Re: Why do Pakistani people speak English mixed with Urdu so much?
Would appreciate if you would share what people are you exactly referring to? And by native indians in these lines you mean subcontinent people including both hindus and muslims or all faith groups excluding muslims?
I'm referring to lot for whom their Indian identity was a complex and first they linked themselves with central Asian and Arab invaders and now same lot follow their British Masters in language, etc. We all know that Muslims of India (Pakistan and Bharat) are more into this complex than anyone else. Hindus never claimed ancestry of foreign invaders, Muslims got a reason, but to claim of foreign ancestry to this extent is never justified.
Re: Why do Pakistani people speak English mixed with Urdu so much?
English is Pakistan’s national language. Most legal documents, bills passed by the Parliament, oaths, court judgments, etc., are all in English. So, I see nothing wrong with using English.
Re: Why do Pakistani people speak English mixed with Urdu so much?
I think if you are bilingual its natural for words of the other language to creep in during conversation.
I have words from english as well as arabic creeping in while conversing. At times even complete proverbs in arabic. Its not done on purpose. It just happens unintentionally. In fact its a hinderance because at times I may use urdu/arabic words unintentionally infront of an audience who understands neither.
From average person to a celebrity (Singer, Actor, whatever) to politician and army general etc.
Why can't they just talk straight for more than 30 seconds..... in their OWN National Language?
I can see using very few words of English once in a while in conversation but why do they have to say whole sentence in English switching all of a sudden from Urdu?
As a side question:** Why** do they feel ashamed of wearing their own clothing or attire? (And that includes representatives from Pakistan and politicians, even foreign ministers etc.)
Do they think its** cool** to talk in English or act like Englishman from Scotland, England no matter how much they fail to copy... and they will be respected more if they speak eloquent English even when they are living and breathing in Pakistan?
Re: Why do Pakistani people speak English mixed with Urdu so much?
Problem starts when language gets connected with status ! In Pakistan, who ever is speaking English is seen as a modern , educated fellow! I might be Steve Jobs but speak in urdu or punjabi and people will treat me like I am not even worth a dime!
Since when did language become a status symbol? why do we see pakistani kids , coming from middle class punjabi and urdu speaking families, claiming hum ko urdu nai aati? these are the kind that eventually grow up and try to mix English in everything so that they can gain that “upper” status..
Re: Why do Pakistani people speak English mixed with Urdu so much?
.
Why ur post was in english ?
Why do the guppies commenting here in english ?
Why dont they use Urdu ?
Same happens there !
Its something like “bolne wale se ziada sunne wala ka masla hai, sunne wala sunna english mein pasand krta hai aur appreciate krta hai”
is k ilawa kch ehsas kamtri
and yes, politicians ko chorro ji, unka tou deen emaan koi ni, language tou bht door hai
Re: Why do Pakistani people speak English mixed with Urdu so much?
This is about Pakistan and its National Language. While you seem to have asked a good question that does not mean it is right question.
Pakistan has its National Language as Urdu.
English was forced on to Pakistanis and Indians...after a well accepted Urdu language was established for even longer duration in a very large portion of subcontinent.
It was not until 1950 when Indians brought the idea of Hindi Language.
Regardless: ** Urdu** still is common language of two countries and joins them culturally through movies and songs.
English was forced to some degree, but they emulate it because our country IS backwards in terms of **economic **and **social **progress (not moral or happiness). The last 200 years have been dominated by the West, especially English speaking countries. English is the language of academia and business. English speaking countries have essentially given us the modern world. Is it any wonder that the common person (common in terms of insight and intelligence, not celebrity) aspires to speak English?
Your point is valid, but the only way to encourage the average person to take pride in their ability to speak Urdu would be through economic progress in Pakistan, so that we can build domestic institutions that can compete on the global stage.
Re: Why do Pakistani people speak English mixed with Urdu so much?
This bugs my dad and to a certain extent, I as well. I can understand urdu being a language that absorbs other words like raiwarr came from sindhi, but why do "we" speak english words for words that already exist in urdu?
I think that this is an inferiority complex and perhaps, rightly so in case of Pakistan, english being associated with educated people. Still, meera doesn't seem educated with her english and the previous generation spoke urdu and english separately when many of them were more educated than the current generation.
Re: Why do Pakistani people speak English mixed with Urdu so much?
It's quite annoying to go Pakistan and see people putting up this forced and totally iffy sounding American/British accent, throwing random irrelevant English words for sake of impressing you or making a self statisfying statement. Part of me just want to say to them: please just relax and speak normally, I understand Urdu perfectly well. If I speak Urdu with a funny accent, then it's me who would sound like a joker, but there's no reason why you should turn the joke on you.
Re: Why do Pakistani people speak English mixed with Urdu so much?
Apna libas pehn ker he Pakistani nahin bana jaa sakta sirf.
Quaid e aazam ne angraiz ka libaas pehna tou kya hua...kitna barra kaam bhi tou kiiya hai. Ab bolo ?!?! libas ehm hai yah kaam ?!?!
Re: Why do Pakistani people speak English mixed with Urdu so much?
I think the worst part is when schools in Pakistan punish children if they speak urdu on school ground. Heard it happened to a few family members in Pakistan recently.
Re: Why do Pakistani people speak English mixed with Urdu so much?
Okay I like how all of you brand us living in Pakistan shallow, having an inferiority complex, joker, status consious, burgers blah blah.
Wellt..
School.. we are STRONGLY encouraged to speak and converse in English. Almost all curriculam is in English at universities, colleges, schools etc. We give presentations in English and we get lectures in English. We are given homework in English too.
Work.. we COMPLETELY rely on English to converse. We use ONLY english in our work related meetings/documents/calls etc. anything really.
Now comes home and general lifestyle.. well when a person spends 10-12 hours of his day speaking English, you can't really expect one to magically become Mir Taqi Mir as he/she enters home or talks to people. A word or a sentence of English here and there does come up. And yes we mix up languages cause for us English is the official language and Urdu is the national language. And English does seep in to our day to day conversation. Not a big deal at all. Bas mauqa chaiyay keeray nikalnay ka hum ghareebon main. =p
Re: Why do Pakistani people speak English mixed with Urdu so much?
I had relatives visiting us from Pakistan recently...my uncle. He spoke almost entirely in English when he was here except for when he was conversing with his brother (my dad) since he's picky about that sort of thing.
I am sure English is used socially to look more modern and have an upper hand in some situations but I also noticed that his English wasn't grammatically incorrect. It was simply accented. Meaning, he is used to speaking and conversing in English in his work place all the time. That's also something I've noticed with many of our posters.
Its not a pretense for everyone...I grew up bilingual and my Urdu might pale in comparison to native Pakistanis. But I am so used to speaking it...it creeps in when I am conversing with people who can understand me.
