Urdu was enforced on us, says Rabbani

[313ghazi]

Actually, Farsi was that language, historically. Not Urdu.

That depends on how far back you want to go. You are right, before urdu it was farsi, pre 18th century. I think right now if you wanted to go to any corner of Pakistan and start a conversation with someone, your best bet would probably be urdu. People may not be experts in it, but they can understand it. It's this practical reason why I think we should continue to use it as a national language.

Unfortunately in our country as with everything else, government cannot even do language correctly. local languages are not taught so urdu is seen as a threat in the identity politics game, higher education is not in Urdu so the langauge is not valued as much as English. If we want to see an end to language being an issue;

- local langauges must be taught at schools and be used as the medium of teaching alongside urdu.
- local government must provide documentation in local langauges (councils in the UK translate literature into dozens of foreign languages to assist minorities and immigrants)
- any textbooks used in higher education must also be translated into urdu.

 

[xairhossi]

That depends on how far back you want to go. You are right, before urdu it was farsi, pre 18th century.

Not only pre-18th century but well into the 19th century. Only after British conquest (1843-1849) was Urdu started to be implemented in the region/regions of Pakistan. In a way, it actually is a continuation of British colonial policy. Very ironic for some posters accusing others of following the British or slavery or something.

 

[ABCharlie]

Election campaign begins for next year?

 

[Kabira]

Will this idea workout?

Pakistan in need of a ‘Pakistani’ language: Pasban e Pakistan president
KARACHI: For a better national cohesion and bridging wider language gaps in the multi-linguistic country of Pakistan, Pakistan needs to develop a 'Pakistani' language by localization of our national language Urdu, so to make it further easily understandable for all people of Pakistan irrespective of their regional languages or mother tongues.

These remarks were made by Pasban e Pakistan President Altaf Shakoor. He said the idea of a Pakistani language is not against our national language Urdu, but rather in favour of Urdu to make it a true national language, by widening its scope and canvas. He said Urdu in fact has more natural adoptability than any other language of the world. It evolved from a makeshift language of army camps, being a crude mix of different languages to become one of the greatest languages of the world. This inbuilt adoptability can easily enrich Urdu to absorb hundreds of thousands words of different regional languages of Pakistan and become a true lingua franca of this country.

He said presently, regional languages like Punjabi, Sindhi, Balochi and Pashtu have their own and separate alphabets and scripts. However, he suggested a common 'Pakistani alphabet' for all regional languages of Pakistan by expanding the limited alphabet of Urdu which has presently just 39 basic letters. However, the Sindhi language has 52 basic letters and Pashto has 45 basic letters.

He said Urdu, with its limited 39-letter alphabet cannot cater the needs of the rich regional languages like Sindhi or Pashto; hence, it is a must to expand the alphabet of Urdu so that it can write the basic letters and sounds of all regional languages of Pakistan.

He further said that presently, Urdu and other regional languages are written in different scripts. A student who is taught Urdu cannot read Sindhi or Balochi alphabets easily, which is a great headrace academically, politically, socially and culturally. He suggested adopting a standard Arabic-based script of all these languages in the shape of a Pakistani language.

He said the national and regional language authorities in Pakistan and language departments of different universities should join hands to develop a common alphabet and common script for all Pakistani languages. It would not only bring different linguistic and cultural units of the country closer but also greatly help in promoting education and literacy.

He said the recent verdict of the Supreme Court of Pakistan to make Urdu the official language of the country is laudable, but we must go a step further to actively localize our national language Urdu, by expanding its vocabulary by adding rich treasure of local language words to it, besides giving it an exhaustive alphabet and standard script to cater the needs of all regional languages of Pakistan including Sindhi, Punjabi, Balochi and Pashto. He asked for introduction of a same standard alphabet and script for all languages of Pakistan including the national language Urdu.

He said, “However, this is a great challenge to our writers, thinkers, academicians, linguistic experts, as well as, media, judiciary, political parties and whole civil society.”
http://dailytimes.com.pk/pakistan/2...akistani-language-pasban-e-pakistan-president

 

[coffee_cup]

Will this idea workout?

Pakistan in need of a ‘Pakistani’ language: Pasban e Pakistan president
KARACHI: For a better national cohesion and bridging wider language gaps in the multi-linguistic country of Pakistan, Pakistan needs to develop a 'Pakistani' language by localization of our national language Urdu, so to make it further easily understandable for all people of Pakistan irrespective of their regional languages or mother tongues.

These remarks were made by Pasban e Pakistan President Altaf Shakoor. He said the idea of a Pakistani language is not against our national language Urdu, but rather in favour of Urdu to make it a true national language, by widening its scope and canvas. He said Urdu in fact has more natural adoptability than any other language of the world. It evolved from a makeshift language of army camps, being a crude mix of different languages to become one of the greatest languages of the world. This inbuilt adoptability can easily enrich Urdu to absorb hundreds of thousands words of different regional languages of Pakistan and become a true lingua franca of this country.

