Condition of English in Bangladesh: Second Language or Foreign Language

Mother tongue or first language is perhaps the				he must have a good command over English
most favorite thing for any person. The question				language. Many of the judges still give their
of language has resulted into many conflicts and				verdicts in English language. It seems that this
discontentment. The prime example of such				trend of using English will remain for the forcible
discontentment is the Language Movement of				future.English in Education sector in
1952 in Bangladesh. On the other hand we can not				Bangladesh:Formal and institutionalized education
live in isolation. We have to be in contact with the				system started in Bangladesh during the British
speakers of other languages. Bangladesh is				rule. At that time Bangladesh was part of British
considered to be a monolingual country in which				India. There was a debate about the medium of
more than 98% of the population is speakers of				education. Raja Rammohan Roy argued that the
Bangla language. However, there are more than				medium should be English rather than Sanskrit or
ten languages in such a small country like				Persian. During the British period the medium of
Bangladesh. Monipuri, Urdu, Chakma, Santali, Garo,				education was largely in English. Calcutta University
Rakhain, Tipra- are just some of the other				took an initiative in 1935 to introduce Bangla as a
languages present in Bangladesh.The interesting				medium of education along with English. In
thing is that Urdu is a Indo-European language but				Bangladesh the use of Bangla in college level
written in Arabic script, Santali belongs to the				started in the 1960s. Now students can answer in
Mono-Khemar language family while Chakma				the examinations in Bangla or English. In the college
belongs to the Chinese-Barmese language group.				level and university level after 1971 the
So, although Bangladesh is often portrayed as a				government tried to patronize Bangla and
country of linguistic unity based on Bangla				implement it by replacing English in the education
language in reality it has notable linguistic diversity.				sector but this did not came into reality because
To communicate with the speakers of other				of some basic problems. The first problem is that
languages we either need to know their language				there were not enough books of any field in
or communicate in a Lingua-Franca that is				Bangla language. This problem is more acute in
comprehensible to both of us.Today, the world				science and technology. For example, there are
has become a global village. Thanks to the				almost no books in Bangla about computer
advancement of communication system and				technology that can be used as a reference book
technology. Every country is dependent on others				in the University level.Actually there are three
for trade and commerce, education, politics etc.				kinds of education systems in our country- Bangla
As a result, we have to constantly communicate				medium, English medium, and Madrasa system.
with other countries and speakers of other				Bangla medium schools can be divided into two
languages. Third world countries like Bangladesh				sections- government schools, and kindergarten
have to depend on foreign aid because they are				schools. In the kindergarten schools more
not self-sufficient. As a result, many foreigners				emphasis is given on English language than
come to Bangladesh. A third factor is the factor				government schools. Some of the famous
of religion. The sacred language of the Muslims is				kindergarten schools of Dhaka are Vikarounnesa,
Arabic, Sanskrit for Hindus, Pali for the Buddhists				Holycross, Willes Little Flower, and so on. Although
and Latin for the Christians.All these factors				these schools belong to Bangla medium the
remind us the necessity for learning other				students have to study 3-4 English books like:
language(s) in addition to our mother tongue.				Radiant Way, Active English, Desk Work,
According to this reality many countries of the				Fundamental English, Brighter Grammar, and so on.
