English Group Assignement-Semester 1

PREFERANCE OF ENGLISH WORDS OVER AVAILABLE

 URDU WORDS: A FACT OR AN ASSUMPTION.

Language is one of the most powerful sourcesof ideology. Each nation has its own ideological boundaries in which language has a significant role.A person must know something of the structure of his language ,its position in the word and its relation to another tongues History shows that many ideological movements used the power of language to succeed. In 21st century where science is pacing up advancement in human life, language still holds its importance for the growth of powerful ideas. Without the progress of language a group of people, a society or a nation can’t represent itself object.

The sum totality of ideas, values, beliefs, attitudes, prejudices, myths, religious strictures, and all the other cultural `baggage' that speakers bring to their dealings with language from their culture. Linguistic culture also is concerned with the transmission and codification of language and has bearing also on the culture's notions of the value of literacy and the sanctity of texts. And of course language itself is a cultural artifact and must be counted as a part of linguistic culture.

English is the most dominant language of the 21st century.It is spreading all around the world and also it is adapting vocabulary from other languages.It is globalized and its major demand is in developed countries.It has taken too much change in our daily routine. Most people in Pakistan prefer to use English words instead of Urdu words in their daily routine.They consider this language as a way to belong to well-educated society, the way towards a better education, better job opportunities etc.Furthermore it is a language used everywhere in the world.Pakistan has a large population of people that can speak or can communicate in English. Almost 50% of Pakistan’s population can speak some level of English. Uses of English words have now become a compulsory thing in our society and are been  frequently used in Pakistan.

            It is a fact that in our culture and environment, english language has penetrated so much that every person tries to use one or two english words in his speech or conversation. It is our nature that we learn different languages for the sake of interest, fashion and other needs. Our national language is urdu, but we want to influence or impress others by english language, to show others that I have good communication skills. Even the persons, who don’t know about english language and can’t speak english, are also using some english words considering it relevant for their acceptance in the society. There are a lot of people who don’t speak urdu language even in their homes, because they consider it shameful to use urdulanguage.Society also have set the standard that a person who can’t speak english is considered to be illiterate.Samuel Daniel in his poem "Musophilies",wrote in 1959. 

And who in time knows whither we my vent

The treasure oourtongue, to what strange

This gain of our best glory shall be sent,

To rich unknowing nations without stores?

Which worlds in the yet unformed Occident

May come refined with the accents that are ours. (74)

English words have been widely used by us or communication with foreigners. When people from foreign countries come to visit Pakistan, they are basically promoting their culture. They use their native language, they don’t hesitate to speak their inborn language even we don’t understand them. When people came from china, they speak Chinese only; some of them can speak little English. Similarly, natives of the France, still speak French. Similarly, when we go abroad they speak their native language only. All countries of the world consider their native language as a pride, because it gives them unique identity. In our country, if we speak Urdu in conversation, we also use many English words with Urdu. It is due to the concept of westernization that is promoted so much in our society that we hesitate to use our national language. We can also say that globalization is also the key factor of promoting this western culture in our language. It is right to say that we cannot survive without English.Mr Rushdie has stated:

What seems to be happening is that those peope who were once colonized by the language are now rapidly remarking it ,domesticating it, becoming more and more relaxed about the way they use it assisted by the English language's enormous flexibility and size, they are carving out large territories for themselves within its frontiers.(5)

The language of science is English and is the second languages of most of the countries including Pakistan. Urdu being less updated and mostly containing outdated content and vocabulary has no part in scientific research.Pakistan is in the list of low progressive countries.Technology induced in market and scientific societies have manufacturing details, blue prints in English language language.UK and other foreign countries are very up to date in many aspects of science and technology. On the other hand, wedon’t have words as meanings of those technologies in our language.Pakistan is not considered a very progressive country in all aspects of science especially in technology. So we borrow those words in our daily use. As soon as a product/entertainment media is launched in the market, other countries including India translate it to the national language of state as to make people use the national language instead of the foreign language. In this way all types of latest technology is in English. Such as websites, communication and social apps, games and all programming languages are in English. Moreover all the latest machinery understands commands only in English language. So English is considering as an essential component for the progress of Pakistan. In this manner Urdu is not updated regularly and is one of the main cause of preference of English words on Urdu

            In our education system, we have all the subjects even they are related to science or math are in english.Now mostly students study science subjects in English because it has much in the future.All the Universities have provided their course subjects in English except of subjects like Urdu and Islamiyat.It helps the students to collect research material for their projects and assignments from the internet .Otherwise it will become difficult for the students to research in Urdu language. In Arab and other countries such as China, Japan and Russia, all teaching and research material is presented in their national languages but our Government is not willing to transfer or translate our science and technology material into Urdu.Thats why students prefer to study science subjects in English.

