Article/ Link: Will English Kill off India's Languages?
By Mark Tully
Published: November 29, 2011 Accessed: November 29, 2011
Summary: English is an official language of India and many say it is one of the factors that is leading India to become an economic power. With a language disappearing every two weeks, according to Professor David Crystal, will English devour other languages present in India. Mark Tully says perhaps no. According to an article on the Economist, India beat China in the category to speak English. With many Indian writers winning major literary awards, it seems India is moving towards domination through English. English is becoming a great advantage to India, but Tully points out that since gaining independence any threat to Indian languages has resulted in a violent backlash.
Response: English is definitely dominating the world around us. It seems that without English, progress in a country, especially a developing one, is somewhat slowed. With majority of the world understanding and speaking English and the rest learning it, it is no surprise that languages are disappearing rapidly. However, it is a very saddening thought as language hold the essence of many different cultures throughout the world. To lose language would be losing a culture. Another frightening thing about English becoming a dominating language is that the diversity of the world is decreasing. The unique and separate ways of life each people group helps differentiate one from another and build identity.
For India, English is definitely a leading factor that is helping to develop the country. Without English, India would probably not be where it is today. English has been able to lead the way forward to the rest of the modern world. However, even though English proves to be a very helpful advantage for economic success, India should make sure that other regional languages in India do not die out. It would be tragic to see a country rich of culture and history lose a part of its story.
Vocabulary:
Propel
1."English is one of the advantages India has which are said to be propelling it to economic superpower status."
2. Definition: verb. to drive forward or onward by or as if by means of a force that imparts motion
Origin: Middle English propellen, from Latin propellere, from pro- before + pellere to drive
First known use: 15th century (Merriam-Webster)
3. The guard started propelling rocks at high speeds to drive the monkeys away.
Fete
1. "Feted writer"
2. Definition: verb. to honor or commemorate with a fete; to pay high honor to
Origin: N/A
First known use: 1814 (Merriam-Webster)
3. The school feted the best student from each class with a metal of honor.
Aspire
1. "Then there is the growing number of parents who now aspire to give their children an education through the medium of that language."
2. Definition: to seek to attain or accomplish a particular goal
Origin: from Latin aspirare, literally, to breath upon, from ad- + spirare to breathe
First known use: 14th century (Merriam-Webster)
3. The smartest girl in the class aspires to be a famous writer one day.
