Aestu
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Changing the script of any language is extremely disruptive to the progress and development of the culture, of which that language is a component. It can alienate an entire class of people, and render them irrelevant. It can cut off people from their history. It can split a nation into two groups, one that embraces the new script, and one that holds on to the original script. It can do much damage.
Indonesia, Malaysia, and Turkey are good examples where people familiar with the old script are considered backward, while those embracing the new script are seen as educated and cultured. While Pakistan retained its language and script (Urdu), English did become the official language, and those who speak it are considered superior to those who don't.
Israel had the same debate 75 years ago about Hebrew vs Yiddish and/or German. Israel's leaders wanted to make the country more inclusive of the Sephardim (who spoke Ladino) and the Mizrahim (who spoke Arabic). I remember reading a funny story about the triumph of Modern Hebrew:
It was now or never to make a stand for the Hebrew language – either it would be established as the language of the nation or it would remain the language of a select few, dividing the nation and extending the exile...
Legend has it that his reigning moment came during a demonstration that ultra-Orthodox Jews had organized in Jerusalem to protest his work. Ben-Yehuda couldn’t have been happier – they were protesting in Hebrew. It was now conclusive. Hebrew would be the official language of the Jewish People in the Land of Israel.
The point is, yes, in the short run, the transition to the new language was difficult and divisive, but in the long run, it united the Jewish people like no one would have thought possible. The same holds true of the divisions within the Islamic world. I would argue that Romanization of modern Arabic would reduce class divisions, including between those who speak English and those who do not.
Ironically enough, many younger secularized Jews such as myself view other Jews with traditional educations who can understand both English and Hebrew but also Yiddish with great jealousy. And if you actually can understand Ladino, you're officially a badass. Funny how that works?