2. PAKISTAN AND ITS LANGUAGES
The linguistic situation in Pakistan is a complex
variety of historical and cultural factors, which have
helped to shape both patterns of language use and
the conceptions of ethnicity associated with it.
These factors explain why such straight forward,
objective ,matters as linguistic mapping or the
numbers of speakers of different languages are
themselves often highly controversial exercises.
3. LANGUAGE MAP OF PAKISTAN
It is difficult to draw linguistic frontiers due to the
presence of closely related local dialects extending
across the vast areas occupied by the major
language groups.
Neat language boundaries have been disturbed by
the large-scale movements of population between
countries and regions.
An increase in literacy and Independence made
Language a highly sensitive issue.
4. The subsequent growth in the population and
changes in distribution make it even more
problematic: form 42.9 million in 1961, and 84.2
million in 1981, to 130.5 million in 1998.
Further more, since descriptive linguistics has been
a neglected discipline in Pakistan, it is impossible to
draw accurate linguistic boundaries
5. In K-P with a total population of 20.6 million, the
major language is Pashto, spoken by the Pashtuns.
A representative of the eastern branch of Iranian,
Pashto is very different from Persian and has a low
level of mutual intelligibility with the Indo-Aryan
languages
6. Baluchistan with its population of only 6.5 million speaks
Balochi is quite closely related to Persian.
Sindhi has preserved many Indo-Aryan features.
After 1947 Mohajirs established a major presence in the
cities of Sindh, especially in Karachi.With30 million
people in 1998, Sindh has the sharpest linguistic
divisions.
What might be called ‘Punjabi proper’ is spoken in the
prosperous central districts around Lahore.
Punjabi as spoken in these areas is linguistically the
closest to Urdu.
Some of the other languages are: Siraiki, Hindko, and
Mirpuri
7. NATIONAL LANGUAGE POLICY
Pakistan emerged as a multilingual country
inheriting English as the language of colonial
administration, with Urdu retaining powerful
symbolic value as a marker of Muslim identity.
Languages and Ethnicities:
Pakistani national identity was originally conceived
in purely religious terms.
The official rhetoric still emphasizes the
separateness and distinctiveness of the Pakistani
from the Indian national identity.
In Pakistan with its long fear of India , protection of
the nation has been of overriding importance for all
regimes.
8. In Pakistan, formal standard languages and local
speech continues hierarchically between English,
Urdu, and the local language.
Language movements begin with cultural and
linguistic activities by middle class enthusiasts who
work for the enhancement of a sense of local
ethnicity, through a revaluation of the local cultural
and literary heritage and a redefinition of local
speech as a distinctive language.
9. LANGUAGE IN EDUCATION
Pakistan’s language in education policy has evolved since
independence in 1947.
English is widely recognized that the primary function of teaching
English in schools in Pakistan is to prepare pupils for examinations.
English opens doors to higher levels of learning and to
employment opportunities.
One informant noted :
English is a major barrier to entry to white collar jobs.
English is very important for social mobility and entry to quality
education.
Consequently there is apartheid in education because of
language.
English is essential for admission to government service.
Another interviewee, from Islamabad, said, ‘The common
people don’t use English.
10. LANGUAGE ISSUES
generally speaking and no single language can be
said to be common to the whole population.
Urdu language has a common base, in its literary
form Urdu emphasizes words of Persian and Arabic
origin. Urdu is written in a modified version of the
Persian script (written from right to left).
11. SUMMARY
Pakistan’s schools fall into four categories. Private elite
schools are English medium.
Urdu, spoken as a first language by 7% of the population, is
the national language. Since independence – indeed since the
19th century – English has been the language
Early years education must be provided in a child’s home
language.
A strategy for supporting the learning and teaching of English
in Pakistan.
A top priority action is to contribute to the development of a
national language in education. This should include
awareness raising regarding the importance of mother tongue
education in the early years of schooling.
Experience elsewhere, particularly Southeast Asia and the
UK, should be drawn upon.
12. CONCLUSIONS
Pakistan is an example of a multilingual country
whose failure to evolve strong institutions seems
due to the linguistic implications of a whole variety
of conflicting definitions of national identity and local
ethnicity.
So while the nature of division in Punjab is
qualitatively different from Sindh, the rivalry
between locally opposed linguistic ethnicities is
sufficient to allow the central government to
encourage a continuance of the status quo.
14. PAKISTAN AND THE LANGUAGE ISSUE
Introduction:
Language is a mode of communication and source
for transmission of information and knowledge.
The language issue has been one of the most
contentious issues in the political, legal and
constitutional history of Pakistan since its inception.
15. PUNJABI LANGUAGE AND ISSUE
Punjabi is the most widely spoken language in
Pakistan, spoken by more than 40% of inhabitants
mainly in the eastern Punjab province. Pakistani
Punjabi has influences from Persian, Arabic and
Urdu. There is some mutual understanding with
Indian Pakistani although interestingly they both
use different scripts.
Not learned as a compulsory in schooling.
People feel shy in Modern city.
