long been the most popular mode of communication between people of different Naga tribes, who have dialects that are distinct from one another.

Shurhozelie’s views on phasing out Nagamese are echoed by many. Their refrain is that the dialect lacks discipline and, consequently, respectability. “I hate it, but cannot avoid it,” says L. Angami, a lawyer.

Angami and many other educated Nagas believe English could be a better link language, but admit it is too much to expect the rural population to be conversant with the language.

Though Nagamese has gained an identity simply by virtue of its acceptability, there is a raging debate on whether it should be accorded legitimacy.

“Nagamese influences the way people speak their own language. It has changed my way of speaking Nepalese,” says businessman Rajeev Lama.

Tenyidie, the dialect spoken in different forms in Kohima and Phek districts, has been touted as an alternative to Nagamese.