Community Radio Pledge (pdf) - amarc

English language is a passport to a broader world of economic, social,political, cultural and vocational exchange. This is the reason why we mustgive some space to the English language keeping in mind the compositionof listeners.Just as English language is not meant only for the usage of Americansand British people, Nepali language does not belong to the Khas communityalone. It is a language which has been playing the historic role of linguafranca of the Nepalese people. This explains why there is importance attachedto Nepalese language broadcasts.But there is a need to look into the use of Nepali language given thetrend. Radio broadcasters have to admit that there has been some communaland casteist highhandedness in the use of Nepali language. Any languagewhich aspires to be the lingua franca should be able to shed casteistexpression which comes on its own. This is the reason why linguisticcharacteristic of a particular caste and group must be differentiated whileusing Nepali language as the language of communication. Broadcastlanguages should not give expression to the element of highhandednessinherent in them; one should be able to conduct a parallel dialogue byincorporating all the communities.Nepali, as a language in the tradition of linguistic coordination, reflectsdominance of gender, class and caste. Here are some proverbs which shedlight on the linguistic tradition: Never mind the delay as long as it is the son,a macho can take ten wives, a daughter dead is a daughter married intowealth, never tell truth to a woman and a lie to the employer and a low casteman does not rebel and does not survive if he rebels. The list is long. Thecasteist nature imbibed by Nepali language is based on social stratification.Which means dialogue in Nepali language is guided by with whom you arecommunicating.. Then there is a regal for almost every verb. The broadcastinglanguage must avoid such an aspect of the language apart from also droppingthe so called "hybrid" words. No one should be undermined in a program;there should not be any discrimination between people. Language and theway it is used should not be centered on expressing sympathy; it is allabout giving the selfsame experience to one and all.Journalists should not use the language as a medium to back or opposeany language or cultural group. All the languages and dialects must berespected. One should be able to make use of the language when it comesto bring to light good things associated with any particular community.New perspectivePolicy governing the language of a country cannot be evolved in seclusionwith the policy governing economic development. This explains why communitybroadcasters should bring about new perspective in language use. Knowledge65