world have adopted a European language as				On the other hand in the government schools
second language which is often used in education,				there is mainly one English book (English for
law court, economic activities and government				Today) which is published by Bangladesh Text
works. These languages have most of the time				Book Board. The English medium schools do not
official status in the constitution of those				follow Bangladeshi education system and are
countries. Many of the cases the countries have				under the supervision of British Council. The
adopted the language of their past colonial rulers				medium of instruction in these schools is English
as the second language. Sometimes these				and many of the students of English medium are
languages are also called official language. In many				even very weak in Bangla language. There are
African countries we can see this picture. On the				two kinds of Madrassas - Dakhil and Kawmi. The
other hand, some European languages have				Kawmi Madrassas are not recognized by the
become very important in the world for literary				government and do not receive any assistance
and economic purposes. For example, German				from the government. In this Madrassas emphasis
and French are considered to be important				is given on learning Arabic, Persian, and Urdu while
languages of the world because both of them				Bangla and English are neglected. On the other
have influential literature and economic aspects				hand in Dakhil Madrassas emphasis is mainly given
associated with them.For example, many people in				on Arabic and Bangla and English are not so much
our country are interested to learn French				neglected.So we can clearly see that the
because it may help them to get UN jobs and				difference in education system in Bangladesh is
jobs in Multinational companies. Another attractive				solely based on the difference in the medium of
motivation for learning French in Bangladesh is that				education. Although Bangla is the National-Official
it may help us to immigrate to Canada as skill in				language of Bangladesh it is the English medium
French language gives a person some extra points				education institutes who get more money. The
in the point system of Canadian immigration.The				rise of private universities has only increased the
title of my research is "Status of English in				status and importance of English language in
Bangladesh: Second language or foreign language?"				Bangladesh. There are now more than 50 private
I have selected this topic because from				Universities in Bangladesh and the medium of
sociolinguistic point of view the status of English is				education in all of them is English. These
a very interesting one. On the one hand English				universities charge 2 lakh to 5 lakh taka for
language is dominantly present in every side of				Bachelor course. If the medium of education was
our national life while on the other hand in our				in Bangla then hardly any student or parents
constitution it is clearly declared that the language				would get interested to pay such huge money for
of the country is Bangla. In fact, nothing is said				the education in private universities.From the
about the status of English language in our				above discussion it is clear that in our general
constitution. On one hand, economic activities in				education system English has equal if not more
the private companies are carried out in English				importance than Bangla. In our education system
while there is a government law (Bangla procholon				English is really the Second language as all the
ain1987) that government offices must use				students have to study it as a compulsory
Bangla in their official works. So from the				subject for twelve years.English and
government point of view Bangla is the national-				Administration:During the language movement the
official language of Bangladesh and English is the				people of Bangladesh were afraid that if Urdu was
most important foreign language. But in reality				established as the State Language of Pakistan
English is the second language of the country and				then all the government activities will be carried
in many places English is more important than				out in Urdu and our people will suffer. As a result
Bangla in Bangladesh.Second language:A second				of the language movement, the Pakistani Regime
language is any language other than the first, or				kept on carrying out government activities in
native, language learned; it is typically used				English language. After Bangladesh became
because of geographical or social reasons. The				independent the government of Awami League
term is to be distinguished from foreign language;				decided to replace English with Bangla in
linguist Eric Lenneberg uses second language in his				administrative works but after the death of
critical period hypothesis to mean a language				Sheikh Mujib this process came to a halt and
consciously learned or used by its speaker after				English continued to remain as the dominant
puberty. In most cases, people never achieve the				language. It was during the rule of Ershad Bangla
same level of fluency and comprehension in their				Procholon Aeen of 1987 was created and
second languages as in their first				implemented. From that time English started to
language.Historically in Europe, the most widely				lose its significance in administration. However, it
used second language (or lingua franca) was Latin.				has to be mentioned that all the international
It was used by the Church; by the Law (as it still				communication of Bangladesh government is
is today); in Medicine (starting much later);				carried out through English.English in Economic
Horticulture and biological classification of plants,				activities:The economy of Bangladesh is
animals, fruits, nuts, etc.Latin was used so much				dependent on foreign aids and export of some
across Europe that it was called the vulgar (or				common items like ready made garments, jute,
common tongue); this is why the Latin version of				tea, fish etc and also we import a lot of things.
the Bible is called the Vulgate.Nowadays, English is				Bangladesh is not self sufficient economically.
considered the world's most widespread second				Trading is more popular than production. Trading
language; it is used in areas as diverse as the				requires constant communication with foreign
internet, television and radio, and international				companies. Many of the companies who are
aviation.The success of English throughout the				involved in trading have to use English in dealing
world stems from two major causes: the far				with foreigners. Suppose, a company is doing
reaching influence of the British Empire, and the				trading with China which is not an English speaking
20th century (and continuing) dominance of the				country. Then the company has to contact the
United States in the fields of business and				Chinese company in English. If we look at the
entertainment.French was for a time the lingua				advertisements of the private sector jobs then
franca (the origin of term) in Europe. In history,				we can easily notice that most of the job
both England and France were ruled by a single				advertisements are posted in English. Even most
crown - the language used by the royal court				of the private sector job advertisements that are
was French (English was considered "the peasant's				posted in Bengali newspapers are posted in English.
