Language Planning and Language Issues: Comparison USA to India - Coursework Example

LANGUAGE PLANNING AND LANGUAGE ISSUES IN USA AND INDIA Name Name of the institution 4 October 2015 LANGUAGE PLANNING AND LANGUAGE ISSUES IN USA AND INDIA In the study of linguistics, language can be described as the capability of the human being to use a system of communication. As such, it is the use of different languages that show how people exchange different utterances. In the world, there is an estimation of more five thousand languages that are used by different countries. Most nations of the world have different languages. Across the globe, English has become the most used language and as well as the official language in many different nations. Historically, in America and India many languages have been used or rather there is the use of different languages in the two nations. Mostly, in both countries the commonly used languages include local languages and as well the colonial language. On the other hand, many languages in both countries are indigenous in different locations across the entire two nations. As both countries were British colonies, English is the most used language usually taught in school but it is not the native language in both countries. Therefore, this essay focuses on discovering different languages used in the USA and India and as well as discussing the similarities and difference of the language used in the two countries. 1) Explain the current language situation in the countries (including endangered languages) In both nations, the languages used tend to be unique to the languages used in each nation have a distinct origin. However, in the case of the two nations, some of the languages are at a risk of falling out of being used. This situation have been stimulated by the fact, people are shifting to speak other languages hence facilitating the language loss. To a better understanding, language loss happens when the speakers of native language move and eventually abandon inborn languages. This situation can be elaborated in a better way by concentrating on each situation of USA and India. Below is an elaboration of the language situation in each country. The current language situation in the USA Currently in America the common language used is known as American English. However, with the USA constituting different races, English has been declared the national language of the country. There has been various proposals by the politician to make English in America the national language, but the proposals are yet to be passed as laws. Furthering much focus on the native or rather local languages in America, it has been a worrying situation for the nation as the indigenous languages are becoming endangered in the recent period (Salaberry, 2009). As such, in the United States, the native language has been characterized by being spoken by a smaller numbers of American citizens. It is in the current cases whereby, in the America native languages speakers are decreasing, and the local languages are nearly not used in the public. In fact, in today’s current state in the America, the local languages are only used on the reservation. However, as the native languages in America are vanishing, in some situation the languages are being maintained. For instance, Hawaii State in the US is one of the regions whereby local language is being maintained and used as an official language along with English. In the Hawaii State, the government has played a key role in maintaining and enhancing the development of the indigenous language used by the local community (Crawford, 2010). In this context, the state government of Hawaii provide services and documents in the native languages such as French, German, and Spanish and as well as any other local language that the people along the states uses for communication. More so, in the past the local languages at the Hawaii State were being maintained through immigrants learning from the education. The current language situation in India. On the situation in India, a country from the Asian region, languages belong to different families. As such, in the current period there are languages that are spoken by the major group of people and others spoken by a smaller group of people. To ensure that the local languages in India are being maintained, the government of India has implemented a constitution that does not highlight any languages the eminence of the national language. According to an intensive research that was done on 2006, in India there is a total of 122 native languages that are used across the nation (Hale, 2012). More so, the research further stated that in India, there are other 1599 languages that are used along with the indigenous languages. Additionally, over the recent time in English has emerged as a major language that people are speaking in India as it is being taught in school. Nevertheless, English in India is not certainly the native language. It is only used in the nation as India was the British colony. Currently, the most used language in India is Hindi and as it seems the local language has gained maximum popularity among the citizens and the government. However, the language may come to fall because, in the southern part of India, Hindi is no longer used because every state in the southern region of the nation uses their own language. More so, additional studies that have done by Anvita, (2012) clearly shows that majority of languages that are spoken in India may in the recent time become vanished. In addition, it is projected that 96% of the native languages that are spoken in India are endangered, for example, Hindi language (Anvita, 2012). Therefore, this can be seen as a clear indication that the Indians native languages are in the current situation vanishing, and this can be prevented by implementing timely strength to preserve the indigenous languages in the nation. 