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Pakistan and its Languages
- 1. PRESENTED BY Hafiz Mubasharimran (16281521-006)
- 2. PAKISTAN AND ITSLANGUAGES 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 OFPAKISTAN 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 subsequentgrowth 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-Pwith 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 withits 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 generallyspeaking 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 schoolsfall 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 isan 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.
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- 14. PAKISTAN AND THELANGUAGE 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 ANDISSUE 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.