English has huge economic values.It has become a source of livelihood for many people in Pakistan. With the help of English language, they can deal internationalmarkets. Even in Government sector, English is preferred on jobs and deals. The world has progressed so much that it has become necessary for everyone to be uptodate.English is essential for communication not only for Pakistan but also important for other countries. People in Pakistan have to polish their English skills to challenge the Western Countries.If a Pakistani go for a job to countries like America,England ,he has to learn English to earn his livelihood  because it is impossible for him to stay without any knowledge of English Language. So we can say that English has become an international language for almost all countries. In this way we can say that in order to successfully communicate with countries; a person has to focus on his knowledge of English words.

English language is now recognized as a Modern language and has earned a status "A language of upper class society".Because of frequent use of English language in elite class, other languages are struggling to survive at official level.In high class societies,Urdu is thought to be a language of lower or middle class people.Youngsters generally used to speak English words instead  of  Urdu words because they think that speaking English is Modern and has become a fashion amongst them.English has putted  a lot of  impact on Urdu words .A lot of English words have been written in Urdu language are pronounced as same in English language.Their are different words in like doctor,bedroom,basket,ball are written in Urdu language and have the same pronunciation as they have in English Language. Mr. Crystal has stated "This is the first time we actually have a language spoken genuinely by every country in the world."(11)

There is also a lot of research and knowledge available in English language. Almost every scientific knowledge is available in English language. A lot of moral and spiritual research is also present in English language. If a student is familiar to the English language then he can learn everything easily. Because almost all type of research is available in English language. If a student stuck in solving any complex math problem then he can easily search the solution of that problem from Google. But in order to do this, he has to be familiar to the use of English. He cannot do this by using Urdu or Punjabi words. He can understand not only math but he can understand any subject if he is familiar to English language. So in order to enhance ones knowledge, he has to learn English properly. 

Different social events and seminars are arranged in Pakistan in which the Political Leaders emphasize on the use of our national language "Urdu".They try to promote Urdu language but they didn’t perform their role effectively. They advise people in their speeches to speak and learn Urdu but they themselves speak at least one or two words of English in every sentence while addressing to the nation or during any media talk.Inspite of using Urdu words ,they use English words because it gives a pleasant effect on their speech. They wanted to be a good English speaker. Our political leaders including president and prime minister should address official events within or outside the country in Urdu .Also in our schools and colleges, seminars are arranged in which announcements and debates are presented in English language.

Urdu since independence has been declared the national language of the state Pakistan.But the value of Urdu has been the same as it was before independane.Beforeindependence Hindi and English were the dominating languages of the subcontinent and Urdu was one of the minor yet progressing languages of the region.Persion(Farsi) has a major role in the development of Urdu.From the day of independence to the present day Urdu has not progressed as much as the other languages have done in the same period.New words and phrases are not updated as the current need of language.This lack of language updating and not improving the vocabulary results in other languages dominating the language .

As we have discussed much about the importance of English, but it doesn,t means that Urdu has been neglected .Urdu words have their own importance in the society. Basically,Urdu is our mother tongue.Mother tongue is the best way of expression of intellectual powers and mental qualities.Urdu is the unique carrier of our emotional and reasoningactivities.It opens new ways for us to acquire and understand the importance of social maturity and logical thinking.The advancement of Urdu in current Pakistan is necessary for the objectives of a welfare state.As we all know that Pakistan has a great asset in form of Urdu language which can defend the nation on its ideological borders. We must remember the history of this language which had given us the power to make our beloved homeland.SirSapru has stated:"Urdu is a sacred heritage which the Hindus and the Muslims have inherited from their forefathers and it is indivisible"

It is a fact that Urdu is the best way of our expression.It is a language of our jokes, friendships and feeling ease among our community.Love for national language is the sign of developed nations. It must maintain its image as a carrier of progressive thinking, ideology and logical activity.Through it we can secure our cultural heritage and golden traditions .We can shape many progressive minds in the field of science and arts.As the use of English words is increasing day by day but our mother-tongue has penetrated so much in our souls that no other language can take its place.

Urdu has also played an important role in our ideology.Urdu language was used as one of the factors for the demand of Pakistan. A large number of Muslims of India had considered Urdu as their language instead of Hindi, which paved the way for the origin of “Two Nation Theory”."Ideologies are threatened when there is shift from language and cultures.English would not the yard stick to measure caliber for job seeking" (Rehman 1996:242) .Urdu language has vital role in the ideology of Pakistan. The advancement of Urdu in current Pakistan is necessary for the objectives of a welfare state. But Urdu language is facing many challenges in Pakistan. Many regional languages are also in danger to some extent. Because of frequent use of English language in elite class, other languages are struggling to survive at official level. As we all know that Pakistan has a great asset in form of Urdu language which can defend the nation on its ideological borders. We must remember the history of this language which had given us the power to make our beloved homeland. Mr.Rehman has stated:

