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

.

¤  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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The Scarlet Letter as a puritan novel

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The Scarlet Letter as a puritan novel

Name: Ranjan P. Velari

Class: M.A. Sem.3

Paper No.: 10 (The American Literature)

Year: 2014-16

Enrollment No.: 14101032

Email Id: ranjanvelari@gmail.com

Guidance: Heenaba Zala

Submitted to:    Smt.S.B.Gardi

                          Department of English

                          M.K. Bhavnagar University

Topic: The Scarlet Letter as a puritan novel

Introduction about Nathaniel Hawthorne:

Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in Massachusetts. His first work published in 1828, a novel titled Fanshawe. The Scarlet Letter was published in 1850. He published collection of short stories in 1837 named Twice-Told Tales. Centre area of his writing is New England and his work reflects moral allegories with puritan inspiration.

Nathaniel Hawthorne has deep bonds with his puritan ancestors. The Scarlet Letter shows his attitude towards these puritans of Boston in his portrayal of characters, plot and story. 

How can we define the term ‘Puritan’?

A member of a group of English Protestants who in the 1500s and 1600s advocated strict religious discipline along with simplification of the ceremonies and creeds of the church of England.

Puritan means a person who is very strict in religious practice or moral outlook, especially someone who regards pleasure or luxury as sinful.

Man and Salvation:

Calvinists were a very introspective lot who constantly searched their souls for evidence that they were God’s Elect. The Elect were people chosen by God for salvation. According to Puritans, a merciful God had sent his son, Jesus Christ, to earth to die for the sins of man but only a few would be saved. The rest, known as the “unregenerate”, would be damned eternally.

For this reason, The New England Primer (1683),which was used to teach reading in Puritan schools, began with “A: In Adam’s fall/ we sinned all.” Most Puritans could be sure of eternal punishment in hell; the few that were ‘elect’ would go to heaven. Here we can give the example of “Paradise Lost” by John Milton that God denied to Eve and Adam that not to eat knowledge of fruit though they ate and then God gave punishment to them. It is the original sin of Eve and Adam. May be they overtake the power of God and do these things. 

In the novel where is the puritan aspect shown by Nathaniel Hawthorne?

Church and State:

Here in this novel patriarchal society represented by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Male members were chance to get vote. Minister selected the elected officials of the colony then there is a tie between church and state. The scarlet letter presented two branches of government, Mr. Roger Wilson (church) and Governor Bellingham (state) came. Puritan rules came from the Bible with spiritual and ethical standards.

There is a little space for individualism and society built by the puritans was very stern and repressive. At that time there is difference between public knowledge and private actions. Characters like Dimmesdale and Chillingworth both “sinners” for their part in this drama are presented members of repressive community, while character of Hester is an outcast because publicly she done wrong thing.

The good women of the colony discuss the community good that could be realized if they were in charge of public punishment. In the first scaffold scene in chapter 2, punishment described and they badly treated Hester Prynne. They put the brand of a hot iron on her forehead. One woman has brought shame that, “This woman has brought shame upon us all, and ought to die.”

The role of women contributed as well as housewives and child bearers. Always women treated as this way in society. Hester Prynne give birth to a baby child is not her husband’s child but lover’s child. So at this time things reveals as the crime and society give punishment to this crime. But women were found guilty of this kind of crime; men on the other hand were normally handed down a less severe punishment. For Dimmesdale there is no any difference because he hides behind his deeds and suffers in silence. He opposite of what puritan men should be like: headstrong. Hester who suffers a lot for her crime but Dimmesdale not suffers because society always blames women.

Three Scaffold Scenes in The Scarlet Letter:

The three scaffold scenes are most important in the novel to understand puritan society. This scene covers Hester’s crime and punishment. “A” is a symbol of adultery and “A” on Hester Prynne’s bosom.

 The first Scaffold scene begins with when Hester stands with an instant in her arms on the scaffold midday. People mock her and they stands below to the platform. Civil officers, magistrates and priests stand above on a balcony. The leaders of the community- Governor Bellingham, the Reverend Mr. John Wilson and the young priest Arthur Dimmesdale force Hester to reveal the name of her partner.

Hester stands alone in the world with the symbol of her sin. Character of Hester portrays here with pride. Whatever situation comes for her she must accept because there is no another way to escape from reality. The symbol of “A” compared as a meteor or angel. Dimmesdale asks Hester and Pearl to join him on the scaffold, but Pearl suggests that he should stand with there in the daylight next day. It is the symbol of his guilt. The light of the meteor also reveals Roger Chillingworth standing near scaffold.