language"). Afterwards, as was the case with				Almost all the private jobs state that the
English, the French empire spread its language				applicants must have good proficiency in English
through colonization. French continues to be one				language. Almost all the public limited companies
of the world's most widely spoken languages.				publish their annual reports in English. Some of
(Source: Wikipedia)If we look at the definition of				these companies produce a Bangla version of
second language then we can easily say that				their annual report but the emphasis is always on
English is the second language of Bangladesh. It is				English. So it is clear that English is the dominant
widely used in many parts of our national life.				language in our economic activities.Comparison of
Many people watch English television channels and				English with Arabic, Sanskrit, and Pali in
also use Internet. The students have to study it				Bangladesh:Arabic, Sanskrit and Pali are the
for twelve years and those who want to join civil				religious languages of Muslims, Hindus and
service by attending BCS exam also have to sit				Buddhists respectively. Even the uneducated
for English examination. The only thing that is				people try to learn these languages as they are
missing from the above definition is the fact that				considered to be holy. If we compare the learning
except for formal occasions no one speaks in				of English with these languages then we can see
English in Bangladesh. It is not the language used in				that English is given more importance. For
home among family members and among friends				example, the tuition fee of a English coaching
in informal conversation.Foreign language:A foreign				center is much higher than that of an Arabic
language is a language not spoken by the				coaching centre. English private tutors get 4-5
indigenous people of a certain place: for example,				times more money than Arabic private tutors
English is a foreign language in Japan. It is also a				(Huzur). So although Arabic has religious sentiment
language not spoken in the native country of the				attached to it English is considered to be more
person referred to, i.e. an English speaker living in				important as it has economic benefit.Comparison
Japan can say that Japanese is a foreign language				of English foreign languages like French, German,
to him or her.Some children learn more than one				and Farsi:French and German have become very
language from birth or from a very young age:				popular for economic reasons in our country.
they are bilingual. These children can be said to				Learning these languages help us to increase our
have two mother tongues: neither language is				possibility to get a UN job. Learning French is also
foreign to that child, even if one language is a				helpful for getting immigration to Canada. Also
foreign language for the vast majority of people				there are good facilities to learn these languages in
in the child's birth country. For example, a child				Dhaka University, Alliance Francaise, and Goethe
learning English from her English mother in Japan				Institute. Recently, the English Institute of North
can speak both English and Japanese, but neither				South University has introduced French course. On
is a foreign language to her. (Source-				the other hand during the Muslim reign Farsi was
Wikipedia)From the above definition, it is seen that				the language of the Royal administration and law
foreign language refers to a language that is not				court in Bangladesh. At present, a student can
native to a person. From this point of view English				attend Farsi course for one semester by just
can be considered as a foreign language in				paying tk. 250 in Iran Cultural Center but there
Bangladesh since it is not native in our country.				are not many students who are interested to
Hardly any Bangladeshi person speaks in English				learn Farsi, French, and German. On the other
although many of them use it in education and				hand, hundreds of students each year appear for
business.Official language:An official language is				TOEFL and IELTS exams in English language.From
something that is given a unique status in the				the above picture it is clear that the status of
countries, states, and other territories. It is				English is much higher than foreign languages like
typically the language used in a nation's legislative				German, French, and Farsi. We can not deny the
bodies, though the law in many nations requires				reality that if a person is good at English then he
that government documents be produced in other				can earn money in any part of Bangladesh but if
languages as well.Officially recognized minority				a person is good at French, German, or Farsi he
languages are often mistaken for official				has hardly any scope to earn money by using his
languages. However, a language officially				skills in these languages.Recommendations:From
recognized by a state, taught in schools, and used				the discussion so far there is no doubt that English
in official communication is not necessarily an				is the second language of Bangladesh but this
official language. For example, Ladin and Sardinian				reality is not reflected in our constitution. Officially
in Italy and Mirandese in Portugal are only officially				Bangladesh is not known as an ESL country to
recognized minority languages, not official				the outside world. So Bangladesh should be
languages in the strict sense.Half of the countries				declared as an ESL country by the government
