Playing an important role in every field, it has become a universal language
Indian English is a recognised dialect just like British,
American or Australian English because of its distinctive pronunciations, syntax
and lexical variations. Playing an important role in the domains of business, education,
administration and various other fields, it should no more be treated or taught
as a foreign language to students.
English language experts had recently gathered at the launch of a book, "Unlock
Their Future- Skill-based approach to teaching and learning English", at Nivara,
Navi Peth in Pune.
"Indianisation of English language has already happened. We cannot prevent the influence
of mother tongue on English language and you can have deviations but not mistakes,"
said Viney Kirpal, former professor of English, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)
Bombay.
Director of ASMA Institute of Management, professor S Ranganathan said, "A colonial
inheritance, English has given India an advantage over other countries for its command
over the language. Ten years of IT boom that India has seen has tremendously diverted
our interest in English language."
Former professor of English at the University of Pune, Shridhar Gokhale, said that
there are more people world over who use English for communication than those who
speak it as their mother tongue.
"The usage of English in India is much wider than any other foreign language. It
is said that if we learn German, we must speak like Germans. With English there
is no need to speak like native English speakers, because we have our own Indianised
version," he said.
To this, Kirpal added, "There is nothing wrong in Indianised English, as I don't
see a communication gap. Until it is grammatically incorrect, the only difference
is in recognition of pronunciation."
Due to its flexibility and adaptability, English has become a world language, said
Ranganathan, adding that Indians speak grammatically correct English than the native
English speakers.
"Our Indianised dialect is recognised but not accepted because our English has many
vernacularised versions due to the influence of the many native languages that are
spoken in India. This regionalisation of English language has made it the third
language in India."
Stressing on the need to bring a change in the teaching and learning process
of English language at school level, Kirpal said, "English teaching and learning
at school level is done for passing examinations and not as an intensive effort
to learn a life skill. Improvement in delivery capacity of the teachers, based on
theory with practice, will play a vital role in enabling students to communicate
and write in English fluently."
Courtesy: DNA India
