The role of English in India

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Name: Ranjan P. Velari

Class: M.A. Sem. 3

Paper No.: 12 -A (English Language Teaching-1)

Year: 2014-16

Topic: The role of English in India

Enrollment No.: 14101032

Email Id: ranjanvelari@gmail.com

Guidance: Parth Bhatt

Submitted to: Smt.S.B. Gardi

                          Department of English

                          M.K. Bhavnagar University

 

The Role of English in India

Introduction:

English is not our native language; this language is borrowed from England. In this modern and global world English becomes necessary. Every field required Basic English. In education, business, multinational companies, science and technology, marketing and advertising, we use English language. That’s why English language is important for us and without it we can’t attach in the world. For example, if we go to foreign, visa is necessary, this process is done only when we are eligible in speaking English.

Sometimes in our mind question arises that why we have to learn English language?

    Many people believe that our mother tongue is this so we have to speak only this language. For example, if my mother tongue is Gujarati, I need only this language. But this idea is breaks when we go to another state because they have their own language. So we can’t understand it. English language is necessary to learn because it is the central language of the world. Wherever we go, if we know English we can easily communicate with those people who knows English. In 21^st century, computer and technology played a vital role in our world. Through technology, our world has become the dreamland. Through multiple computer or mobile applications within a second or minute, we can transfer many things. So in all these fields English become necessary.

The Role of English in India:

When India attained freedom in 1947, many changes take place. In institutional and instrumental functions were retained, a new national flag symbolizing, new values, pride and power to the emergence of a new society. Then which language make to official language, Hindi or English that question arise. Finally Hindi selected as Devnagri script, which will become the sole official language. In 1963, the parliament passed the Official Language Bill providing for the continued use of English. English now is the associate official language of the Union. The official language of the States with provision for continued use of English.

§  What is the role of English in India?

§  Does English language is a Satan or Saraswati for India?

§  What is the role of English as a second language in India?

So let’s see the answers of these questions

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¤  English Languge used as a medium of the Language:

In schools the medium of language is English. English is an alternative medium of school education like primary, middle and secondary. English medium is prestigeous and is in great demand. Because of the effect of the English lack of development of Indian languages. English taught in more than 2,00,000 schools. As a second language of bilinguals in India English stands for top of the list. More value of English become not good for India, because we face double face of English in India. For example, the number of the students learning English has greatly increased, but their level of competence in English has decreased. That’s why only learning English is not important but its level is important. The increasing demand for English decreases its standard.

¤  English: Positions of Power:

After Independence, the different regions and linguistic groups to share its benefits because of the dependence on international powers.  Positions of power dependence on international powers. Positions of power depended on the advantages of English. In the country, democratic political system people demands for equal treatment to all the major languages. Then English was projected as the neutral language with no regional or ethnic base in the country. English served as a political weapon for the non-Hindi elites to contain the emergence of Hindi as the new language of power. At that time lower castes in education employment through the system of reservation, English language give them access to wealth, power and status as it did to the higher castes earlier.

¤  Political and Commercial Aspect of India:

After the Second World War, the stature and power of English increased internationally and it affects the political and commercial aspect of India. Then English become the language of Satan’s by the freedom fighters of India. India is the third largest published of books in English after USA and UK and 42% of the books published in India are in English. English which began as a language of commerce in India has itself become a profitable commodity.

Language Policy in different Domains:

Language of administration and laws were selected Indian languages but in higher education’s, colleges and universities, being educated through English. At that time British ruler think that English medium in education to get people to help them run the government and commerce through English.

                                       

¤ Teaching English as Second Language in India:

The term Second Language is understood in two different ways;

Ø  English as second language at primary

Ø  English as a second language in school education after the primary stage and has a pedagogical as well as functional definition, in the context of ‘three- language formula’

English Language understood as a Second Language to Historical Perspective:

English in India is a symbol of linguistic centralism. Indian languages seen to be as represent linguistic regionalism. ‘English-knowing’ is a part of conceptual structure and it has three parts: modernization, mythology and language policy.

Concept of modernization and internationalism were invoked in English became the language of both modernization and internationalism.

Language-planning operated with a whole set of lexical weaponry that gradually created a new mythology. Regional Languages- ‘regional’ is in opposition to ‘national’. English is one ‘pan-Indian’ language that would promote National Integration.

Ø  The Role of English in various aspects:

Ø  English- language of knowledge (science and technology)

Ø  English- liberal and modern thinking

Ø  English- our window on the world

Ø  English- library language ( language of reason)

Ø  English- link language

Ø  English- lingua-franca

English an integral part of school-education and secondly it ironically restricted the learning and use of Hindi in non-Hindi areas by allowing the student to learn English as the second language.

Ø  Declining Standard of English:

 Standard of English declining because we are success to teaching English but sometimes students cannot understand the basic things of English.

¤ English as a second language in India:

At that time primary stage or beginning of the lower secondary stage after the attainment of sufficient proficiency in the first language by the learner, its leads to the nation to secondary socialization. The second language is not just a pedagogic chronological construct but it is linguistic construct.

English as a second language constitute a major academic obsession- Error Analysis, Contrastive Analysis, Use of Technology, Remedial Courses, Testing and so on, through these tools we can major English as a second language.

Ø  English as the third language:

The main objective of introducing the third language is to prepare the learner for all- India mobility leading to tertiary socialization.

Ø  English as a foreign language:

English comes from British that’s why it is a foreign language, cannot linguistically function as a second language. But political and policy reasons it has been uniformly imposed as a second language all over the country.

What are the major problems to teaching English as a second language?

·         Lack of clarity about basic concept

·         Wide gap between facts of the situation

·         Shifting theoretical inputs

·         Lack of agreement about the desirable principles

                                English as second language ‘listening-reading-speaking-writing’ or ‘reading-writing-listening-speaking’.

If we talk about the role of English in India, it becomes Satan or Saraswati. Apart from this English language used in foreign also. Anything subject or language we pick up it has their both sides positive or negative.

                  POSITIVE                  NEGATIVE

1.      English medium students                      1. Privatization in School

 Are fluent in English                                   (English medium)

2.      In other country it is                            2. Loss of mother tongue

Necessary

3.      Learning English language                   3. Level of competence

Is increased                                                   decreased

4.      Communication takes place with         4. Problem with non-

Foreign speakers through                           native speakers

English language

¤ English for Science and Technology (EST):

What is the role of teaching of EST in Indian conditions?

Ø  Modernization and Progress of India:

  In India teaching of EST has some serious problems. Many a times needs of the students not fulfilled by courses and methods that’s why academic and professional purpose not completed. Sometimes materials are not based on a careful description of the scientific sub-register. In India teaching of EST has a direct connection.

Ø  Socio-cultural Dimensions of English as a second language:       

   English language deeply rooted in socio-cultural, religious, etc., concepts of the native speaker’s life. English serves as a link language across the nation. It is also a language in which a lot of Indian literature is being written, that is to say, literature by Indians, about India but in English.

Ø Conclusion:

English language is used in India as a various fields like, politics, social aspects, commercial use, for academic purpose etc. Development of India increased through English language. But learning only English language is not necessary but used in day to day life for different purpose is important. As a second language, foreign language, as a Satan and Saraswati (dual face of English), the role of English for science and technology, English language used in these fields. Power and Politics also affected by English language.

Works Cited

E. Annamalai, Kapil Kapoor, Rekha Aslam. "The Cambridge Guide to Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages." Ed. Ronald Carter and David Nunan. Cambridge, New York, Melbourne, Madrid, Cape Town, Singapore, São Paulo: CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS, 2001.

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