From: jamalin@newton.ccs.tuns.ca (Nadeem Jamali)
Subject: Re: NATIONAL LANGUAGE
Organization: Technical University of Nova Scotia, Halifax, N.S.
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1992 01:26:21 GMT

In article <1992Jul22.221955.18403@leland.Stanford.EDU> arkay@leland.Stanford.EDU (Abdur Khan) writes:
>In article <1992Jul22.135406.4830@cbfsb.cb.att.com> onf@cbnewsg.cb.att.com (omar.farooq) writes:
>>----------------------------------------
>>Article 25982 in soc.culture.pakistan:
>>From: qs@haithem.cray.com (Qasim M. Sheikh)
>>Subject: Re: Muhajirs in Sindh
>>Organization: Cray Research, Inc.
>>Date: 22 Jul 92 08:00:12 CDT
>>Lines: 39
>>
>>[...deleted...]
>>
>>I agree with Nadeem whole heartedly.  It is still not too late. Considering
>>the fact that close to 70+% of Pakistanis do not know how to read and write
>>and their knowledge of Urdu is at a very minimal level.  If Arabic, Urdu and
>>a regional language is spoken at home, future generations will learn all 3 very
>>quickly.  Kids are the best language learners.
>>----------------------------------------
>>
>>Although theoretically this is an excellent idea, I don't see how well people
>>are going to mentally adapt to such a change.  The history of the cultures in
>>Pakistan is proof of how many different races, languages, and religions have
>>made their pass through the region.  I think Arabic should be taught as a
>>second language, along with the local and Urdu, but not being a native
>
>
>why arabic, just because we are muslims, what utter rot. Lets just have punjabi
>as the national language as a large number of pakistani's speak it already.
>Arabic, if we learn arabic we might turn out to be like arabs, god forbid.
>
>sahibzada rafay khan[]
>

Sahibzaday :)  (just bantering.. please don't take an offense)

No language should be imposed on a people. I wrote it to a friend in an e-mail
and I'll repeat it here. There is more to natural languages than mere syntax
and semantics. What it is?? most of us still do not know. One cannot just
talk in terms of changing a nation's national language. History and only 
history has a right to change it... and believe me... history is much more
gentle than you are. The case of Pakistan is very much like Canada. There are
two distinct cultures with distinct languages in Canada. In such cases, what
is normally considered acceptable is to give the national language status to
each major language. Since our languages are not widely spoken throughout
the world, there is a necessity of learning English, which, quite truly is
the most widely known language in today's world. These two are the essential
languages for every province of Pakistan.

English can serve the purpose of an official language of Pakistan, in much
the same way as it does in India. To have another language common for people
speaking different native languages of Pakistan is meant to make a statement
about the ideology of the country, and to gain something that cannot be gained
by the use of English. If Pakistan aspires to be recognised as a country with
the Islamic Ideology, then Urdu is hardly something that helps. Urdu may be
the symbol of Islamic Ideology in the Hindu-majority states of the united India,
that now constitute India. But outside that region... NO... It has nothing
to do with Islam. Arabic is no doubt the only language that has anything to
do with Islam. Some people might argue that no language has anything to do
with Islam. Still, with the knowledge of Arabic instead of Urdu, wouldn't
people of Pakistan be more confident in their assertion that they are Muslims.
Wouldn't it help the people get out of the trap of those who twist the meaning
of Quran's verses to fool the people. Wouldn't it help Pakistan get out of
the regional politics, and provide leadership to the rest of the Islamic
world. One may not be very excited about the religious aspect. But, can't
we imagine what political advantage in international politics, Pakistan will
have.

By proposing Punjabi language as the sole national language of Pakistan, 
Mr. Sahibzada has tried to play the same trick with us which these people
have been playing since independence... divide and conquer. I can but feel
sorry for him...

Nadeem

-- 
Nadeem Jamali                                     jamalin@newton.ccs.tuns.ca
						 
School of Computer Science			  
Technical University of Nova Scotia		  (902)420-7882  
Newsgroups: soc.culture.pakistan