Diverse views have been expressed in connection with writer Gunadasa Amarasekera’s recent and controversial reference to “English-speaking pariahs”.
The late Martin Wickramasinghe, in his 1952 book “Aspects of Sinhalese Culture” (the book is written in English), said you can benefit from reading and writing English without becoming a slave to the English culture.
“English is our gateway to world culture and world literature,” Mr. Wickramasinghe wrote. “English is necessary for international communication and is the medium by which we can acquire scientific knowledge. But all these undeniable facts do not constitute an argument to discard and disregard the national languages or give them a subordinate place.”
Mr. Wickramasinghe’s emphasis is on the national languages Sinhala and Tamil. Political haste and expediency in 1956 led to Sinhala being made the official language. If they had had the opportunity, many Sinhala and Tamil-speaking parents would have opted to have their children educated in the English medium.
The Latin word “verna” refers to “a slave born in his master’s house”, or “a home-born slave”. Vernaculus has the same meaning in Latin. It could therefore be argued that the British imperialists, in order to degrade those learning in Sinhala and Tamil, intentionally called such schools “vernacular schools”.
Even now, if the opportunity was provided, most parents would have their children taught in English. A three-wheeler driver we know speaks no English, but sends his child to a private tutor living miles away to learn English. This same driver saved money over a couple of months to buy his child a computer.
The great Indian leader Jawaharlal Nehru was not tempted to change India’s language policy for political gain, although there was pressure on him to do so. As a result of holding onto English, India has made giant strides in science and technology. Today, India is a world leader in industrial growth and achievements.
In his autobiography, Nehru expresses his views on languages: “English is bound to remain our chief link with the outside world,” Nehru wrote. “That is as it should be. For generations past we have been trying to learn English, and we have achieved a fair measure of success in the endeavour. It would be a folly to wipe the slate clean now and not to take full advantage of this long training. English also is today undoubtedly the most widespread and important world language, and it is gaining fast on other languages.”
In the same book, Nehru wrote “that English will become increasingly a language used for technical, scientific and business communications, and specially for international contacts.”
He added that “it would be desirable for us to undertake the teaching of Basic English on an extensive scale, rather than Standard English, which can be left to specialist and particular students”.
Mr. Amarasekera referred to “English-speaking pariahs” at a book launch on the morning of February 4, 2010, Independence Day. He was speaking in English in an interview for TV, and he was launching a book written in English.
Kasi Silva |
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