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Importance of the English Language
A language is a systematic means of communication by the use of sounds or con...
From Zurneva Rosy
THE FUTURE OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE IN PAKISTANWith the exit of the Britishers from our country, it was summed in some extremistquarters that English language will also go to its native very soon. But the deep rootswhich this language had struck into our soil from the beginning of the present century,were hard to be shaken and the course which the later events took belied the expectationsof the narrow-minded rationalists who wanted an immediate replacement of this language by some Pakistani language.The way in which Macaulay introduced English language in our country was a disgracefor us and dealt a severe blow to our nationalism. Our languages received a great setback and their progress was greatly retarded when English language was granted protection bythe government.In a very haphazard way the Britishers devised the present system of education to produce cheap clerks to run their bureaucracy. English became a costly luxury with theresult that knowledge of English meant a high market value and prestige. The inroad of alien culture and civilization had a bad denationalising influence. The intelligentsia wasattracted towards the Western universities. A false dignity had come to be attached to thestudy of English language and the advocates and supporters of Indian languages and theEastern culture and civilization were, condemned as 'backward' and 'orthodox' peopleeven by their own countrymen for whose good they were working. This meant a virtualdethronement of Indian culture and civilization from the place of pride it occupied in theancient India.The most important unifying factors, in the national solidarity, i.e. language andliterature, were relegated into the background. The privileged class, who received theeducation in English, became completely westernized and arrogant. None devoted timeand none utilized his creative faculties for building up the national language. It was,'therefore, no wonder, that the deliverance of the Pakistanis from the political subjugationof the English was also hailed as an occasion to rid themselves of the tyranny of theforeign language and literature, for without it, freedom would lose much of itssignificance.First, thing which the Government of our free country did was to declare unequivocallythat English412 for Prospective Headmasterscannot remain for long the official language of the country and that Urdu will take up the place of pride since occupied by English. This was hailed as a move both bold and in theright direction. But the time limit kept as a transition period aroused mixed election. Thereaction was both natural and justified. The government and the people both shared thenews that English must cease dominating the Pakistani educational system, culture andcivilization, but there was a sharp difference of opinion as regards, the details, methodsand speeds with which this goal had to be achieved.
The language, however, brought in its worth the seeds of its own destruction. Pakistanileaders educated in foreign universities learnt about(i) National awakening,(ii) Democracy, and(in) Revolution.The weapons brought from the armoury of the English were successfully employedagainst them.. Our mental horizon was broadened and we cultivated an internationaloutlook. This was probably the greatest benefit we could derive from the study of Englishlanguage.Some extremists who seemed to be in loVe with English language and whose mother tongues were fairly developed came forth with bitter attack on the move and wanted thatEnglish should be retained permanently in all spheres of life. Pitted against thesesupporters of English were fanatic lovers of Urdu who wanted an immediate replacementof English by Urdu. Had they some magic wand they would have done it almostovernight.But nothing came out of this unbridled criticism and counter criticism and the decision of the government stood. That Urdu should be introduced gradually, was the only desirablecourse to be adopted without hampering the national progress.413The Study of EducationThe diversity of languages and dialects is so great in our country that it was very difficultto choose a common language which could be granted the status of national language.After great deliberations Urdu was chosen as the "Language Franca " of Pakistan but notwithout much of conflict of opinion. Nobody can deny the fact that it is against thenational pride of our country to retain this foreign language as the lingua franca evenafter the exit of British masters. Nobody would suggest that English should continue todominate:(i) our educational system,(ii) our culture and civilization, and(Hi) our administrative set-up. Now dictionaries are being compiled, new words are being coined and translations of technical books ate coming in the market. The present vocabulary of Urdu is enough tocope with the need of the country.
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17. the Future of English Language in Pakistan
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