in the world have official languages. Some have				without any delay. We learn English not because
only one official language, such as Albania, France,				we like Shakespeare or Dickens. We learn English
or Lithuania, despite the fact that in all these				from out of every day necessity. If Bangladesh is
countries there are other native languages spoken				declared as an ESL country and English language is
as well. Some have more than one official				given a clear status in the constitution then it will
language, such as Afghanistan, Belarus, Belgium,				not only reflect the reality but also it will help us
Bolivia, Canada, Eritrea, Finland, India, Paraguay,				internationally. Now Bangladesh is desperately
South Africa, and Switzerland.In some countries,				trying to attract foreign investors. Before any
such as Iraq, Italy, Russia and Spain, there is an				company comes to Bangladesh for exploring the
official language for the country, but other				investment opportunities one of the key areas
languages are co-official in some important				they would look for is the availability of pool of
regions. Some countries, such as Australia,				English graduates and they also expect that the
Sweden, Tuvalu, and the United States have no				normal workers will have basic understanding of
official languages.The official languages of some				English language. If we become an ESL country
former colonies, typically French or English, are not				then these foreign companies while searching
the national languages or the most widely spoken				about Bangladesh will get assured about the
language.In contrast, as a consequence of				strong presence of English language in this
nationalism, Irish is the "national language" of the				country.The same picture is there about
Republic of Ireland and its first official language,				educational sector. Many Bangladeshi students
although it is spoken by only a small fraction of its				want to go to developed countries like USA, UK ,
people. English, which is spoken by the majority, is				Canada, and Australia for higher education. If
described only as the second official language				Bangladesh is declared as an ESL country then
(Constitution of Ireland, Article 8).In some				these students will be benefited because then the
countries, the issue of which language is to be				Universities of those countries will get the idea
used in what context is a major political				that English has special significance in
issue.(Source-Wikipedia)From the above definition,				Bangladesh.So I recommend to the government
it is seen that the notion of official language is				of Bangladesh that English should be declared as
complicated. According to our constitution English				the second language of the country by amending
can not be termed as the official language of				the constitution.Conclusion:Bangladesh is the only
Bangladesh since it has no status in our				country in the world whose people sacrificed their
constitution. The only language that is mentioned				lives for the language. Now the historical language
in our constitution is Bangla. But English is allowed				movement of 1952 is acknowledged internationally
in our parliament and many government events.				as the International Mother Language Day. It is
For example, when there is a government event				true that our people are emotional about their
in which some foreigners attend then in many				language, Bangla. However, it is equally true that
cases the speakers use English language. Many				now our people have become desperate about
important government documents are written				getting skilled in English language. As a result, there
both in Bangla and English. The parliament				are more than fifty private universities now in
proceedings are kept into these two languages.				Bangladesh. If North South Offered BBA and
When a government body organizes a fair then				Computer Science courses in Bangla medium then
often the souvenir is published in				they would not get even 10% of the number of
English.Constitution:About the language of the				students they have now. It is now good time that
country the Bangladeshi constitution clearly				we finish the great contradiction about the
states:"The state language.The state language of				language issue and declare Bangladesh as an ESL
the Republic is [Bangla]."(Source: the constitution				country for our own benefit.Bibliography1. Dr.
nothing is mentioned about the status of English.				Musa, Monsur. BHASHACINTA PROSONGO O
English is not mentioned as a second language or				PORIDHI. Dhaka:Bangla
official language. So if we take the status of				Academy, 2002.2. Dr. Musa, Monsur.
English in our constitution then we cannot claim				BANGLADESHER RASHTRABHASHA.
that English is a Second language or Official				Dhaka:Bangla
Language in Bangladesh.English in Law court in				Academy, 2002.3. Dr. Musa, Monsur. BHASHA
Bangladesh:After Independence the government				PORIKOLPONAR SHOMAJ
took the initiative to implement Bangla language in				BHASHATATTA. Dhaka:Bangla Academy, 1996.4.
law court. As a result, now the lower courts carry				Dr. Musa, Monsur. BANGLA PARIBHASHA: ITIHAS
out their activities in Bangla but English is yet very				O SAMASYA. Dhaka:Bangla
influential in High Court and Supreme Court. If a				Academy, 2002.
lawyer wants to practice in Supreme court then

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Condition of English in Bangladesh: Second Language or Foreign Language

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