HYDERABAD: Noted linguists have said that language should serve more as a unifying factor than a dividing one, and people should boost multilingualism for national unity.

They were speaking at the ‘2nd National Research Student Conference’ organised by Sindh University’s Institute of English Language and Literature (IELL) in Shaikh Ayaz auditorium of the university on Wednesday.

The speakers said Pakistan had a multilingual society in which language came as seminal determinant of ethnic, socio-cultural and political identity.

Sindh University Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof Dr Fateh Mohammad Burfat presided over the conference. Other speakers included Prof Ahmar Mahboob of the University of Sydney, Australia, and Prof Dr Fauzia Shamim of Ziauddin University, Karachi.

Besides, Dr Nukhba Taj Langah of Forman Christian College Lahore, Mona Mamac of the University of Sydney, Australia, Dr Fatima Dar of Iqra University, Karachi and Dr Hassan Syed of IBA Sukkur University presented their research papers while 110 MPhil and PhD scholars presented papers and presentations and addressed technical sessions.

Dr Burfat said the SU had taken the lead in organising a student-specific moot for the second time with a view to encourage the enrolled MPhil and PhD fellows to share their research with their peers and seasoned scholars from across the country.

“To me, a university is meant exclusively for opening new vistas of knowledge where students come as a priority. We have to develop a culture of positive dialogue among student researchers to be able to build upon one another’s experiences and to seek updates on newly-arriving research trends,” Dr Burfat opined.

Prof Ahmar said language was what had generally been seen to be a point of conflict among communities and as linguists, it became their obligation to resolve any such language identity crisis.

“Language is not just a set of phonemes, morphemes, forms and structures. It is our basic tool as humanity to negotiate and appreciate the entire current phenomena around us also to connect to our ethno-communal and socio-cultural heritage,” he said.

Dr Fauzia Shamim discussed insights on the importance of adherence to ethical codes during the conduct of research project. “While collecting research data, you as researchers must ensure that you have sought participants’ consent; you have refrained from using coercion or have not invaded participant privacy or caused stress,” she said.

Dean Faculty of Arts Prof Dr Hafiz Abdul Ghani Shaikh briefed audience about the working of the faculty.

IELL director Prof Dr Tariq Hassan Umrani presented welcome note and highlighted institute’s achievements. The inaugural session was followed by technical sessions, and poster and thesis presentations.

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2019