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The State of Punjabi Language in Canada Sadhu Binning
Benefiting from the opportunity provided by the multicultural structure of Canadian society, Punjabi has enjoyed immense prosperity during the last two decades. Perhaps for the first time, the language entered the economic sphere due to the rapid development of Punjabi media and music. A considerable number of Punjabis in Canada are earning their living from newspapers, radio, television and cultural activities. This is not happening only in large centres like Vancouver, Toronto and Calgary, but also in small cities and towns across the country. Punjabi language is also providing earning opportunities in interpretation, translation and education. Along with economic gains radio and television is also creating status symbol for numerous individuals involved in the field. Punjabi literature in Canada is also experiencing a very productive phase. Literary organizations exist in many large and small cities and hold functions to celebrate new titles every week. The comparatively better life in Canada is attracting many writers along with the general population from Punjab. These include big names like Wariam Singh Sandhu, the star short story writer and Dr. Raghbir Singh Sirjana, the well respected Punjabi critic. Punjabi literature seems to have a bright immediate future in Canada. It is clear from the above that the first generation Punjabi immigrants are making full use of their language. However, the good news stops there. The next generation of Punjabis growing up in Canada are connecting with the language and culture only through popular Bhangra music and their connection remains shallow and superfluous. Only a very small number is learning to read and write. To illustrate the point, at the UBC's department of Asian Studies, the number of students learning Chinese in any given year maybe over fifteen hundred while there are only seventy to ninety students taking Punjabi. Canadian multiculturalism stops short when it comes to languages. At the federal level it recognize no other language as Canadian except its two official languages, English and French. While Canada does not directly contribute in the preservation and development of other languages, it discourages no one from doing so on their own. The proud speakers of many languages in Canada themselves provide necessary resources for the development of their respective languages and at the same time they receive full support from their original countries. However, the situation of Punjabi is entirely different. It is the twelfth most spoken language in the world with some 150 million speakers living in 125 countries around the globe, yet there is no one single state that is fully concerned about it. In Canada and elsewhere, a great majority of its speakers consider it less important than religion in conserving their culture and due to the actual and perceived economic realities, a growing number feel Punjabi to have no relevance beyond the simple day to day communication use. Only a small number of Punjabis feel the necessity to teach Punjabi to the next generation. In appreciation of this fact that Punjabi needs special efforts and help to survive and develop in Canada, there are individuals and organizations that are attempting to do that. One such organization, for example, is Punjabi Language Education Association (PLEA) formed more than a decade ago in Vancouver. The main thrust of PLEA has been to promote Punjabi language education in public schools and in post secondary education institutions in the province of British Columbia (BC). While at the federal level only English and French are recognized as official languages, the provinces set their own language policies that guide the education in public schools. Following English and Chinese, Punjabi is the third largest language spoken in B.C. and has been for decades. The BC government recognized Punjabi language as one of the six languages to be taught in public schools in 1994. The sad fact is that for many years Punjabi parents did not taken advantage of this opportunity. However, in communities that have large Punjabi concentrations like Surrey, the knowledge of Punjabi language has become an asset in finding jobs. This has lead to the increased interest of Punjabi parents to enroll their children in Punjabi classes offered by local schools. As a consequence, a number of elementary and secondary schools in Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley offer regular Punjabi classes. Punjabi is also taught at UBC, Kwantlen University College (Surrey and Richmond) and the Fraser Valley College in Abbotsford. The province of Alberta will be offering Punjabi in its schools starting next September. The similar efforts are underway in Ontario. The present and immediate future of Punjabi language in Canada is looking good. However, unless there is a dramatic change in the way Punjabis relate to their language, the long term future is bleak. Sadhu Binning, a Punjabi author, teaches Punjabi at UBC and Kwantlen and is the Vice President of PLEA. sadhu.binning@gmail.com |
Punjabi
language has existed in Canada for more than a century and currently, it
is the sixth most spoken language, which could easily be fifth or fourth
if all Punjabis claimed it as their mother tongue. Punjabi is spoken in
the homes as well as at thousands of workplaces. While contributing to the
development of the country, the language itself has been developing into a
useful tool of communication.