The ruling by the High Court on ensuring the use of Bangla in advertisements on electronics media, vehicle's registration plates, signboards and billboards across the country could not come at a better time. This is the month of Falgoon/ February when the nation commemorates the Language Martyrs' Day now worldwide observed as the International Mother Language Day. What proves anachronistic is that the nation that was built on the Ekushey February's gain to carve out for itself an independent country waxes lyrical about its mother tongue in this month every year only to forget later that it is lacking in commitment to follow up its resolution with proper actions for the rest of the year. With the introduction of smart technology and gadgets, the language is showing signs of further decline. The threat from this unexpected corner is real and the country's linguists and intelligentsia should put their heads together to beat off the threat before it causes irreparable damage.
That love for the language in general has waned is a fact and the nation will make a grievous mistake if it does not recognise this. Use of Bangla in everyday life remains no longer unalloyed. It is because the tendency today is to avoid Bangla classics. Generally, the habit of reading books is on the decline not only in this country but also worldwide. Aptitude in the use of standard and to-the-point language cannot develop in the young generation as a result. The country's academic curricula are not of any help in this regard. When literature is replaced by objective type of questions, the appreciation for subtle expressions in language of the intricate human relationships and inner minds with which it deals remain inaccessible to students labouring for scoring grade point average (GPA) 5. Language reaches the unreachable when the limit of functional language can be crossed.
In fact, ads are a very strong weapon to mould impressionable minds. The advantage of Bangla ads, car registration plates, sign boards and bill boards cannot be overemphasised. But there are areas where the use of an international language like English in Bangladesh proves more effective. For example, Bangladesh Biman cannot rely on Bangla alone when it has to promote its service among clientele with no knowledge of Bangla. Hopefully, all concerned with the promotion of Bangla will have to take into consideration matters relating to trade, commerce and service sector involving foreign customers and buyers. Where the local audience or customers are concerned, there should be no other option but to follow the HC ruling in letter. Understandably, this latest move will not prove coercive to all who will have to make changes to their present arrangements. Then how the order will be enforced surely poses a serious question. After all, it takes a large contingent of manpower which will have to identify the errant shops, business houses and others in need of displaying their trade, commodities and services and then to compel them to go by the ruling. Better it would be if everyone sees the merit in the move and complies with it.
A question mark hangs on the success of the move because a gap has been created by default on the part of the authorities to address the linguistic anarchy in time. Now they will not only found themselves pitted against the invasion of alien languages but a deep-set mentality for feeble imitation instead of assimilation of language and culture. There is no harm in garnering the best from different languages and culture for enriching one's mother tongue and aesthetic appreciation. But blind imitation only exposes the bankruptcy of human minds and what is thus imported proves an invasion. Bangla with a rich heritage is now showing its weakness in finding a firmer footing because the language study lacks commitments and an appropriate system.
Today's generations are growing more visual than audio. Songs and music are getting louder and bodily rhythmic with heavy metal taking the centre stage. This certainly is an affront to auditory senses and appreciation. Neither language nor songs are meant for visual depiction. They are best appreciated if the readers and audience feel and imagine in their minds' eyes the essence of the description or the inner meanings of songs. Today songs are not for hearing but for seeing and enjoying the momentary excitement. Language gets its nourishment through exercises in areas of literature, films and, of course, of science and technology. Today, the effort to advance the cause of studying science and technology in mother tongue at the highest level is only conspicuous by its absence. This should not have been the case if the process of developing the language could be maintained at a steady pace. The naming of buildings, businesses, shops, important infrastructure and resorts was in Bangla in the early days after its liberation. So beautiful were those names. Then there was a walk backward with the political changeover at the top. The country could not recover from that reversal. But it should come out of the hedge if it really means business in the comity of nation. Even a small nation commands self-esteem by virtue of its language and culture. Bangladesh may be a small nation but its linguistic and cultural legacy is its proud possession. It must be equal to the task of defending that possession. The important thing is to discover the beauty of the language collectively and making the most of it. And the exercise has to be out of love for the language.
nilratanhalder2000@yahoo.com
Is love for Bangla diminishing?
Nilratan Halder | Published: February 21, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2024 06:01:00
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