India is the second largest country in the world, concerning the number of inhabitants. 1.2 billion people are living on an area about 10 times larger than Germany. The country has a long, sometimes violent history with many ups and downs and many different ethnic groups trying to conquer the country.
Right now, it has the status of a so called take-off country and is considered to become one of the most leading nations in the world, economically as well as politically, in near future. But even though the country is on the road to a better future, there are still many problems that have to be solved. Of course there are problems like poverty, environmental issues and so on.
But one problem in India is the fact that the country itself is not unified, many different ethnic groups are living there and over 500 different languages are spoken. One of the many languages spoken is English. Almost every Indian gets in contact with English at one point of his live. It is the medium of instruction in most of the schools as well in universities. And in order to get an occupation, for example in the civil service in India, one has to master English, alongside with Hindi and another regional language as well. Over the last 200 years, it has been established as a lingua franca in India, a language that unites a country where 500 different languages are spoken. But how important is English in India, and what is its history and status?
Also it has to considered, whether Indian English has become an own variety of English. It is, as mentioned, being used and spoken in India for over two centuries now and certain features, in written as well as in spoken language, developed in the course of time. Some of them are obvious to the native speaker, others not. Some might even sound or look rather comical to someone not familiar with the features of this variety. But what are those features and by whom are they used?
Another question that also arises is how, where and by whom English is used. Is it a language of the common people, the poor classes, or is it a language used only by a small group of people and who might those people be?
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. The history of the English language in India
- 2.1 The history until 1947
- 2.2 The history of English in India after 1947
- 2.2.1 Language policy in the Constitution
- 2.2.2 The language policies after 1950
- 2.2.3 English in education
- 2.2.4 Current language situation
- 3. Features of Indian English
- 3.1 Phonology
- 3.2 Grammatical, syntax and lexical features
- 3.2.1 Grammatical and syntax features
- 3.2.2 Lexical features
- 4. Examples
- 4.1 Newspaper Article
- 4.2 A letter
- 5. Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This work aims to explore the history, features, and usage of English in India. It examines the evolution of English as a lingua franca in a multilingual nation, considering its role in education, administration, and daily life. The study also investigates whether Indian English has developed into a distinct variety with its own unique characteristics.
- Historical development of English in India
- Linguistic features of Indian English
- The role of English in Indian society and education
- English as a lingua franca in India
- The status of Indian English as a distinct variety
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage by establishing India's demographic and linguistic diversity, highlighting the presence of over 500 languages. It emphasizes English's crucial role as a lingua franca, bridging communication gaps across this vast linguistic landscape. The chapter poses key questions regarding English's importance, history, and status in India, and introduces the central theme of investigating whether Indian English has evolved into a unique variety.
2. The history of the English language in India: This chapter presents a comprehensive overview of English's journey in India, from its initial contacts to its establishment as a significant language. It begins with early interactions and then details the involvement of various groups – from Indo-Aryans and Arabs to the Portuguese and finally the British East India Company. The chapter traces the stages of English's introduction, exploring the roles of missionaries and the impact of Lord Macaulay's Minute of Education in furthering the spread of English in education. The chapter highlights the gradual but significant transformation of English's role in India, moving from a language of trade to one of administration and education.
Keywords
Indian English, lingua franca, language history, language policy, multilingualism, sociolinguistics, language variation, education, India.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comprehensive Language Preview of Indian English
What is the purpose of this document?
This document provides a comprehensive preview of a work exploring the history, features, and usage of English in India. It serves as an overview, including the table of contents, objectives, key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
What topics are covered in this work?
The work covers the historical development of English in India, from its early contacts to its current status as a lingua franca. It examines the linguistic features of Indian English, including phonology, grammar, syntax, and lexicon. It also explores the role of English in Indian society and education, its status as a lingua franca, and whether Indian English constitutes a distinct variety.
What is the historical overview of English in India?
The historical overview traces English's presence in India from early interactions with various groups (Indo-Aryans, Arabs, Portuguese, British East India Company) to its establishment as a significant language through missionary work and Lord Macaulay's Minute of Education. It details the transformation of English's role, from a language of trade to one of administration and education.
What are the key linguistic features of Indian English discussed?
The document mentions the phonological, grammatical, syntactical, and lexical features of Indian English, though a detailed analysis is not provided in the preview. These features are explored in dedicated sections of the complete work.
What is the role of English in Indian society and education?
The work examines English's vital role as a lingua franca in a multilingual nation, bridging communication gaps across diverse linguistic communities. Its significance in education and administration is also analyzed. The preview emphasizes the importance of understanding English's impact on Indian society.
What is the status of Indian English as a distinct variety?
The preview raises the central question of whether Indian English has evolved into a unique variety with its own distinct characteristics. The complete work aims to provide an answer to this question.
What are the key chapters included in the work?
The work includes chapters on the introduction, the history of English in India (divided into periods before and after 1947, including subsections on language policy), features of Indian English (phonology and grammatical/lexical features), examples (newspaper article and a letter), and a conclusion.
What are the keywords associated with this work?
Keywords include Indian English, lingua franca, language history, language policy, multilingualism, sociolinguistics, language variation, education, and India.
Who is the intended audience for this work?
The intended audience is likely academics and researchers interested in sociolinguistics, the history of English, and the development of English as a lingua franca in multilingual contexts.
- Quote paper
- Heinrich Mario Nink (Author), 2008, English in India, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/116087