Dimmesdale is not yet completely to apologize his sin and Chillingworth standing below the platform and gazing at the threesome in the glow of strange light. This is the scene of third scaffold. The final scaffold scene is denouement of the story. At that time every people’s attention towards the scarlet letter. It is the Election Day; a public holiday and many strangers are also among the crowd in the market place. Gazing by people is burning sensation in her bosom.

In the first scene, he wanted to know the name of Hester’s fellow-sinner. In the second scene, the suspicion about his identity turned into a conviction. And now, with the minister who is about to reveal his secret to the crowd.

Puritan Mindset reflected in The Scarlet Letter:

The novel is all about secrets and thoughts of characters. It’s through puritan society mirrored. When Hester live in a forest it is a kind of “shelter” for herald for members of society in need of a refuge from daily puritan life. Forest is symbolically puts by Nathaniel Hawthorne that it is dark and deep and characters brings forth hidden thoughts and emotions. Sometimes it is a sign of wilderness and vanishes of civilization. In puritan society women and man cannot open up their own ideas but here is a paradox that Dimmesdale openly acknowledge Hester and his unifying love for her. Hester is far away from puritan society places because she lives in forest and it provides freedom and independent spirit. Forest is an umbrella of security, where Hester lives freely. 

Puritan society believes that self-reliance is more important and no necessity for a “shoulder to cry on”. Dimmesdale told Hester that “Be thou strong for me.” And told her that “advise me what to do.” So, this plea come an interesting sort of role-reversal. When Dimmesdale asks for this help, status of Hester already rise and superior than Dimmesdale. But may be puritans would not accept this reality and emotional attachment of Dimmesdale because society is socially constructed. Puritan society can be harsh and crippling to one’s inner self.

The Scarlet Letter presented theme like revenge, bravery, boldness and also sin, crime and punishment. Character of Dimmesdale and Hester Prynne, both are the victim of puritan mindset. Through puritan society shame imposed in the character of Hester because according to society she is a sinner and that’s why she punished by society and tagged with symbol of “A”- it is for adultery. According to Bible it is illegal activity, against law and religion. This relationship of Hester and Dimmesdale is unethical relationship.

 Governor of society not think about little Hester’s child Pearl also, and attempt to remove Pearl’s from Hester’s care. When Hester goes to the governor’s mansion to plead to him and others for her light to her daughters care. Bellingham states, “woman, it is thy badge of shame!” replied the stern magistrates. It is because of the stain which that “letter indicates, that we would transfer thy child into other hands.”

“Her prison-door was thrown open, and she came forth into the sunshine, which falling on all alike, seemed to her sick and morbid heart, as if meant for no other purpose than to reveal the scarlet letter on her breast.” 

Hester’s fight to resist the stain the society she lives in attempts to leave enforces her shameful relationship with society. Society bound Hester to this symbol of “A” and controls her. Though she is a victim of oppression but refuses to allow puritan society to control her life because of her sin. 

She speaks to the public sermon: when nearly demanded to reveal the “co-sinner” to her crime, Hester criticizes Wilson and Dimmesdale by saying that “and my child must seek a Heavenly father; she shall never anyone.” She does not oppose all puritan morals and strong believer of God. When she arrives at the governor mansion she states, 

“Nevertheless, this badge hath taught me- it daily teaches me- it is teaching me at this moment lessons whereof my child may be wiser and better.”

Conclusion:

We conclude this point both side that one side Hester stands alone in puritan society and proves that she can fight for her own wishes and desires for the sake of her daughter Pearl. And other side we can say that according to puritan society it is a crime that’s why she punished. In short character of Hester present individual thought and free will. Because her husband not gives her to time that’s why she goes with Dimmesdale. We cannot give fault to Hester’s character. Every character in this novel presents mentality of puritan, inner side of human mind and public relation.

Work Cited
https://www.novelguide.com/scarlet-letter
http://www.teenink.com/reviews/book_reviews/article/1413/The-Scarlet-Letter/
http://www.newhistorian.com/the-scarlet-letter-a-criticism-of-puritan-beliefs/27/
http://www.bachelorandmaster.com/britishandamericanfiction/scarlet-letter.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathaniel_Hawthorne



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