2) More general material dealing with language rights Across the world, in various countries there are language rights that are implemented and set so as to ensure the protection and preservation of local languages. This has been the case in the USA and as well as in India. More so, the language rights are used as a way of ensuring that the local languages are not endangered to the risk of falling out. Usually, in both nations the rights are set to protect the minority languages. Language rights in the USA Usconstitution.net, (2015) argue that apart from the language rights intending to protect and maintain the individuals languages, the language rights in America, reflect the citizens’ rights to select any language used for communication either in private or in the public. The language rights in America are being employed by the bilingual approach. As a civil right, the American government has over the recent period approached the issue of language rights with a much more improved effort. In this context, the US government have advocated that the American citizens who are do not speak English have a right of not being discriminated as the choice of a language are a human right. In addition, as a human right, the USA government should exercise the implementation of language rights, as all citizens have a right to cultural protection and in some situation native languages are part of the peoples’ culture. For this kind of civil right be implemented, the American politicians have proposed a bill that is set to make English the national language (Usconstitution.net, 2015). As it sounds this will impose effects on non-English speaking people mostly in education centers. Therefore, for equal rights for languages, the US legal system have proposed an act that will be used to approve funds to educate the people who do not speak English in the nation. This will include the right to access special training so as to ensure that they learn English. Language rights in India In the constitution of the Indian government, have passed the law of allowing States and region in India to choose their own languages. The language rights of Indian have seen more than fifteen languages being recognized and registered by the Indian legislature. The rights of language have also led to many people speaking Hindi native language freely even in the high profiled positions such as in government positions (Hale, 2012). For the purpose of language rights in India, there has been the creation of a union that is intended to protect and recognize the right of language. The union known as the Official Language of the Union served the purpose of ensuring that the Hindi language is protected and as well other languages such as English for official purposes. Therefore, these language rights can be viewed as an essential form of empowering the local languages in India and as well the citizens using these languages (Hale, 2012). The language rights in India have been expanded and ventured into education, administration, communication among others. To a better understanding, the right of language in India is mostly related to language education. In the Indian constitution, it is indicated that every Indian citizen have a right of studying a language. Also, in the law document it is clearly mentioned that every individual India have a right to study in the language of a choice. 3) Issues in language planning and language policy formation (for national and local government); Language policy in the America America throughout history has been known for its diversity in terms of cultural backgrounds. Besides, it is also known as a home of immigrants’ long time back. As such, these immigrants had their original languages from their respective motherland countries that had to be respected and adored. However, since assimilation was important to acculturate the immigrants into new ways of life, they had to remain on the periphery by adopting the behaviours of the countries at the core. However, cultural diversification has been viewed as the main hindrance when it comes to language planning and language policy formation. As a result, it has been considered as the melting point of multilingualism in the United States. Thus, over the years, it has been viewed as the main divisive force and attempts have been made to eradicate the languages of the immigrants in a bid to have a common language. Moreover, superiority complex is another problem in language planning and language policy formation in the United States of America. The English Only Movement has been geared towards ensuring that the languages of the immigrants are done away with completely. (Crawford 1992). Additionally, the movement underscores the diversity in cultural languages which is highly apprehended in many countries. For example, there is a clear difference between ethnic languages and foreign languages in which case, the former is viewed negatively as the language of the immigrants while the latter is appraised. (Adapted from Lino 1993: pg101-104). Consequently, preservation of ethnic languages is considered as a barrier towards development. Language policy in the India Also, Indian language planning and language policy formation is almost synonymous to the one found in the United States of America. To begin with, Indian world is characterized by people from various ethnic backgrounds who form the basis of the Indian heterogeneity and multilingualism culture (McCrea, & Jñānaśrīmitra 2010). Consequently, this gives birth to language barrier among the various ethnic groups involved. Equally important, the conflicting groups also threaten language planning and policy formation. Notably, on March 1835, there was an attempt to educate the Indians in the English language alone that was supposed to be taught in all the Indian colleges or the School of native learning. However, the Orientalist group that was against the English language began to conflict with the Anglicists who were in for the spread of it. Consequently, this led to the polarization of language policy. Furthermore, there was the incapability by the leaders to decide on one language that is common to all the citizens thus, adding to more problems of language planning. Subsequently, it was delaying the pace within which India could establish its national language. As a result, this side-lined the use of English language with the Indian language following section-3 of the Official Languages Act that was passed in parliament in 1963, The Chapter XV11. (Informaworld.com, 2015). Above all, the Eighth Schedule that was introduced in India created some biases in the selection of languages to be included in the schedule considering the total languages that exist in India. Narrowly, it was never clear how the selection of languages less than a quarter of the total languages was arrived at and leaving the vast majority (McCrea, & Jñānaśrīmitra 2010). Clearly, it was evident that the selection was not on the basis of the number of people that speak the language surely because there was the inclusion of languages in the schedule that had lesser speakers. 