Languages: mine and ours
Diversity is a complex phenomenon and the term itself connotes many things. It could be either perceptive or objective. Although it appears to have positive connotations, the term could lead…
The language of identity
“One does not inhabit a country; one inhabits a language.” —Emil Cioran A day before the International Mother Language Day (IMLD) on February 21, the Senate Standing Committee on Law,…
Languages on death row
Pathanay Khan was already in his mid-forties when his melodious voice crossed the walls of the Sufi shrine of Suleman Shah at Taunsa Sharif. This is where he used to…
Language and identity
“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his mother language that goes to his heart.”…
Language wars
It is easy to get embroiled in controversies of which there never seems to be a shortage in Pakistan. The online world has ensured that any contentious bit of news…
Language myths
Last week Karachi hosted the Teachers’ Literature Festival — an innovative experiment — to introduce an alternative discourse in education. Here a lively session on language in learning was held.…
Language change
Following the Supreme Court’s recent query about measures taken for adopting Urdu as an official language, as mandated by Article 251 of the Constitution, the center embarked on a flurry…
Let language unite
About two weeks ago, on July 16, the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Law, Justice and Human Rights rejected a private member’s bill for an amendment in the constitution to…
Between two languages
In some ways, I have a lover’s quarrel with the English language. I live with it and I cherish this relationship. But there is often this feeling that in preserving…
Our language tragedy
There are 69 languages spoken in Pakistan. In addition to Urdu only one language is recognised in each province as the ‘provincial’ language. The non-recognition of the minority languages causes…
