Ignoring one's language - The moMother tongue is a priceless heritage

[and/or www.mantra.com/jai]

Ignoring one�s language

Editorial
The Pioneer
http://www.dailypioneer.com
February 25, 2013

Mother tongue is a priceless heritage

This past week, as the world celebrated its linguistic
diversity on February 21 � with the Unesco-designated
World Mother Language Day, in India the occasion sparked
several debates on language and tradition, and how they
are being juxtaposed against the overwhelming demands of
globalisation. Today, the average Indian youth,
particularly in urban areas, speaks at least two to three
languages, if not more � these usually include English,
Hindi and the mother-tongue. And, while being multi-
lingual is an asset that is valued the world over, in
this country it has come at a price. While mostly fluent
in English, young Indians today are no longer comfortable
speaking in their own mother tongue even when they speak
that language at home and study it in school. In fact,
most students struggle significantly with their second
languages, and it is commonly seen that they resort to
English words and phrases to complete their vocabulary in
their mother language. So much so that many language
purists in India today argue that, when this country's
English-educated youth speak, say in Hindi or Bengali,
they converse in a tongue better defined as �Hinglish'
and �Benglish'.

Continues at:

http://dailypioneer.com/columnists/item/53489-ignoring-one%E2%80%99s-language.html

Jai Maharaj, Jyotishi
Om Shanti

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.fan.jai-maharaj