4) Outline the similarities and differences between the language situations in the two countries. Similarities In both countries, the problem of language planning and language policy formation owes to a large number of culturally diversified ethnic groups. In America, there is the presence of people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds that comprises of the problems encountered in the process of language planning and policy formation (Crawford, 2010). On the other hand, in India with a population of above nine hundred million people, hosts a vast majority of culturally different languages. Comprising of the Indo-Aryan, Dravidian, Austro-Asiatic as well as Tibeto-Burman language families, India experiences difficulties in planning its language and policies. Moreover, in both countries, there is an attempt to preserve local, national languages. In the United States of America, there was an attempt to safeguard the English language by suppressing and eradicating foreign languages of the immigrants by all means. On the other hand, in India, attempts were made to preserve the Indian language despite efforts made by the British government to spread their language in the Indian colleges (Crawford, 2010). In addition to that, both sides projected policies aimed at protecting their people from being overwhelmed by foreign influence in their linguistics. In the United States to begin with, they came up with the English Only Movement, which strictly to ensure that English was the only dominant language within the state. On the other hand, Indians came up with the Indian Language Policy, which brought about a great U-turn in the history of India when the Indian National Congress started taking the side and promoting the Hindi language. Furthermore, in both countries, politicians contributed significantly towards the establishment of majority languages that aided in language planning and policy formation. In America for instance, Governor General Bentinck an order and gave out funds to finance the education of English language alone. Similarly, in India, a leader like Shri Jawaharlal Nehru also supported the development of language planning through his essays (Ling.upenn.edu, 2015). Additionally, Mahatma Gandhi also contributed greatly to this in one of his presidential address where he ardently suggested that English alone was not sufficient to cater for everything. Differences One of the differences in language planning and policy formation between United States of America and India is to be found in the way of governing. (Informaworld.com, 2015) the United States had once made attempts to colonies India in which case they impacted heavily on the Indian culture. In this way, they assimilated the Indians in their language to an extent that the Indians themselves sought for language freedom through plans of action. On the contrary, this was the case with the Indians. They never made a single attempt to impact themselves on the Americans. Besides, the Indians did not see anything bad in learning English as a language in their curriculum: rather they felt that they ought to enjoy the subject without any feelings that it was a foreign language. On the contrary, the United States undervalued other languages and only viewed English as the only language to be used in the United States. Thus, suppressing and eradicating any foreign language with every means possible (Salaberry, 2009). Conclusively, in recent time it is notable that in across the world, there is the reduction of a number of local languages. Evidently, as the states become more and more powerful, some languages that were used in the past becomes less used. As the indigenous languages are becoming more endangered, it is the responsibility of every individual together with the government of any nation to preserve the language. The obligation to save the languages in the world has already started in the different nation across the world. As such, this has been achieved through the creation of the awareness of the risk of native languages falling out. Such steps have been carried out by ensuring that language rights are set. More so, as the language continues to be the medium of study in many nations and as a subject, it is necessary for legal system of any country to recognize and protect the different languages in their country. Bibliography Anvita, A. (2012). Language in India Endangered. m.timesofindia.com/city/lucknow/96-languages-in-india-endangered/articleshow/16760498.cms Crawford, J. (2010). Language loyalities. Chicago [u.a.]: Univ. of Chicago Press. Hale, K. (2012). Endangered languages: On endangered languages and the safeguarding of diversity. Language, 68(1), pp.1-42. Informaworld.com, (2015). Looking for something? | Taylor & Francis Online. [online] Available at: http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/titlecontent=t794297782 [Accessed 5 Oct. 2015]. Ling.upenn.edu, (2015). Reconciling Linguistic Diversity: The History and the Future of India [online] Available at: http://www.ling.upenn.edu/~jason2/papers/natlang.htm [Accessed 5 Oct. 2015]. McCrea, L., Patil, P. and Jñānaśrīmitra., (2010). Buddhist philosophy of language in India. New York: Columbia University Press. Salaberry, M. (2009). Language allegiances and bilingualism in the US. Bristol, UK: Multilingual Matters. Usconstitution.net, (2015). Constitutional Topic: Official Language - The U.S. Constitution Online - USConstitution.net. [online] Available at: http://www.usconstitution.net/consttop_lang.html [Accessed 5 Oct. 2015]. Read More

