Scholar Critic Locating the Status of 'English' in the multilingual setting of Nagaland (original) (raw)
Related papers
2020
Modern education started by the colonial powers during nineteenth century in the state of Manipur has made tremendous progress. It has also led to the introduction of English language and English education in the state. The present article looks into the present status of English Education in the state -the governmental as well as the private institutions, and the use of English language in the state. This paper deals with the state of English language in the state of Manipur through the study of English education along with the educational status of various languages in the state. While deeper observation revealed the pathetic conditions of some governmental schools, the gaps were mended by the private schools. English has played an important role in the written languages of the different communities in the state. It has acted as a link language for most tribals in the hills. The diversity of languages in Manipur has also favored English to be in the vital spotlight both in written...
Revisiting English Education amidst Various Local Languages: Situation in Manipur State
Modern education started by the colonial powers during nineteenth century in the state of Manipur has made tremendous progress. It has also led to the introduction of English language and English education in the state. The present article looks into the present status of English Education in the state – the governmental as well as the private institutions, and the use of English language in the state. This paper deals with the state of English language in the state of Manipur through the study of English education along with the educational status of various languages in the state. While deeper observation revealed the pathetic conditions of some governmental schools, the gaps were mended by the private schools. English has played an important role in the written languages of the different communities in the state. It has acted as a link language for most tribals in the hills. The diversity of languages in Manipur has also favored English to be in the vital spotlight both in written and spoken. Despite many difficulties, English education is still in demand and is progressing both in the hills and the valley. English as a subject as well as a medium of instruction has gained best preference in the state. Governmental reports, articles, write-ups including the author’s own personal observations and experiences beside various other secondary sources have been consulted as sources in formation and analysis of this article.
English Medium Instruction in India: A Colonial Hangover?
Literary Explorer, 2022
Several language-related questions keep gnawing at the minds of some radicals in India. Some of them are: Why should Indians continue to use English as a medium of instruction from pre-kindergarten onwards even after 75 years of its political independence? Why couldn’t Hindi, the official language of the Union Government of India, be developed as the National language? How long should India continue without its own national language? Is it possible for the country to function in all the twenty two scheduled languages giving equal importance for communication purposes? Can’t India offer primary and secondary education in mother tongues when some of them are very ancient? The first and the last questions form the background of the study. Thirty eight final year postgraduate students of English who are to be certified as English teachers shortly were asked to reflect over them. The researcher also made use of NEP 2020 Report and the 11th volume of the Report of the Parliamentary Official Language and public reaction to them as additional inputs for investigation. This qualitative study establishes that almost all the participants failed to make a distinction between English as a language and English as a medium. They argue for English as a medium of instruction on the strength of English as an indispensable language in the modern world. Their response appears to be a result of the colonial hangover and their reasoning falls short of ‘begging the question.’ In Tamil Nadu, the public and political payoff of discussions on the said reports is the reaffirmation of bilingual policy of Tamil (mother tongue) and English and the preference for English medium to Hindi medium of instruction.
Situating English in the Language Politics of Assam
Langlit, 2016
During the colonial period, the English language was used to highlight colonial supremacy and hence the inferiority of the colonized native population in Assam. Later, political events during the independence movement added to the cleavages between English and Assamese language. In the post colonial period, these differences gave rise to an Assamese linguistic sub-national movement which viewed the teaching and learning of English as a colonial imposition and reduced the importance of the language to a subordinate position. This paper looks at the challenges that English teaching and learning face in Assam. It suggests that language policies should be so framed that English acts as a complementary force to the Assamese language and does not create an antagonistic and damaging relationship with it.
FORM AND FUNCTION OF ENGLISH IN INDIA
The axiom ‘Many a little, makes a mickle’ holds good in the case of English Language also when we speak of British colonial hegemony. It has spread its spell across the length and breadth of the globe. The diehard lovers of their language of the people of Japan and the China have also fallen prey to the fascination of English. The advent of the English in India too, has widened the avenues in the field of national and international levels not only in literature but also in the corporate world. Who can be oblivious of the capacious contributions of the European scholars and lexicographers like Charles Philip Brown, Rev. Ferdinand Kittel and Johann Philip Fabricius, to name a few; they have enriched Indian linguistic treasures so much so that their literary works are the lighthouse. In a nutshell, English is a Lingua Franca of the world. By now, it is an indispensable medium of communication. Its educative value cannot be denied.
The Dilemma of English Language Teaching in India: Historical, Social and Pedagogic Issues
The Position Paper on Teaching English prepared in connection with the National Curriculum Framework 2005 of the National Council of Educational Research and Training, an autonomous organization of the Government of India, specifies the place, role and the methodology of teaching English in India and it is accepted as the official policy document on English language teaching across the country. Though this position paper tried to articulate India’s national vision and perception of English language teaching in the context of the global ELT scenario, the implementation of its recommendations is still a far cry in India. It seems that this position paper suffers from an inherent contradiction prevalent in the national psyche of the Indians who are yet to approach the Indian ELT scenario dispassionately. The absence of a clear ideological perspective on the teaching of English in India cast its shadow on this position paper and consequently, it failed to articulate the national policy on English language teaching in an unambiguous manner. The present paper, therefore, tries to examine the issues raised by the Position Paper on Teaching English and explores the unspecified position of English language teaching in India from historical, social and pedagogic perspectives. It is assumed that the confused ELT scenario of the country is the inevitable result of a historical fallacy that conditioned the perceptions of the policy makers as well as the academicians of the country. It is argued that an integrated language curriculum in a multilingual context will promote the cause of English language teaching in India without affecting Indian languages.
English in India: A Socio-Psychological Paradox
The present study attempts to discuss the problematic of English in India. We aim to look at the socio-psychological factors motivating the extensive use of English among the Indian speakers. English language has become a part of the politics of ever expanding English empire in India. The interpretation and the basic structure of English may be same but is always used in different manner. The Indians who use English in the academic or professional discourse do not pray or cry in English. Slowly English is becoming the de facto national language; especially for the elite. Though English a non native variety, can be legitimately called 'Indians' English' is undoubtedly a link language in India, but at the same time it does not connect and link rural India with rest of the country. At present English in India is divided in two -English knowing class who governs and the non English knowing class who are governed. This facilitates in the germination of linguistic imperialism and cultural colonialism. English is not the intimate language but its demand among the masses is gaining ground.