Linguistics investigated: ‘Pakistanis must be taught multiple languages’

Experts from 12 nations present papers at conference.

LAHORE: Linguistics should be considered a core science while making language policies and pursuing agendas to raise the quality of education in developing countries, said speakers at the first International Conference on Language Sciences and the Developing World which kicked off at the Lahore College for Women University (LCWU) on Friday.

Linguists from 12 countries including the USA, Germany, Australia, Canada, India, Bangladesh, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Pakistan participated in the conference.

The Government College University vice chancellor chaired the opening session. LCWU Vice Chancellor Dr Sabiha Mansoor said there was a dire need for appropriate and focused work on language teaching in Pakistan. “Our main objective is to compile a book with the work of the conference participants which will help policy makers in reforming curricula,” she said. Dr Mansoor said that 23 papers were being presented during the two-day conference. She said delegates from 12 countries were reading research papers.



Higher Education Commission (HEC) Executive Chairman Imtiaz Hussain Gillani said Pakistan is a multi-lingual state. “We should consider the application of linguistics in the context of law, crime prevention, health, civil services, sciences, defence and national security matters,” he added.

Conference co-convener Dr Ahmer Mahmoob, from the University of Sydney, presented his paper, Language Sciences and the Developing World. He said that experts must explore the hegemonic relationship between the minority and disadvantaged languages to the dominant languages and consider development opportunities for those who spoke these languages.

Dr Naz Rasool from the University of Reading presented her paper, Making Language Policy Choices for Social Development in the 21st Century: Dilemmas and Possibilities. She argued that developing countries throughout the South Asian region have a rich linguistic heritage which remains underutilised in the educational process.

A number of students, scholars and faculty members from Lahore and other cities participated in the conference.

The convener of the conference, LCWU Faculty Development and Internationalisation Director Saima Asghar Riaz said that the conference was a golden opportunity to highlight Pakistani culture and present a soft image of the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 12^th, 2013.