From: qs@haithem.cray.com (Qasim M. Sheikh)
Subject: Re: NATIONAL LANGUAGE
Reply-To: qs@haithem.cray.com (Qasim M. Sheikh)
Organization: Cray Research, Inc.
Date: 23 Jul 92 08:55:54 CDT


In article <1992Jul23.012621.27849@newton.ccs.tuns.ca>, jamalin@newton.ccs.tuns.ca (Nadeem Jamali) writes:

|> 
|> 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
|> 

This article is a breath of fresh air.  A few things I would like to add are:
It is a bit too strong to say that urdu has nothing to do with Islam outside
the region of subcontinent.  If we really want to get picky urdu does not
have much of an existence outside this region any way.  So where it exists
it has a lot to do with Islam as Nademm says and where it does not exist we can
not say much about its importance regarding Islam.
   It is my understanding that when one wants Pakistan to adopt arabic as a
national language we are talking about a long term solution and a solution that
can be implemented very slowly.  For starters we do not have enough arabic
teachers in Pakistan.  So if the change over to arabic is slow enough hopefully
our culture will adapt to it.  Also, the arabic that will be spoken in
Pakistan will be a an arabic modified by Pakistani culture.
Newsgroups: soc.culture.pakistan