He said presently, regional languages like Punjabi, Sindhi, Balochi and Pashtu have their own and separate alphabets and scripts. However, he suggested a common 'Pakistani alphabet' for all regional languages of Pakistan by expanding the limited alphabet of Urdu which has presently just 39 basic letters. However, the Sindhi language has 52 basic letters and Pashto has 45 basic letters.

He said Urdu, with its limited 39-letter alphabet cannot cater the needs of the rich regional languages like Sindhi or Pashto; hence, it is a must to expand the alphabet of Urdu so that it can write the basic letters and sounds of all regional languages of Pakistan.

He further said that presently, Urdu and other regional languages are written in different scripts. A student who is taught Urdu cannot read Sindhi or Balochi alphabets easily, which is a great headrace academically, politically, socially and culturally. He suggested adopting a standard Arabic-based script of all these languages in the shape of a Pakistani language.

He said the national and regional language authorities in Pakistan and language departments of different universities should join hands to develop a common alphabet and common script for all Pakistani languages. It would not only bring different linguistic and cultural units of the country closer but also greatly help in promoting education and literacy.

He said the recent verdict of the Supreme Court of Pakistan to make Urdu the official language of the country is laudable, but we must go a step further to actively localize our national language Urdu, by expanding its vocabulary by adding rich treasure of local language words to it, besides giving it an exhaustive alphabet and standard script to cater the needs of all regional languages of Pakistan including Sindhi, Punjabi, Balochi and Pashto. He asked for introduction of a same standard alphabet and script for all languages of Pakistan including the national language Urdu.

He said, “However, this is a great challenge to our writers, thinkers, academicians, linguistic experts, as well as, media, judiciary, political parties and whole civil society.”
http://dailytimes.com.pk/pakistan/2...akistani-language-pasban-e-pakistan-president

If I were a multi millionaire I would have spent a significant amount of my wealth for the pormotion of our national language (also expanding its vocabulary, increasing alphabets etc.)

Can not stress enough how important that is!

 

[xairhossi]

Will this idea workout?

Pakistan in need of a ‘Pakistani’ language: Pasban e Pakistan president
KARACHI: For a better national cohesion and bridging wider language gaps in the multi-linguistic country of Pakistan, Pakistan needs to develop a 'Pakistani' language by localization of our national language Urdu, so to make it further easily understandable for all people of Pakistan irrespective of their regional languages or mother tongues.

These remarks were made by Pasban e Pakistan President Altaf Shakoor. He said the idea of a Pakistani language is not against our national language Urdu, but rather in favour of Urdu to make it a true national language, by widening its scope and canvas. He said Urdu in fact has more natural adoptability than any other language of the world. It evolved from a makeshift language of army camps, being a crude mix of different languages to become one of the greatest languages of the world. This inbuilt adoptability can easily enrich Urdu to absorb hundreds of thousands words of different regional languages of Pakistan and become a true lingua franca of this country.

He said presently, regional languages like Punjabi, Sindhi, Balochi and Pashtu have their own and separate alphabets and scripts. However, he suggested a common 'Pakistani alphabet' for all regional languages of Pakistan by expanding the limited alphabet of Urdu which has presently just 39 basic letters. However, the Sindhi language has 52 basic letters and Pashto has 45 basic letters.

He said Urdu, with its limited 39-letter alphabet cannot cater the needs of the rich regional languages like Sindhi or Pashto; hence, it is a must to expand the alphabet of Urdu so that it can write the basic letters and sounds of all regional languages of Pakistan.

He further said that presently, Urdu and other regional languages are written in different scripts. A student who is taught Urdu cannot read Sindhi or Balochi alphabets easily, which is a great headrace academically, politically, socially and culturally. He suggested adopting a standard Arabic-based script of all these languages in the shape of a Pakistani language.

He said the national and regional language authorities in Pakistan and language departments of different universities should join hands to develop a common alphabet and common script for all Pakistani languages. It would not only bring different linguistic and cultural units of the country closer but also greatly help in promoting education and literacy.

He said the recent verdict of the Supreme Court of Pakistan to make Urdu the official language of the country is laudable, but we must go a step further to actively localize our national language Urdu, by expanding its vocabulary by adding rich treasure of local language words to it, besides giving it an exhaustive alphabet and standard script to cater the needs of all regional languages of Pakistan including Sindhi, Punjabi, Balochi and Pashto. He asked for introduction of a same standard alphabet and script for all languages of Pakistan including the national language Urdu.

