LINGUISTIC-CRACY

Abstract

Language is not merely a medium of instruction, but also a reservoir of culture. Moreover, the crucial role language plays in our daily life cannot be understated. It is not only a mode of communication but also a formidable weapon that has shifted and continues to shift the structural paradigm of the world as we see it. Thus, the authors in this article highlight the phenomenon of language-based discrimination. Additionally, the paper ontologically studies the relationship between theocracy and language. At the outset, it aims to delve solely into the issue of language from a perspective that considers its role either in alignment with or independent of the state. The objective of this article is first, to explain the socio-cultural rights connected with the language. Second, delve into the dominance of these rights via language and lastly, the authors shall attempt to analyse how these rights are curtailed when they conflict with other similar or contemporary rights. Generally speaking, it has been widely accepted that religion and language often become the basis of discrimination. Such biases are either unconsciously underlying in the society or have been actively used by the state as a tool of systemic oppression. This phenomenon is widely seen in theocratic states. Conversely, language is yet to be seen as a primary ground of state-sponsored discrimination. There are few, if any, instances where nations have taken language as a qualification for citizenships and even attempted to bring a cultural homogeneity through the means of language. A notable exception is Canada’s Francophone immigration policy, which seeks to counter the declining Francophone population in Northern Canada by granting residency to skilled laborers based on their proficiency in French. However, the authors seek to highlight specific instances in which language, under the patronage of the state, leads to problematic identity-issues for languages that are in the minority. Language, when considered in isolation, serves primarily as a medium of examine, in comparison with that of religion. This phenomenon is termed by the authors as ‘Linguistic-cracy’.