Dilrook Kannangara

A number of political commentators have highlighted the need to learn three languages – Sinhala, Tamil and English by everyone. Although it looks very good on the surface, it is not the right thing to do for various reasons. Encouraging people to learn as many languages as possible is no doubt good and it should happen. But compelling them to learn languages that are of little use is a tragedy. Those who recommend such outdated remedies are detached from ground realities leading to unwise judgements. In short, two persons need just one language (not three or two) to communicate with each other! Can those pundits understand that? Knowing more languages does not make it any easier.

If a Sinhalese person meets a Tamil, they would choose one language to communicate. It would be either English, Sinhala or Tamil; not a combination of all three. So just by improving the fluency of one language, the communication problem can be overcome. However, there are exceptions. In the public sector, a percentage of employees equalling the Tamil speaking population percentage (less than 15%) may be fluent in Tamil so that they can better serve Tamils. There is nothing to gain by overdoing it. The use of translators and interpreters must increase making these into professional status as in many other countries. That can take care of the inability to communicate with government servants in some areas. Giving financial incentives to government servants to learn languages is another good move.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Tamil population percentage is not more than 15%. A marked reduction is seen due to large scale migration out of the country. Of this 50% live outside the north and the east and they are reasonably conversant in Sinhala. All traders in Greater Colombo area and their children are remarkably fluent in Sinhala. At present, except a very few hundred thousand, most Muslims are fluent in Sinhala. That puts the total percentage of people who cannot communicate in Sinhala at less than 10%. It is absurd to suggest that over 75% of the population must suffer a new form of compulsion just to please this 10%. It is much easier if this 10% learns Sinhala! This is what happens in most democratic countries. If it is too harsh (on just 10% of the population that is), there is another solution which is to teach both communities English.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The Indian model has been suggested by some pundits. However, in India native Hindi speakers are not required to learn Tamil, Malayalee, Oriya or any other language! ItƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s the native Malayalee, Oriya, etc., speakers who have to learn Hindi as a second language.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Coupling Muslims and other minorities with Tamils is another huge mistake. When Muslims were branded as Tamil speaking people against their will in 1931, Tamil separatists expected Muslims to support their plan. However, it ended 60 years later by the complete wipe out of Muslims from the Tamil majority north. Today most Muslims are fluent in Sinhala. All other minorities including Colombo-Chettis, Moors, Malays, Veddhas and even Burgers without complaining acquainted themselves with the Sinhala language. There should not be any special treatment for Tamils and Tamil language users. If people are allowed free will to learn a language of their choice they would certainly make the best decision.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Teaching Sinhala to Tamils and Tamil to Sinhalese was first suggested by communists. Again they emphasised it in the Official Languages Commission which was headed by them. It worked well in communist settlings but not so well in democratic nations. If Singapore can be regarded a democracy, even Singapore is fast moving away from the use of multiple languages to Mandarin and English. Lee Kwan Yu famously said, ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-speak your language at homeƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚. Other democracies including Malaysia, UK, USA, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Canada, etc. are doing very well with just one or two languages. Outdated ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”¹…”do-gooderƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ theories must not be followed in Sri Lanka.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Learn Two Languages Including English, Not Three

Learning oneƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s mother tongue comes naturally to everyone. However, learning an additional language is very difficult and time consuming. After all learning languages does not give any economic benefits to most people and obviously they have better things to learn that will put dinner on the table! Learning a third language is twice as difficult and time consuming than learning a second language. This is the practical reality which must be taken into account before making any decision. Teaching English must be enhanced rapidly. Everyone must have access to developing English proficiency. When a large percentage of Sri Lankans are fluent in English, the communication barrier between Sinhalese and Tamils will collapse.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sufficient English knowledge can totally bridge the communication gap between the three communities.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ If the time, money, effort and resources wasted in teaching a third language is put to teaching more English to both camps, it will be much more productive.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This is the way to go in the modern day. Learning a bit more English is much more beneficial for everyone than learning a little Tamil. It can enormously enhance oneƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s career, business and other pursuits. This is the most important factor language pundits must consider. The time, money, effort and resources wasted in teaching a third language can be also put into learning technology or commerce subjects that can lead to real development. On the other hand, the time and resources can be better used learning a language of commercial use like Chinese, Hindi, German, Japanese, Korean, French, etc. That can give people tangible benefits. A large number of students were found cheating at the Korean Language Proficiency exam recently. It shows the practical need to enhance learning and teaching this language.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ However, this must not be interpreted as a discouragement to learning Sinhala or Tamil by Tamils and Sinhalese respectively. It must be softly encouraged for those who are willing to do so. Those who deal with each other regularly will voluntarily learn each othersƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢ language which must be encouraged.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ It must be emphasised that both Sinhala and Tamil are national languages which means people should be able to do their work in any one of these languages. It must remain so.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The Language Issue was Never a Root Cause of the Problem

Contrary to wrong beliefs popularised by Tamil separatists, the language issue was never a root cause of the conflict or the so called ethnic problem. Official Language Act became law in 1956 which made Sinhala the official language while recognizing reasonable use of Tamil which included using Tamil in Tamil majority areas. Did Tamil homelands suddenly emerge in 1956? Then it has a history shorter than some elders in the society! By 1956 Lanka Tamil Nation Party (Illankai Tamil Arasuk Katchi falsely referred to as the Federal Party) had been formed for over seven years! The infamous and racist 50-50 demand had been made exactly 25 years before (1931).

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Therefore it is silly to argue that the so called ƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ…-Sinhala-onlyƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ”š‚ act created these problems. When Chelvanayakam in frail health limped from Kachcheri to Kachcheri threatening Tamil government servants not to learn Sinhala, he hired the most expensive Sinhala tutors at that time to teach himself and his family the Sinhala language with all its intricacies.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The root cause of the problem is the desire of a section of Tamil politicians to rule their very own nation which would be made up of Tamils.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Pacifying Tamil separatists by spreading the use of the Tamil language is not the solution. People should be free to learn languages of choice and any language they learn apart from the Mother Tongue must give them tangible economic benefits. Compelling Sri Lankans to learn additional languages to pacify Tamil separatists or to put them out of business is similar to treating filaria with rheumatism medicine.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ The Myth about English

Fortunately the myth about English has been weakened over the past decades. Today English is no longer considered an unconquerable frontier even by the rural poor youngsters. They take it as a tough challenge and overcome it. However, opportunities, resources and finances are a big hindrance to them.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Teaching Tamil or Sinhala because the government cannot afford to teach them or have the infrastructure to teach them English is such an unwise thing. Government plans to raise e-literacy rate to 75% in the next 6 years. Raising the English literacy and fluency at the same time is much easier! http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=10624

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Seniors in the society remember with fondness how in the bygone era Sinhala elites and Tamil elites communicated without any problem with each other in English. Unfortunately due to short sighted politics the majority was not allowed an opportunity to be fluent in English until the move cropped up from within the people.

ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Emerging huge opportunities in trading, ICT, shipping and freight forwarding, etc. industries badly require the proficiency of English and other global commercial languages plus ICT skills and technical skills. Equip people with these skills which will do more good to create a better life for them all without holding them back.