LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 15:12 December 2015
ISSN 1930-2940

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
         Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.
         C. Subburaman, Ph.D. (Economics)
         N. Nadaraja Pillai, Ph.D.
         Soibam Rebika Devi, M.Sc., Ph.D.
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

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English: A New ‘Basic Skill’ of 21st Century
Globalized Civil Society

Dr. Gautami Pawar, M.A., Ph.D.
Sandip J. Nikam, M.A., B.Ed., SET., Ph.D. Candidate

Abstract

We are living in the globalized 21st century, and the world has become a global village. English is the language of this world village. It is estimated that there would be around 2 billion users of English by the end of this decade. It is the age where interviews are being conducted on the telephone and the internet, and the Exams like IELTS and TOFEL are also being conducted online. Smartphones, tablets, I-pads and different gadgets are seen now everywhere. This paper is an attempt to throw some light on the status of English as a global language. Moreover, we shall take a review of the present status of English in India and refer to the question of how English has become a language of ‘basic skills’, as well as the major language of communication in today’s globalized world.

Keywords: globalization, multilingualism, technological advancement, smartphones, tablets, I-pads, role of English, status of English in India.

Multilingualism and Globalization

Since this is the age of globalization, it is good to be multilingual for an individual. It always helps to explore new directions in terms of job opportunities, career advancements, and future prospects. Being students, knowing more languages is always advantageous and it may remain as a very distinct feature of one’s personality and that may lead to better future prospects as well.

A story by V. Saraswathi (2004:14) explains the advantages of multilingualism.

“A little mouse woke up one morning and was about to go out of its mouse–hole when it heard noises ‘thump, thump, thump, meow.' ‘Hmm,' said the wise little mouse, ‘Cats go meow, and cats eat mice. I had better not go out now’. So the mouse returned to its little hole. Later, our little friend was feeling very hungry, so it again started out to search for food but stopped before leaving the mouse-hole when it heard, thump, thump, thump, woof-woof ’. ‘Hmm,' said the mouse, ‘dogs go woof-woof. Dogs do not eat mice. I will go out’.

As soon as the mouse stepped outside the mouse-hole, there was the cat. The cat grabbed our little hero and gobbled it up. After finishing its meal, the cat licked its lips and said, ‘Wow, it sure is great to be multilingual!’ ”

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.


Dr. Gautami Pawar
Associate Professor and Head
Department of English
Abasaheb Garware College
Pune- 411004
Maharashtra
India
gautamipawar24@yahoo.co.in


Sandip J. Nikam, M. A., B. Ed., SLET., Ph.D. Candidate
Assistant Professor and Head
Department of English
KSKW College
CIDCO
Nashik - 422 008
Maharashtra
India
sandipnikam59@rediffmail.com

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