ENGLISH IN INDIA : IT'S STATUS, ROLE AND FUNCTIONS

ENGLISH IN INDIA : IT'S STATUS, ROLE AND
FUNCTIONS

Why do you think we need to talk about the status, role and function English in India? We need to talk about these terns because they, to a very large extent, govern tile importance of English in India.

 Perhaps this can be explained wilt the help of an Analogy. Let me offer you some food for thought! I am sure most of us are familiar with various types of delicacies associated with certain cuisines. Most of us are familiar with Chinese cuisine. Soup, noodles and Manchurian is what immediately comes to our mind and not its actual delicacy which is 'Peking Duck'. Why is this? This is because the status of Chinese cuisine has become totally Indianised over the years. 

The availability of 'Indian Chinese' is no longer restricted to restaurants or hotels but can readily be found at roadside mobile vans. Our taste buds whole-heartedly welcome tile flavor of Indian Chinese noodles, which tlie Chinese would perhaps totally disown, if they were to get a taste of it  Indian family has the option of having this interesting diversion at least once a week. You may be wondering why we are talking about Chinese cuisine. What is the connection between this cuisine and English language'? Well, there certainly is a common link. Both have become an integral component of our lives, playing vital roles, Irldian Chinese cuisine in satisfying our palate on the one hand and English language - in satisfying our practical need for social mobility, opportunity, Powel and communication on the other hand. After all, aren't food and language two of our basic needs!

English in India, has the status of 'associate official language'. It is also popularly referred to as a second language. It has die status of a second language as we in India acquire and use one or more Indian language(s) as our first language.

The roles and function of English are innumerable. Its need can be discerned in every domain -administration, bureaucracy, education, science and technology, judiciary, trade and commerce. It is not only in tiles public domains that the knowledge of English is considered an essential necessity but also it is very important to take care of our personal 'communicative needs as well. Whether it is applying for school admission or a job, facing an interview, opening a bank account, ordering a meal, working as a receptionist or simply being a tourist guide at Taj Mahal - the need for English is felt by each one of us in our daily lives. The youth, especially, seem to be favorably inclined towards the language as they perceive it as significant for their career advancement.

It is actually the domain of education most interested in. So let's talk about its role in this sphere. English is learnt for a period ranging from six to twelve years depending on whether a child goes to ail English medium school or an Indian language medium school. In English medium schools, children get exposure to the language as a subject and as a medium instruction as well.

However, in Indian language medium schools, children get limited exposure to English, only as a subject, which is taught like any other subject History, Math’s or Science.

At the level of higher education, English in India plays a central role especially in fields of pure applied sciences, medicine, law, management, etc.

Going further up the ladder after higher education, job opportunities, social advancement, prestige, power become issues of consideration and English is often perceived as the language fulfilling these aspirations.

In the course of the spread of English all over the world, its role and functions diversified and multiplied in virtually all major walks of life. This increasingly led to a demand for English education in India. The practical value of the language and its benefits have contributed to Indian learners having a high motivation and positive attitude towards the English language. Although there is no major English speaking community in India, it is possible to learn and practice. English outside the formal educational setting: radio, TV, internet, books, newspapers, magazines are all readily available and accessible.

Although English is spoken as a first language in the five countries mentioned below-American English, British English, Canadian English, Australian English and New Zealand English-all differ in significant ways from each other. Not only that, English within each country lends itself to several varieties, each variety being distinct because of several factors - social, personal, geographical boundaries. We'll appreciate this better if we compare this to Hindi being spoken differently in Eastern U.P. (Bllojpuri and Avadhi) as compared to M.P.(Chattisgarhi and Bhageli) In Britain itself we have several varieties. All the varieties are' generally marked by a distinct accent, words and their usage. If you have heard Tony Greg and Geoffrey Boycott giving cricket commentary, you would understand that though both speak British English the e former speaks the Standard variety while the latter, the Yorkshire variety.

Let us consider a few examples from British English and American English and see Non-native varieties of English are all those varieties which are spoken as second or foreign languages. In other words, in all these diverse cultural contexts, English is not their first language.

 English in these socio-cultural contexts is learnt at different

stages, for different purposes, goals and aspirations. Since there is already a presence of another language, such as Hindi, Bangla, Tamil, etc. which is acquired as a first language, these languages have a considerable influence on English. When this happens, English begins to sound quite different in each context, with its own flavour and nuances.

'Indian English' has emerged in India which is systematically different from Standard British English. However, we must keep this in mind that this deviation is in no way a failure to learn English but a natural consequence of prolonged use of the language in the social context in which it is spoken. Consequently 'IndianEnglish' is an outcome of the 'Indianisation of English' which is culture bound in the socio-cultural context of India.