Events & Issues

New Delhi, 31 January 2011

English Language

MAKING REGIONAL IDIOMS EXTINCT

By Mithun Dey

In contemporary India, thanks to the growing aspirations of the youth to learn English regional languages are slowly becoming extinct.  While most children want to be proficient in English their parents believe the young can do without learning their mother tongue. Indisputably, with English permeating daily life, it is acquiring the status of being the national language.

A few months back at an evening party, an invitee asked, “What does a corner shot mean in cricket?” A 55-year old banker answered in his mother tongue but was ignored by the quiz master.  Instead, he thanked another guest who had replied in English. Not for the right answer but for his proficiency in the Queen’s language.

Sadly, today’s generation is conveniently dumping their mother tongue. Worse, people like the quiz master forget that once one loses adeptness in our language, we loose our culture. All fail to realize that knowledge of the mother tongue is what makes a nation great and binds people together and proud. Also, it underscores our roots.

Recall, during the Medieval Warm Period (MWP) round 1000 years ago, nobody could speak English whereby even the British spoke ‘Latin’. However, in these modern times, English holds sway and India is no exception. In fact, the number of English-medium schools is gradually increasing wherein it is becoming the language of business, technology, and empowerment for almost all the people.

But, we also need to think about our mother tongue. Just think. Now, an average child who needs to learn the English language as a pre-condition of advancement in learning is subjected to a lot of pressure whereby he treats it like a bugbear. On the obverse, those who gain proficiency in English, face intracranial pressure to learn their mother tongue.

Pertinently, till date the education system hinged on having the English language as a second medium of instruction and examination. Today, it is being propagated all over the country in such a manner as if English is our mother tongue. Most people in the urban areas speak in English in their daily inter-actions. As if all have forgotten their mother tongue.

Equally shocking, in most English-medium schools, children don’t know how to write their mother tongue. Thus, not only reducing the importance of their mother tongue but also making it redundant. 

All forget that it is the mother tongue that keeps us connected to our roots. The language has a certain nostalgia which takes us back to the soft reminiscences of our culture and traditions. Why do we have the fear of being alone in the world if we don’t know English? Primarily because we are roots are not strong enough.

This is not all. Arguably, is it enough to assert that one knows about Indian culture and tradition if we can only speak English? Every Indian must realize the significance of the regional languages. We should speak our mother language to save it from extinction and make our roots strong.

Today, the country is facing a perilous situation whereby many beautiful languages are becoming extinct. Undoubtedly English is a must for easy communication, but if all flowers were roses, the garden would loose its glint.  

In the advanced countries like Germany, France, Italy, Japan, China, Russia et al after finishing their high school course, students might acquire working knowledge of the English language through a short course. Therefore, in India too no fuss should be made about learning English as a necessary and indispensable accomplishment, from one’s childhood or adolescence. 

The time has come to let students at schools or at home master their respective mother tongues and learn subjects and literature through these. As Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore asserted, the purpose of putting across thought through the mother tongue is more comfortable than through a foreign tongue. Presently, where is the thought? Given that the system has reduced the importance of learning in the mother language.

In the ultimate, our teachers need to remember that teaching in the native language is imperative. They should desist from educating in English. All forget that English can be taught by speaking in the mother tongue. Indians, need to realize that English should be learnt and spoken like a native not like an Englishman who thinks in English. Clearly, this is inappropriate. ---- INFA

(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)