LINGUISTIC GHETTOS
British multi culturalism seems to be in reverse gear. A prominent politician very recently has been able calmly call for the government departments and agencies to limit the use of ethnic minority language on everything from official documents to parking meters. He contends that this will force immigrants to learn English.
The point about the call made in the recent past by David Cameron the etonian 38 years old wannabe leader of the main opposition Conservative party is that he was able to say what he did without recrimination. Cameron, who may or may not win the conservative crown, is generally accepted to be a well balanced politician. There is no sign that his image has been affected just because he suddenly urged the British state to limit its official use of Hindi, Bengali, Urdu and Punjabi et al..
There is no out cry. If anything there is a placid acceptance then this may be the way forward or beginning.. One may notice the repercussions of advocating opposition to ethnic minority languages.After years of boldly introducing one foreign language after the other in official documentation, telephone, help lines, police regulation, and so on, Britain would suddenly withdraw these linguistic initiative. Till now. these have been talked up and seen as something of a triumph of a multinational culturaliism uniquely at ease with itself.
Now many admit that may no longer be the case. The opposition leader was of the opinion Britain allowed its innate respect for other cultures to undermine British’s shared national culture” . Into the bargain he said, the U.K. was actually depriving its own citizen of the chance to speak the language of adopted country. In a node to the enviable status of English as a language of 1 billion people worldwide and as the world number one language of choice. It is very clearly observed that millions of people in Pakistan and India were desperate to learn it but a significant number of Britain’s own citizens (who hailed from other countries and settled here long ago) cannot speak English.
It was felt by some prominent leaders that Lingustic separatism is a disadvantage to Britain and its ethnic minority immigrants. Though opinions can be contrary to multi lingualism it may not be that practical to depart from the earlier policies and practices. Only time will tell what is good or bad.
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