The imperialism of language
Learning English will make you rich, and learning Arabic will make you holy. No one ever says these things out loud in Pakistan, but their premises under gird many decisions.…
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…
Rated for language
Over the past week, the PTI’s azadi dharna has witnessed the frightening spectacle of a rhetorically belligerent Imran Khan.He has used words for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and the former…
Taxing language
For the record: Tahirul Qadri came on TV on Tuesday night and angrily declared that the cases the government is preparing against him are all lies and fabrications. The anchor…
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…
India’s ‘forest of living languages’ grows to 880
A staggering 880 languages are spoken in India, a four-year survey will show Thursday, in the first comprehensive study since the 19th century. This major increase from the 122 languages…
Language of learning
The Children’s Literature Festival is the best thing that could have happened to the children of Pakistan. Six festivals have already been organised since November 2011 — the latest having…
Militants’ language
Pakistan had braced itself for a ‘bloody’ election. It’s bad enough that being resigned to this reality was a prerequisite for further democratic consolidation. But the carnage that is unfolding…
Language and thinking
Education is a much talked about issue in today’s Pakistan. Unfortunately it provokes little serious thinking and even less action. I keep hoping that this talk will turn into action…