Language has been initimately related to ideology and power in Pakistan.While Urdu is conspicuous as a symbol of Pakistani identity and national integeritation,otherethnic groups have this as a version of internal colonialism.Indigenous languages thus become tools that serve to assert ethnic identity and ensure a wider mobalisation.(4556)

After Pakistan was given independence there were pro-English, pro-Urdu and pro-ethno-nationalists lobby which shaped our language dispute. After independence, Pakistan underwent a series of political instabilities and marshal laws after which English emerged as the dominant language despite the efforts of the ruling elite of Pakistan and pro-Urdu lobby to give Urdu the status of the national language. The Pro-Urdu lobby failed to run a successful campaign in support of Urdu. The only success they had were the following two clauses were included in article 251 of the constitution of 1973 which is still in place till today.

(1) The National Language of Pakistan is Urdu, and arrangements shall be made for Urdu to be used for official and other purposes within fifteen years.

(2) Subject to clause (1) the English language may be used for official purposes until arrangements are made for the replacement of English.

Although the article proclaimed the national language to be Urdu. Yet till this date clause (2) wasn’t implemented to its full extent.

In the era of Zia’s marshal law steps were taken to make Urdu as a language of instruction and language of administration but these steps were strongly opposed by the pro-English lobby which were mainly the middle and upper class. But by the end of his era Zia realized the completely removing English was an impossible task and he himself admitted that it couldn’t be done.After many more governments and one marshal law later in 2017 English is now consider as co-national language of Pakistan along side Urdu. After 70 years of independence somewhere in-between it all went wrong and the Urdu-English dispute became politicized and became a fight between the elites and the non-elites. As Mr. Rehman states:

During the forty-six years of Pakistan's independence, Urdu has been supported at the rhetorical levels by the ruling elites of Pakistan in order to counter ethno-nationalist sentiment and to increase the power base of the elite. The Urdu proto-elite, which was not allied to the ethno-nationalist proto-elites, supported Urdu, too, as a symbol of Pakistani identity…….. The ruling elite, however, actually supported English for use in all official domains so as to ensure its cultural predominance and distinction from the non-elites; to facilitate the entry of its children in positions of power and privilege and open the possibility of entering the international, very highly paid, professional elite (The Urdu-English controversy in Pakistan 203)

In order to secure Urdu, we must produce and preseve the picelessgift.It is our most prestigious heritage .In order to presereit,we have to make all our efforts by ourselves and the best means to promote and secure Urdu are the books.Thanks to computer that we are now having access to all the calligraphies.Now every computer with an addition of  a software , can poduce all our literature in nastaliq(Urdu).We should activte all book producing agencies and also new ones where it is necessary and that must be done by full passion.It is the need of the hour to publish Urdu translations of scientific and technical books available in English.These are essential for our artisans,skilled workers and technological experts who want to improve thei skills.

We must take some steps at National level to promote Urdu language. Some steps are taken by the government officials in promoting Urdu. The Supreme Court of Pakistan recently passed an order in which Supreme Court ordered the Federal Government and Provincial government to use Urdu as official language in country. In its decision it wrote that English cannot be understood by the large number of people in the Pakistan. Notice boards in public offices like police stations, parks, hospitals and banks should display information in Urdu. Urdu can also be promoted by increasing the literacy rate of the countries where Urdu is spoken. It is the duty of every individual to perform its role in developing Urdu language. We should take positive steps to rebuild our national language. We should spread the awareness that Urdu language is also developed language. Love with our national language is sign of love with our country. If we want to become a strong and developed nation and country than we have to adopt our language in all fields. We should guide our elite class societies to use Urdu language. In this way, we shall be successful to write our name in history as successful nation.

References

1.       Rahman,Tariq.Language ,Power and Ideology.Economic and Political Weekly,2002.

2.       Latifi,Daniel.PreservingUrdu through Self Help.Economic and Political Weekly,1999.

3.       Jussawal,Feroza.The Decline of English.National Council of Teachers of English,1982.

4.       Crystal ,David.English has a Global Language.CAMBRIDGE.

5.       Rehman,Tariq.The Urdu-English Controversy in Pakistan. Cambridge University Press,1997.

6.       Russel ,Ralph.Urdu in India Since Independence.Economic and Political Weekly,1999.

7.       JitLal,Inder.A language of Composite Culture.Sahitya Akademi,1976.

8.       Bikramjit.Abuse of Urdu.Economic and  Political  Weekly,2004.

9.       Neglect of Urdu.Economic and Political Weekly,1985.

10.   S.Dulai,Surjit.Urdu POETRY AND ITS ADVENT IN English.Asian Studies Center,Michigan State University,1974.

11.   www.britishcouncil.org