The language of power
On November 1, all political parties agreed to exclude the armed forces and the judiciary from any possibility of accountability through the proposed bill on the National Accountability Commission. The…
Preserving language
The government of Gilgit-Baltistan has been trying to chalk out a mechanism for the preservation and promotion of the languages spoken in the region. It has been working on this…
Mind your language! Markets obsess about central bank lingo
When the US Federal Reserve issued a statement of 250 words after raising interest rates last month, markets focused on just one: accommodative. And it wasn't even mentioned. The omission…
The language of war
Finally it comes down to this: Some people are expendable. In certain parts of the world – where we and our allies are waging war – the expendable people come…
The language question
Winter brings its own festivities in Karachi. Last month, the three-day 2nd Sindh Literature Festival (SLF) concluded in the city. The event drew speakers from other parts of the country.…
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…
Language whims
My last column on language-in-education evoked interesting comments from readers. Some raised valid concerns. Others betrayed unfounded fears about language — and also education. Quite a few of the comments…
The language of war
The tragic war that has torn Syria apart over the last five years has created enormous suffering in modern times. Not enough has been said about the war by the…
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…
