LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 17:6 June 2017
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.
         Renuga Devi, Ph.D.
         Soibam Rebika Devi, M.Sc., Ph.D.
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

Language in India www.languageinindia.com is included in the UGC Approved List of Journals. Serial Number 49042.

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The Rise and Growth of English Language in India and It's
Perceived Relation vis-à-vis the Sense of Identity among Young
Adults

Pooja Singal, M.A., M.Ed.

Abstract

In a multilingual country like India, there exists a hierarchy among languages. While major Indian languages compete with each other for the position of power, leaving the minority and tribal languages far behind, at the top of this ladder is English, which has been variously described by educationists and politicians as an ‘imposition’ of the colonial rule, a ‘gift’ or the last ‘legacy’ of the imperial power. In the present context of the country, there is an increasing demand for English education, evident from the growth of small scale Private English Medium schools everywhere in India. On the other hand, all policy documents related to education stress the importance of Indigenous languages as the media of Instruction atleast in primary classes. What, then, justifies the continued overwhelming presence of English in our context? This Paper attempts to outlinethe process of rise and growth of English language in the pre-independence India till the present time. The paper would also attempt to understand the perspective of young adults with respect to English vis-à-vis their sense of social identity through a study conducted with young adults engaged in different professions.

Keywords: English, Multilingual Society, Education, Identity, Media of Instruction

Introduction

Language is not just a medium of communication, it is the medium that helps us to construct our everyday world, grasp the social reality, and acts as a representational tool to our innermost feelings, desires, fears and expectations. There is a close connection between Language and cognitive development. Language, according to Piaget helps us to verbalize our understanding of various concepts, while, Vygotsky views language as developing thought. Both cognitive and language development takes place when a child interacts with his socio-cultural physical space. Vygotsky gives a lot of importance to observation of adult speech by the child. Language for him is a cultural tool. It is a product and medium of cultural transmission.

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


Ms. Pooja Singal, M.A., M.Ed.
Assistant Professor
Department of Elementary Education
Lady Shri Ram College for Women
LalaLajpat Rai Rd.
Amar Colony
Lajpat Nagar 4
New Delhi
Delhi 110024
India
poojasingal1985@gmail.com

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