A Brief Analysis
There are several reasons for the English language obsession in Pakistan. One of the main reasons is the colonial legacy of the British Empire, which established the language as a marker of social status, aristocracy, nobility and education. Additionally, English is often seen as a gateway to better job opportunities and upward social mobility, particularly in fields such as IT, science and finance in and outside Pakistan being lingua franca of the world.
However, this obsession with English grammar and spelling can also be detrimental, as it can lead to a fear of making mistakes and an overemphasis on form over meaning in written and spoken communication. Furthermore, it also shows the attitude of the people for a language whom they consider superior. Language is merely a tool of communication and it has nothing to do with imagination, creation & innovations. There is not a single country in the world which has progressed with abandoning the native languages. However, Pakistanis believe that they can develop with abandoning native languages & by adopting English language.
To overcome this inferiority complex, Pakistanis can focus on developing their communication skills in a way that prioritizes clarity and effectiveness over adherence to strict grammatical rules. This might involve seeking out resources and opportunities for practicing and improving their communication skills in English, such as taking classes, joining language exchange groups, or participating in public speaking events. It’s also important to recognize the value of Pakistani languages and dialects, and to promote their use and preservation alongside proficiency in English. However, they should take English as a lingua franca only and just treat it as a language. They should discourage all taboos related to native languages & also abandon social superior sensitivities hovering around English.
Lastly, English is just a language of communication like any other language. There is nothing superior or inferior about it. It’s important for being a lingua franca but making it an obsession with cultural superiority is not nothing less than a Linguistic Complex. Pakistanis must discourage the superior but artificial sensitivities hovering around the English language.
