lang policy- presntt

8/13/2019 Lang Policy- Presntt.

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LANGUAGE CONTORVERSY ISTURNING INTO A LANGUAGE

SHIFT

Presented By:Aneezah Arshad,

Fatima Ghazanfar,Tooba Arshad.


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Linguistic background of Urdu

in Sub-Continent The British were the first rulers to promote

Urdu.

It was used for material gains by the rulers.

Language of the sub-continent.


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Linguistic background of Urdu inPakistan

The National language of Pakistan is Urdu, andarrangements shall be made for its being used forofficial and other purposes within fifteen years from

the commencing day.

The English language may be used for official

purposes until arrangements are made for itsreplacement by Urdu.(Article: 251 National language)


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The position of Urdu was strong inthe early years as compared to otherindigenous languages:

PunjabiSindhi

BalochiPashtoetc.


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According to the constitution of 1973

ENGLISH URDU

Joint Official Languages


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English language policyOvert policy

(1) The National language of Pakistan is Urdu,and arrangements shall be made for its being usedfor official and other purposes within fifteen yearsfrom the commencing day.

(2) Subject to clause (1), the English languagemay be used for official purposes untilarrangements are made for its replacement byUrdu.


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Covert policy

Continuation of English as an official languageregardless of constitutions declaration.

Allowed to function as a medium of instructionin elitist schools.

Bureacracy and military invested heavily increating English medium schools


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Hierarchy of languages in Pakistan According to Mansoors survey (1992),

1 English

2 Urdu

3 Mother tongue/

indigenous languages


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English-Urdu controversy

English language Urdu language used in higher domains

e.g. governance, judiciary, bureaucracy,

education, military,commerce, media .

used at lower levels.

offers better chance of jobs, more marks ininterview, bettermarriage proposal, better

business deals .

Offer opportunities butto some extent.


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English medium students are very proud on their lackof competence in Urdu.

Urdu Medium students are being the victims ofinferiority complex due to Urdu language

Along with the English language, western culture isalso dominant

cultural shame about Urdu in anglicized elite.

English is associated with literacy, modernity andefficiency (Mansoor, 1992) Urdu is associated with lack of pretigious education

English-Urdu controversy


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According to Harris Khalique, In General Ayubera,

Cadet colleges were established. Urdu-medium institutions were created in order

to provide the lite and affluent middle classwith an underclass of clerks, munshis and

literate servants.

PROGRESSION OF ENGLISH


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PROGRESSION OF ENGLISH

Year Ratio ofEnglish

speakers

1951- 1961 2 %

1997 11 %

2003 Increased by50%


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REASONS OF LANGUAGE SHIFT

Contact with other languages.

If the foreign language has prestige in society, itgains Domains of power.

When one is ashamed of his language.

To acquire good jobs, status and sophistication.


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FUTURE OF URDU

Urdu language is too enriched to die.

It is used in many domains.

Insufficient but there is some awareness betweenthe masses about the importance of their native

language and culture.


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Position of English in Pakistanisociety

Occupies highest position in languages.

Entrenched in domains of power.

Class differentiator; identity marker.

Means of empowerment.

High investment in English learning.

Favored by elite and middle class.


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FACTS

Skills in English can be used to secure better

scores in exams, interviews, better business deals, better marriage proposals etc.

English suppresses the middle class.

creates frustration in lower classes as they cannotafford English medium education.


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We are rich in languages. Let us treat them ascultural assets and not liabilities. In ourlanguage policy let us add English and Urduto our repertoire of linguistic skills withoutdestroying our mother tongues, our authenticselves, our culture and our identity.

(Rehman, 2004)

RECOMMENDATIONS


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Mansoor (2005) recommends that Englishshould continue to be used as an alternatemedium of instruction for government schoolsuntil class 12.

(Mansoor, 2002, p. 316)


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SOME OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS:

Its the state duty to control language shift withits resource, control over media, on educationand jobs.

Eradication of cultural shame.

Domains of power shouldallocate to the language bystatus planning.


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SOME OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS:

Equal Access to good qualityeducation to eliminate thehegemony of elite class.

Equal chance for Urdu todevelop and employ themodern technology. For e.g.development of Microsoftwindow in Urdu.


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THANKYOU

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