Power of Language

Turkey-watchers will have been fascinated to see the state-run TV channel cutting a live broadcast from Parliament because an MP started speaking in Kurdish. This, you might recall, is a country that wants to join the EU. You have to wonder whether any country that lacks the confidence in the stability of its own nation to such a degree that it bars the use of a minority language in parliament, is ready to join the EU. Turkey banned the speaking of Kurdish at all until 1991. Its attitude to the language is still on a par with that of English to Welsh and French to Breton more than 100 years ago.

Anyone who thinks that language does not have power only has to look at the reaction to a short speech in an ethnic minority language to see that it is a potent force indeed. Sometimes the pen can be mightier than the sword.

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