Aligarh March 31: Delivering the keynote address at the inaugural function of one day special workshop on "Rejuvenating Language Departments" at AMU Professor O. N. Kaul, former Director of Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysore said that globalization does not mean the dominance of the language and culture. It has opened up avenues for the development of various languages and cultures and for their use in different domains.
He said that the English is presently a dominant language used in cyber space but it has created a healthy competition for the development of other languages and facilitated their use in internet. It is possible to meet the challenges and develop internet translation tools so that the information on internet is made available in different languages.
Prof. Kaul pointed out that there is a great potential in department of Modern Indian Languages, comparative literature and European languages which can be used in interdisciplinary and short term need based courses beneficial for the students and researchers in Linguistics and the regional languages.
He has suggested to develop integrated courses in language and literature both at introduction as well as advanced levels.
Inaugurating the Workshop, AMU Vie Chancellor Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis said that the languages are core to nurturing human civilization and culture. He said that the languages play a big role in relationships.
Prof. Azis said that India is a multi-lingual multi-cultural and multi-ethnic country and India's beauty is in its diversity. It is a challenge to preserve the plurality and all efforts need to be made in this direction.
Prof. Azis also said that the communication revolution is also playing a great role by TV, Mobile and Internet.
While welcoming the delegates Prof. A. R. Fatihi, Chairman, department of Linguistics said that this department provides an opportunity to advance teaching and research in linguistics. The UGC has recognized it as one of the leading post graduate programmes in India is scholarly quality and in effectiveness of teaching PhD candidates and awarded SAP to the Department of Linguistics.
Prof. S. Imtiaz Hasnain highlighted the objectives of the Workshop and said that the Workshop is our modest attempt towards a reassessment of the aims of the language study and a consideration of the content of the curriculum of the languages being taught in order to make the language teaching more viable, attractive and meaningful.
AMU Regisrar Prof. V. K. Abdul Jaleel said that AMU has decided to establish a school of languages. He suggested that credit and grading system at PG level should be introduced in AMU in the Faculties of Arts and Social Sciences also.
Prof. Jaleel highlighted the importance of translation as an important tool to enhance understanding between languages and cultures and suggested that language departments can offer courses in translation.
In his presidential remarks Prof. A. R. Kidwai, Director, UGC Academic Staff College said that the founder of this great seat of learning, Sir Syed Ahmad Khan played a role of social engineering. He established Scientific Society and the Society translated several books on agriculture technology for common masses in their own language.
He said that the un employability of our students is a great challenge in higher education. He suggested for the start of remedial classes and develop a sense of book reading in students.
On this occasion AMU Vice Chancellor Prof. P. K. Abdul Azis released "Selected Bibliography of Urdu Language and Linguistics" and "Language Vitality in South Asia" edited by A. R. Fatihi and a profile of the Department of Linguistics.
Dr. Masood Ali Beg proposed a vote of thanks. Mrs. Shabana Hameed conducted the inaugural session.
(Dr. Rahat Abrar)
Public Relations Officer
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