Why speaking English even among our own people?

Question

I think the purpose of language is communicationg with each other. But I have watched many people speak only English even when they are speaking with their own people. (Tamil, Telugu or any language) English is a good language I appreciated it, But why we should ignore our own language? How many teen agers know their own literatures in heir own language? Spoken English teaching is a must for seeking a foreign job or any good job. but it does not mean that we should think only English speaking people are highly intelligent? We can speak our own languages beautifully in our homes, but the schools insist to speak in English at homes. and how many parents can do it? It is the duty of the teachers to do it. It is my opinion. I want others opinions too. aboutthis language matters. I love to hear and speak good Tamil. But I can"t even hear good Tamil except in the villages. please do answer me.

Answer 1

I totally agree to your comments. However, we have to look at this issue in various dimensions. Firstly, I think it is about the mental state, still under influence of the Raj, that we are living in for the last 60 years. We have had best of scholars, scientists, mathematicians, biologists who could have produced their work in local languages for us and our children to study in schools and universities but they also decided to use english as their preferred language. Any written work produced in english sells more, and that's what counts, I guess. Having said this, it is also a fact that we are a nation with several spoken and written languages and probably this is our handicap to adapt to english as the common language, at least for the sake of education. Unfortunately while doing so our financial class system of very affluent to very poor starts playing a role. It renders the more educated upper class to identify themselves as different than the lower class and they no more feel proud to speak a local language even outside their educational system.

Furthermore, I believe english, over the last century, has become a common language for the whole world to communicate with each other while keeping individual identities in place. It is even hard for nations like Germans, French and Italians to avoid english in order to develop their economies. Similarly, India needs its generation to learn english to keep abreast of developments going on elsewhere in the world.

Finally, just like yourself, I am also of the opinion that we should encourage our children to speak our own mother tongue at home and among the family members and read available literature in their own language so that our rich heritage and cultural values do not become a part of history in years to come. Learning english should be a part of the education only... and nothing more than that.

Answer 2

I think it's really sad that people forget their native language for English. It seems so ordinary. I'm an english speaker by birth. I'm learning a few other languages right now through school and personal study and I think they are so amazing! I love listening to and speaking with friends in their native language (if I can) it's nice to be able to communicate in a new way. I hate it when friends think they have to speak only in english and I agree partly with what your saying about teachers telling my friends to speak english at home. it's frustrating but I think part of it is for the practice. I know it helps when I speak the languages I'm learning at home. :o)

Answer 3

When you say that language is to communicate why attach more importance to it so long you are able to communicate. In my opinion there is nothing like ones own language. Mother is a Tamil and father is a Punjabi. Both talk to their child in English. What is the mother tongue of that child? Our vision and activity are increasing day by day. The economic borders between the nations are vanishing now-a-days. So for our own betterment we should learn more and more languages so that we are able to communicate with more people.

Answer 4

Racist? i myself have not considered this so i could no longer say. i've got considered countless comments on grammar and/or spelling; yet to no longer the factor of coming up relaxing or singling out Asians. some are even nonetheless offended. Sorry you seem to locate lots of that are ignorant. As for Asian English audio gadget, any who're disenchanted could examine the 1st English purchasers manuel that got here with a Datsun motor vehicle occurring 50 years in the past. there has been large progression. I had a Korean buddy who spoke 5 languages fluently for content yet no longer for grammar. John Kim in no way met an English conjunction or preposition he ought to no longer steer clear of till he have been given to the U.S. and commenced college. i assumed the persons I even have considered whinge have been possibly English instructors, whose psychological choose for correctness is disenchanted by employing any trivialities, and that they've been in simple terms attempting to force domicile a factor; or the lazy finding for 2 factors.

Answer 5

On required occasion, one should be fluent in speaking the language which will affect his carrier growth/meeting one's objectives; for this it is necessary to use the required language in day to day matters so that at eleventh hour one shall feel comfortable & do the best; however language is not a barrier for an intelligentone.

Answer 6

I fully agree with u. But school admissions in metro cities
have become so tough that if u need to admit yr child in an english medium school , then the toddler shd know to speak/converse in english during the interview......otherwise he loses out to the child who can reply to the questions asked in english.
So in modern times, it has become a necessity in atleast the metros.
But some parents take it too far & then it becomes irritating .

Answer 7

it is a big problem not to protect native language...
without fighting against englih it is important to give as much important place to cultural language coz it is roots and pride of people. Most centralize government fight against diversity of language coz they think it promote desire of independance and make administration complicated. Motherlanguage must not become folklore or dead language but must evolve with time not to die... Use daily words in ur former mothertongue for every modern things.. Take habit to find words to tell informatic, plane, fashion or such kind of words in ur mothertongue and it will survive...

Answer 8

I think you have a valid point. No one should ignore their background and that includes language. You should speak whatever you wish in your home, among friends, etc. It may be beneficial to know english but it is detrimental to forget (lose) your history!

Answer 9

We need to preserve our native language, but also, to keep in mind the need of overall communications.

Answer 10

We speak Spanish among ourselves.Being bilingual has enriched my life.Heritage has an important amount to teach us.My opinion.