Public Outcry Over Controversial Traffic Police Signage in Afghanistan

The installation of a new sign for the “Traffic Police” replacing the Traffic Department in Afghanistan has sparked negative reactions from the public and language experts.

Public Backlash Against the New Signage

The introduction of a sign titled “General Traffic Police” in place of the Traffic Department has raised significant concerns among citizens and linguistics specialists. Experts argue that established terms like “police” and “traffic” are well-integrated into both spoken and formal language in the country, and replacing them with Arabic phrases could pose serious communication challenges between the public and governmental institutions.

General Discontent with Title Changes

Many individuals in Kabul and Nangarhar have voiced their dissatisfaction with this change, referring to the unfamiliar phrases “شرطة” (police) and “مرور” (traffic) as jarring for society. They believe that such alterations, rooted in the collective memory of the community, are impractical and could be seen by some as a denial of the nation’s cultural and linguistic heritage.

Concerns from Linguistics Experts and University Professors

Former professors from the Faculty of Language and Literature at Kabul University and translation researchers emphasize that language should facilitate communication. They contend that replacing established terminology in formal discourse lacks scientific justification and could complicate writing and comprehension of administrative issues for the public.

Background of Linguistic Changes

Research indicates that these changes are systematically planned. The Ministry of Justice under the Taliban approved the