He said, “However, this is a great challenge to our writers, thinkers, academicians, linguistic experts, as well as, media, judiciary, political parties and whole civil society.”
http://dailytimes.com.pk/pakistan/2...akistani-language-pasban-e-pakistan-president

So he's saying that the script of Urdu (Nastaliq) should be changed? Not sure what that would accomplish. Pashto, Sindhi etc. have the modified Arabic script rather than Nastaliq and with additional letters for particular sounds. Punjabi has Nastaliq as well (Shahmukhi) but imo it needs to be modified as its a tonal language and many of its sounds aren't represented by additional letters/modified letters in Shahmukhi. Modifying the script for Punjabi will also promote it.

 

[coffee_cup]

So he's saying that the script of Urdu (Nastaliq) should be changed? Not sure what that would accomplish. Pashto, Sindhi etc. have the modified Arabic script rather than Nastaliq and with additional letters for particular sounds. Punjabi has Nastaliq as well (Shahmukhi) but imo it needs to be modified as its a tonal language and many of its sounds aren't represented by additional letters/modified letters in Shahmukhi. Modifying the script for Punjabi will also promote it.

When linguists sit together, I am sure they can find an acceptable solution for everyone.

 

[xairhossi]

When linguists sit together, I am sure they can find an acceptable solution for everyone.

Do you know about Esperanto?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esperanto

It was devised by combining all European languages, to serve as a common tongue across EU. See how that turned out.

 

[coffee_cup]

Do you know about Esperanto?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esperanto

It was devised by combining all European languages, to serve as a common tongue across EU. See how that turned out.

As I said, here we have a language which already is our Lingua Franca. Some modification and evolution is not that bad. Even Germans do that in their language every few years.

Thats a normal thing. Let linguists sit together and work on an acceptable solution untill then Urdu can be used in its current form. Of course other local languages should also be promoted in schools.

 

[coffee_cup]

good idea m8.. let's start right now:
Salams habibi.. anta Pakistani chaay, mennuko dos seekhon kebabon wanting..

If you would say that in Urdu, something like: "Aslam-o-Alykum Bhai jaan, Do Seekh Kebab day daiN".

Almost 95% of Pakistani shop keepers would understand that.

 

[Finer]

Punjab had no problem accommodating Urdu as official language, and still don't. Not only that, it is promoting at the expense of its local language for education, trade and culture. Perhaps Punjab is the most loyal to Pakistan comparatively?

 

[Hareeb]

Make sure these scums dont get elected in next election along baboons.

 

[haviZsultan]

Punjab had no problem accommodating Urdu as official language, and still don't. Not only that, it is promoting at the expense of its local language for education, trade and culture. Perhaps Punjab is the most loyal to Pakistan comparatively?

I don't think any state or ethnic group is more or less loyal to Pakistan. Every community has its traitors from Tarek Fateh to Syed Jamaluddin.

I think a crucial aspect of Pakistanism should be acceptance and agreement that not only our ethnic group but the others worked to form Pakistan. Punjab and Sindh through its votes, Pakhtunkhwa through Abdur Rab Nishtar and Marwat's loyalty to the muslim league and us by moving from our historical land area to the current borders of Pakistan. Everyone did his part. Belittling anothers sacrifice (I am not blaming you for doing so) should be a crime. Like MQM using the we created Pakistan card but in reality engaging in wide spread terrorism which has weakened the federation.

 

[xairhossi]

Punjab had no problem accommodating Urdu as official language, and still don't. Not only that, it is promoting at the expense of its local language for education, trade and culture. Perhaps Punjab is the most loyal to Pakistan comparatively?

Loyalty to Pakistan is judged by how willing you are to leave your own languages, culture etc.? Yet still everyone loves to bash Punjab

 

[Finer]

Loyalty to Pakistan is judged by how willing you are to leave your own languages, culture etc.? Yet still everyone loves to bash Punjab

Because it is easy to bash Punjab which is perfect distraction for them to avoid their reality [problems]. Punjab has been punching bag for a long time from MQM to NWFP even though Punjab didn't rule as much as others did.

The main establishment; General Ayub, Yahya, Zia-ul-Haq, Musharraf [combined 25 years and more]
The Sindh political party; Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto, and now Zardari. [10+12 years minimum]
Punjab political party; Nawaz in first term interrupted by Military takeover in first year, second term of Nawaz Sharif interrupted again by Military takeover in 1 and half. 3rd term almost same thing, but thankfully, it didn't succeed and now probably going to complete its term. [In short; 7 years maximum].

Yet people cannot wait to blame everything on Punjab. I guess Punjab is the easy target, plus it doesn't help that there is PTI-PMLN going on which to the extent PTI was caught promoting racial war not long ago.