Our language
I fully realise Mr Sazzad Hossain's concern regarding our highly valued Bangla language and its impact after the recognition of 21st February as the International Mother Language Day (Letters, 12/03/08). I would like to add a bit further.
Yes, English is a prominent foreign language and a legacy of the British rule. But does using English mean ignoring Bangla? Doesn't Bangla have foreign words in it which enriches it? Don't we watch English and Hindi films and dramas? Does it mean we hate Bangla?
The success of a language depends on the accessibility and adaptability which explains the success of the English language today. It certainly goes beyond its colonial past. It is about to reach its billionth word with the global usage of Information Technology. English must be used in aircraft and spaceship manuals, air traffic control, naval instructions and communications as an international standard. One of the main reasons our mighty neighbour India is fiercely emerging as a global power is the usage of English, despite having 22 official languages. The word 'Hinglish' (Hindi+English) is now a recognised word in the UK and is soon going to be included in the Oxford Dictionary.
We, as a nation need to focus and reflect beyond our boundary if we want to take our treasured Bangla language forward. Finally, how is Mr Sazzad Hossain going to communicate if he were to visit India apart from West Bengal?
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