As such, in the United States, the native language has been characterized by being spoken by a smaller numbers of American citizens. It is in the current cases whereby, in the America native languages speakers are decreasing, and the local languages are nearly not used in the public. In fact, in today’s current state in the America, the local languages are only used on the reservation. However, as the native languages in America are vanishing, in some situation the languages are being maintained.

For instance, Hawaii State in the US is one of the regions whereby local language is being maintained and used as an official language along with English. In the Hawaii State, the government has played a key role in maintaining and enhancing the development of the indigenous language used by the local community (Crawford, 2010). In this context, the state government of Hawaii provide services and documents in the native languages such as French, German, and Spanish and as well as any other local language that the people along the states uses for communication.

More so, in the past the local languages at the Hawaii State were being maintained through immigrants learning from the education. The current language situation in India. On the situation in India, a country from the Asian region, languages belong to different families. As such, in the current period there are languages that are spoken by the major group of people and others spoken by a smaller group of people. To ensure that the local languages in India are being maintained, the government of India has implemented a constitution that does not highlight any languages the eminence of the national language.

According to an intensive research that was done on 2006, in India there is a total of 122 native languages that are used across the nation (Hale, 2012). More so, the research further stated that in India, there are other 1599 languages that are used along with the indigenous languages. Additionally, over the recent time in English has emerged as a major language that people are speaking in India as it is being taught in school. Nevertheless, English in India is not certainly the native language.

It is only used in the nation as India was the British colony. Currently, the most used language in India is Hindi and as it seems the local language has gained maximum popularity among the citizens and the government. However, the language may come to fall because, in the southern part of India, Hindi is no longer used because every state in the southern region of the nation uses their own language. More so, additional studies that have done by Anvita, (2012) clearly shows that majority of languages that are spoken in India may in the recent time become vanished.

In addition, it is projected that 96% of the native languages that are spoken in India are endangered, for example, Hindi language (Anvita, 2012). Therefore, this can be seen as a clear indication that the Indians native languages are in the current situation vanishing, and this can be prevented by implementing timely strength to preserve the indigenous languages in the nation. 2) More general material dealing with language rights Across the world, in various countries there are language rights that are implemented and set so as to ensure the protection and preservation of local languages.

This has been the case in the USA and as well as in India. More so, the language rights are used as a way of ensuring that the local languages are not endangered to the risk of falling out. Usually, in both nations the rights are set to protect the minority languages. Language rights in the USA Usconstitution.net, (2015) argue that apart from the language rights intending to protect and maintain the individuals languages, the language rights in America, reflect the citizens’ rights to select any language used for communication either in private or in the public.

The language rights in America are being employed by the bilingual approach.

Read More