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