Linguist’s Paradise

The idea of a new variation on English carries laudable merit. However, the point of learning a world-universal tongue is not to displace the nuanced native language with something better, but with something more international, that can be used in commerce, travel, discourse.

A proficiency that gives the practitioner the ability to become a member of the international literary, scientific, industrial, philosophical, political and entertainment communities.

That said, the idea that there are truly separate variants with their own oeuvres is I think overstated. The peoples of India, who have a most curiously inflected English are still readily understandable to all ‘mainstream’ English speakers, and vice versa.

There are, in fact, few variations of English that are not mutually understandable, if in some cases with difficulty. (e.g. A Cajun from Louisiana in America’s “Deep South” might find an English “Full Cockney” to be downright unintelligible.)

But in the end, it makes no difference, so long as the underlying standard of ‘mutually cognate’ prevails. It would be a linguist’s paradise to observe the high-speed evolution of a new variant on English if catalyzed by a grand gesture of Saudi investment. As a linguist, it would be the opportunity of a millennium.

Robert Lynch • California, US published 7 December 2004

Linguist’s Paradise [2]

This is in response to the article Why Not a Middle East Variant of English (Arab News, Dec. 3)? What is a Middle Eastern variant of English? Either it is English or it is not. Accents can’t be avoided, but if you aren’t using English words, you’re not speaking English.

And since the point of a language is to communicate with other people who speak that language, if they don’t know what your words mean, you might as well stick to Arabic.

Ben • US published 7 December 2004

Linguist’s Paradise [3]

I am not sure exactly what Mijanur Rahman has in mind when he states that, “...a localized approach may help us find a solution (to native English teachers).”

While Saudi nationals should definitely take a positive role in this regard, the experiences my children have had in Saudi schools have made me very pessimistic.

While non-native teachers cannot realistically be expected to be perfect in a foreign language, many if not most Saudi English teachers fall dismally short of basic proficiency in grammar, spelling and pronunciation.

How is it that Saudi students, after purportedly studying English for 6 years, then sign up in droves for basic English classes at private institutes when their entry into the job market exposes their utter deficiency in the language?

I give very low marks indeed to the current success of English teachers in Saudi schools in the Kingdom.

And, if Rahman’s solution of “a new variant of English, a Middle-Eastern variant” is adapted, it will just put Saudi students at a further disadvantage internationally and encourage a lazy, corrupted version of English that will benefit no one.

Why not hold our teachers and students to a higher standard and insist upon success in standard English?

Brenda Gant • US published 7 December 2004

Open Umrah Visits

The government of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd has spent billions of riyals for the Holy Mosques of Makkah and Madinah to provide best services to not only to the Saudi people but for the entire Muslim Ummah.

The recent announcement by Crown Prince Abdullah allocating SR37 billion for Makkah development emphasizes their untiring and continuous dedication to serve the increasing number of guests of Allah to the Kingdom.

But few individuals like Abdullah Bukhari who wrote “Not to Open Umrah Visits” (Arab News, Dec. 1) display their selfishness. Bukhari looks out for his own benefit rather than thinking of his Muslim brothers and his duty toward the Almighty.

He has the privilege of being a citizen of a holy land and should be happy to receive and serve the guests of Allah without expecting anything from them. There are millions of Muslims around the world wishing to be in his position.

The government’s decision to allow Umrah visits all year round is the best proposal and it benefits the Kingdom, its citizen and the pilgrims in numerous ways.

At the same time it is true that lot of resources are needed to meet the pilgrims’ requirements.

Bukhari says that the majority of Umrah visitors are old and feeble and many do not bring sufficient cash for hotels and food, let alone for shopping. Some pilgrims even bring food with them.

Millions of Muslims dream to come to Makkah once in their lifetime and they start to save money from middle age to make the journey financially at old age.

Bukhari instead of inviting his fellow Muslim brothers to do their lifetime journey, just sees it as a business venture. And his recommendation to issue visas only during Ramadan makes the matter worse as millions of Muslims visit the Kingdom for Umrah during Ramadan.

Umrah pilgrims, contrary to Bukhari’s writing, contribute in many indirect ways to the Kingdom. The national carrier Saudia has achieved a record after 60 years by carrying millions of pilgrims. Makkah and Madinah have several new hotels and all hotels are fully occupied. Several Haj and Umrah agencies have been formed. Several supermarket chains have opened and above all the Kingdom has been blessed for hosting the guests of Allah.

I had the privilege of living in Madinah for more than a decade and witnessing several developments in Madinah, especially the King Fahd expansion of the Holy Prophet’s Mosque which is a world wonder.

The Kingdom has developed under the wise leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Crown Prince Abdullah as one of the best place on earth for security, peace and prosperity. People like Bukhari should think broadly instead of narrowly seeing only benefit for themselves and not for their country or the Muslim Ummah that they belong to.

P. T. A. Hassan • Madinah published 7 December 2004

Enthusiasm Tempered

This is in response to the article “First Woman on Saudi Bank Board” (Arab News, Dec. 3). Congratulations to Ms. Lubna Al-Olayan on her appointment to the board of the Saudi Hollandi Bank.

Yet my enthusiasm for this positive development was tempered with my disappointment in the reactions from Imam Mohammad ibn Saud University members who objected to this and any other positive steps for women.

It is truly distressing that those who should be in the forefront in the support for women’s rights and progress — students of the Islamic religion — would like for nothing better than to strip women of such rights. Maybe a review of their curriculum would be in order.

Donna Roberts • Riyadh published 7 December 2004

Mobile Phones on Campus

There we go again. Some things here in the Kingdom may never change as mentioned in the report “Female Students With Mobile Phones Face Campus Ban, Fines” by Somayya Jabarti (Dec. 3). Does this mean that when the world is way ahead in cell phone technology, we expect mobile manufacturers to make specially designed cell phones for girls here in the Kingdom?

The solution lies in banning the use of the cell phone during class hours only. Many parents wish to remain in touch with their daughters when they are away from home. I can understand primary school students not being allowed to use cell phones on school premises.

But for adults, they have become as normal and essential as a wristwatch. The authorities should also consider psychology when they rush to forbid and ban things.

The more you suppress a person, the more defiant he or she becomes. I can’t understand why laws that are certain to be discarded at a future date are being enforced with such vigor. These restrictions may have the unintended result of dissuading girls from continuing their education.

Nadeem Shah • Jeddah published 7 December 2004

Women’s Vote

Raid Qusti’s comments about the logistical difficulties are indeed valid and warrant discussion. However, they cannot justify denying women the opportunity to participate in this very important process.

Why not leave it to women to find solutions to these issues? From what we have seen of their achievements in their chosen fields, they will find answers.

Everette Griffin • Jeddah published 7 December 2004