Pixelated Semantics

A schizotypical inventory

Basically simplistic

An 'MP with junior responsibilities in immigration and multiculturalism' has announced he's 'examining prospects for a compulsory citizenship test for migrants' that would make 'fluency in English a requirement'. In fact a 'basic' English language requirement has been imposed on migrants at least since the Australian Citizenship Act 1948. The definition of 'basic' is given by the government as '300 hours of English language tuition'. In comparison, one year's worth of a four subject undergraduate university degree currently provides about 200 hours tuition. That 'basic' tuition for English seems to have designs on 'substantial'.

The MP reportedly also 'wants Islamic religious leaders to give their sermons in English and train home-grown imams'--apparently as unburdened by any knowledge of Islam as by any knowledge of the Citizenship Act. To pronounce that 'religious leaders will have to deliver much or all of their sermons in English' is a dog-whistle that tries to balance offense with ignorance.

The Koran is accepted as

'...a compilation of the speech of God in Arabic. This speech is in Islamic tradition considered inimitable; any paraphrase of that speech would change the meaning and dignity of that speech. And any translation into any other language would also hopelessly change the meaning of the sacred text.'

There's such obvious expertise in multiculturalism and citizenship requirements here. And by the way--a government communicator writes on their citizenship website of 'a desirabl [sic] tightening of Citizenship policy', apparently leaving that statement unamended since May 2001. Now that's basic English.

Item posted by AutoEditor at 9:01 am ::