Language Policy and Medium of Instruction Issue in Pakistan

Authors

  • Ali AMMAR Institute of Social Sciences, BZU, Multan
  • Naveen ALI NUML University Multan Campus
  • Ali FAWAD Mphil Scholar Quaid-e-Azam University Islamabad
  • Khamsa QASIM GCU, Faislabad

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4312/ala.5.1.111-124

Keywords:

Keywords, language policy, ethnic, aversive attitudes, linguistic-identity, anti-English sentiments

Abstract

 

The issue of language in Pakistan is not just related to linguistics. It has far more implications for cultural, economic, political, and social issues. The current paper studies the latest language policy of Pakistan and its implications for local languages. It then relates to the formation and implementation of a (certain steps) sound language policy to root out the conflicts and ethnic clashes from time to time in the country, and to survive the language shock of majority of students in Pakistan, who are taught English as compulsory subject up to 14 years of education. The current situation of the country also correlates to the puzzling phenomenon of cultural aversive attitudes towards English language by the masses.  The current teaching methods and curriculum employed in the institutions of Pakistan, for decades, have only been successful in maintaining the gap between the privileged English related people and the hardcore anti-English sentiments. In this battle for linguistic-identity crisis and supremacy, a lot of national talent has been wasted. This paper briefly re-explores the situation of languages in the country on the first step, then it moves on to focus on the national policy, its flaws, and it possible ways out by bringing in examples from Chinese and Indian Language Policies.

 

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Author Biographies

  • Ali AMMAR, Institute of Social Sciences, BZU, Multan

    PhD Scholar,

    Institute of Social Sciences

    BZU, Multan, Pakistan

  • Naveen ALI, NUML University Multan Campus

    Lecturer in English

    Department of English

    NUML Uni Multan

  • Khamsa QASIM, GCU, Faislabad

    Lecturer

    Department of English

    Government college university Faislabad

     

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Published

30. 06. 2015

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Section

Research articles

How to Cite

AMMAR, A., ALI, N., FAWAD, A., & QASIM, K. (2015). Language Policy and Medium of Instruction Issue in Pakistan. Acta Linguistica Asiatica, 5(1), 111-124. https://doi.org/10.4312/ala.5.1.111-124