Mind your language
The demise of English in Sri Lanka
By Aubrey Joachim
source: image generated using AI based on this DVD image in Amazon
Sri Lanka once upon a time boasted a ‘Silver-tongued orator of Oxford’ also referred to as the ‘Silver Bell of Asia’. Today the country is the laughing stock on the international stage. The recent appearance of a senior politician at a World Economic Forum meeting has not only embarrassed the nation but also the Lankan diaspora who are most often held in high esteem in the countries they live in.
Communication is made up of two aspects – listening and speaking, or responding. Neither of these were demonstrated by this individual in the viral Youtube clip doing the rounds on social media. A popular Sinhalese quote describes it best – koheda yanne?, malle pol or translated verbatim to English – where are you going?, coconuts in the basket!
The episode does not necessarily reflect the knowledge – or lack thereof – of the central character but sadly the lack of competency in the global language of business and commerce – English. Despite the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting of New Champions being held in Tianjin, China the Chinese moderator of the panel discussion presented her question in perfect English. The rambling, irrelevant and disjointed response by the Lankan politician read from some loose leaf pre-written statement neither made coherent sense nor attempted to answer the question. It looks like the hand written sheets got out of sequence. Viewing the clip makes one cringe. Neither was the question comprehended nor answered. Pity the supporting delegation and the Lankan journalists who were present to cover the event.
Ironically, the blame for this sad state of (international) affairs must lie fairly and squarely at the feet of that same ‘Silver-tongued orator of Oxford’ who out of political self-interest famously proclaimed ‘Sinhala only in 72 hours’ and kept his election promise by introducing the Official Language Act – also known as the Sinhala only Act when he assumed office as the fourth Prime Minister of the independent Ceylon. His children however, were educated in the best of British and French universities. Thence began the downfall of the high standard of English Ceylon was known for in the entire British empire – even by British themselves whose language the Ceylonese had mastered and even outdid them at. It was the death knell of English in the country.
Successive governments thereafter sought to drive the nail into the coffin. From the 60’s students had no choice in their medium of education. Only those of non-Sinhalese parentage could opt to study in the English medium. By the 70’s the medium of education was only Sinhala to every child entering school with English education being scrapped. The standard of English taught as a second language was also below par as time passed with the dearth of suitably qualified English teachers. Even worse was the scorn and ridicule cast upon those who spoke the English language which was disdainfully referred to as kaduwa or sword – probably a demonstration of scorn towards the once colonial masters. The ingrained bitterness towards the English language has been so engrained that Lankans learn and fluently communicate in Japanese, Korean, Italian, German and other languages and yet seemingly struggle to gain competency in English which is universally accepted as the language of higher education, business, commerce as well as international meetings and conferences. This was amply demonstrated at the China meeting.
The downward spiral following the 70’s and 80’s was starkly noticeable when international bodies such as CIMA identified plummeting pass rates of Sri Lankan students in successive cohorts following the language switch. To-date there exists a generation of Sri Lankans who have to live with the consequence of the language policy decisions of the sixties, seventies and eighties – a lack of English language competency. Perhaps the senior politician caught up in the latest saga is one of them and is now caught up in the ignominy of public ridicule on the global stage.
This language divide is seen to this day among the diaspora in various countries – those who naturally speak in English and those who are only comfortable speaking in Sinhalese. This trend is increasingly seen even among the old schools’ associations that were once the bastions of the English speaking set. Even considering the entertainment scene, the halcyon days of the English pop bands in the country – some of whom made waves in foreign locations – has given way to the rise of Sinhalese music. Without being derogatory to these talented musicians, they are very good. However, they are limiting their potential to shine on the wider international stage.
So where to from here for Sri Lanka if it is to make its mark on the English speaking international stage once more? Firstly, just as the current NPP government is gradually unravelling the follies and mis-deeds of the 76-year curse, it should reinstate English as the official language. Next, it must re-introduce English as the primary medium of education in all schools. Currently only the rich who are able to educate their children in International Schools are getting ahead. Professional educational qualifications such as Chartered Accountancy to be in English. Better still encourage the uptake of International qualifications such as CIMA which will provide a long-term benefit to the country. All politicians to be given crash courses in (at least) spoken English – specifically those who present on the International stage. Encouragement given for the setting up of English classes to lift the competency of the nation. One only has to look at a country like Thailand where English Language classes are widely advertised on the metro, train stations and public hoardings.
Perhaps after all it is not that poor politician who should be blamed for the embarrassing performance on the International stage but a system that was introduced in the nineteen fifties. He should actually be praised for bringing the sad situation to a head. It is now over to those in government to take on this challenge of yet another system change. Over to you, madam Prime Minister. After all you recognise the importance of English. You would surely want your ministers to do so as well. I am sure you must have been cringing listening to that Youtube video.
Perhaps it is appropriate to resurrect from the archives the once popular British TV sitcom Mind Your Langauge and broadcast it to the nation!
The author – former Global President of CIMA is an Australian citizen of Sri Lankan descent and is not a dual citizen but closely follows the happenings in his motherland.
