English only policy

Agra T Wijeratne

Whatever the Newtonianist Economists profess, world is moving towards a more localized, regionalized economic system due to environmental consideration, where local Languages would become more important as it is medium through which local knowledge is stored. However, there would be larger aspect of the knowledge system which would be globalized where international Language would be essential. Besides, what is to come is Steady State Economics or a variant of it, not the (ever) growing and increasingly globalized economies as envisaged by economic orthodoxy.

Hence, what is needed is a competency in English language and not necessarily an exclusive language policy. Besides, with some tools of Information Technology here to stay, there would be facilities to translate for one Language to another. For example, it would be possible to translate a work from English to Sinhalese Language and vice versa.

Language policy

Hence, one could have access enormous amount knowledge available without having the competency in the original Language in which it is done. However, it is possible that some knowledge may be "lost in translation."

Learning English should be an interesting experience. File photo

Language is the basis of cultures and to convert medium of instruction in all universities (in the world) to 'English only' is akin to growing a monoculture. This is like replacing Biological Diversity by a mono-crop. For example, while rubber plantations are desirable, it is not advisable to grow only rubber trees everywhere.

Key to sustainability is biological/cultural (language) diversity. Like bio-diversity, languages also evolve being sensitive to cultural/social/economical and environmental conditions. Hence, any Language which is used sparingly is good as a dead Language. Besides, any community is more at home creating knowledge in its own Language.

Cultural traditions

In the traditional Buddhist Pirivenas in Sri Lanka, more than one Language was taught and it was the basis of the comprehensive knowledge system that was present in this country. Thus, it would be advisable to have an inclusive Language Policy which would use both English and Sinhalese (Tamil). This would also facilitate the coining of terms in Sinhala (Tamil) Language. Ideally, both Vidyodaya/ Vidyalankara Universities could retain the policy of using Sinhala, as it was originally designed to do so.

Besides, one could claim that there not many genuine Universities in Asia, as these so called Universities are actually Satellites of Protestant modernism/ post-modernism, where no knowledge is created within cultural traditions. However, in Sri Lanka, there is an attempt to create knowledge within its own culture in a limited way besides imparting knowledge in the Protestant modernist/post-modernist traditions.

To create knowledge within a culture, extensive use of local languages is essential, as these are the storehouses of local knowledge. This is akin to having a comprehensive knowledge in Mathematics to study so-called modern Sciences as Mathematics is the Language of (most) Sciences.

Hence, 'English only Policy' is possibly as myopic as the 'Sinhala only policy' that was purported has existed some 50 years ago in Sri Lanka.