THE IMPERIALISTIC NOTIONS IN THE LINGUISTIC ELEMENTS OF EDUCATION POLICY OF PAKISTAN (2009): A HISTORICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS

Abstract

 The implementation of the use of English language in the educational structure of Pakistan has been in a hiatus because of political differences since the country became independent. This paper considers what it terms the imperialist politics behind the promotion of the English language in the most recent Education Policy of Pakistan. The over-representation of the English language in Pakistan has its imperialistic roots in the legacy left by British rule over subcontinent. This paper shows that the promotion of the official and second language of Pakistan in Education Policy has not only hindered the educational growth of the regional languages, but is also the by-product of the imperialism ingrained in the language through discourse-historical analysis. This paper considers the regional language to be limited as identity markers of nationhood in Pakistan, along with a hackneyed proclamation of the global significance of English language need in the Education Policy. It argues that linguistics imperialism in the Education Policy can lead to the disassociated identity of the speakers of regional languages and further social stratification in the country.