Language

Diversity in the
Context of India.
Language “The system of words or signs that people use to express
thoughts and feelings to each other and a system of communication
consists of sound, words and grammar”.
*Multilingualism;
*Multilingualism is the use of more than one language, either by an individual speaker or by
group of speakers. People who speaks several languages are also called polyglots. People
who speak more than one language have been reported to be more adept at language
learning compared to monolinguals.

*Definition;
Multilingualism, if a person speaks more than two languages or mastery in more than one
language. It is a subject of debate, we did not have any exact definition or parameter to
define multilingualism just like language fluency.

*Multilingualism in context of India;

*India a diversity of language, from ancient times there are many languages that are spoken
in different parts, cultures and community of this country and most of them are still alive.
India has the world’s second highest number of languages. It is said for India that before
any change in taste of water, language changes. India is also called “language laboratory”.
*After independence the reorganization of new states on the basis of language. As per 1961
data, more than 1652 mother tongues were there. Apart from them, 52% of mother tongues
were considered unclassified at that time. Speakers of the diverse language and language
families have closely interacted with each other over centuries.
*According to census 2011, 462 individual languages (448 living and 14 extinct), the total
number of languages stands at 121: 22 scheduled and 99 non-scheduled. This vast number
of languages is classified into mainly four groups or six groups: Austro-Asiatic (Munda),
Dravidian, Indo-Aryan and Tibeto-Burman. Two other language families have reported
recently- Tai-Kadai and Great Andamanese.
*Few facts about language from census 2011;
(a)There are total 19,569 raw mother tongue.
(b)There are 1369 mother tongue, later classified in 270 mother tongue. Each spoken by
more than 10,000 people.

*8th Schedule;
*There are total 12 schedules in the Indian Constitution and each one are important. The
8th schedule contains two articles 344(1) and 351 of Indian Constitution. This schedule is
related to language diversity of the country and have a motive to develop Hindi as an
official language of the state.
(a)Article 344(1) - Establishment of a commission by the President on the expiration of 5
years from the commencement of the constitution and afterwards at the expiration of 10
years from such commencement.
It should comprise of a chairman and other members representing the various languages
specified in the 8th schedule to make recommendations to the President for the dynamic use
of Hindi for official purposes of the GOI.
(b)Article 351 – The duty of the Union to encourage the spread of the Hindi language to
advance it so that it may serve as a medium of communication for all the components of the
composite culture of India and safeguard its enhancement by integrating without
interfering with its genius, style and expressions used in Hindustani and in the other
languages of India specified in the 8th schedule, and by drawing, anywhere essential or
required, for its terminology, mainly on Sanskrit and secondarily on other languages.
*8th schedule;
(a)22 Languages,
(1) Assamese, (2) Bengali, (3) Gujarati, (4) Hindi, (5) Kannada, (6) Kashmiri, (7) Konkani,
(8) Malayalam, (9) Manipuri, (10) Marathi, (11) Nepali, (12) Oriya, (13) Punjabi, (14)
Sanskrit, (15) Sindhi, (16) Tamil, (17) Telugu, (18) Urdu, (19) Bodo, (20) Santhali, (21)
Maithili, (22) Dogri.
(b)Of these languages, 14 were initially included in the Constitution. Sindhi was added in
year 1967. Konkani, Manipuri and Nepali were added in year 1992. Bodo, Dogri, Maithili
and Santhali were added in year 2004.
(c)38 Languages demands for inclusion,
Angika, Banjara, Bazika, Bhojpuri, Bhoti, Bhotia, Bundelkhandi, Chhattisgarhi, Dhatki,
English, Garhwali(Pahari), Gondi, Gujjar/Gujjari, Ho, Kachachhi, Kamtapuri, Karbi,
Khasi, Kodava(Coorg), Kok Barak, Kumaoni(Pahari), Kurak, Kurmali, Lepcha, Limbu,
Mizo(Lushai), Magahi, Mundari, Nagpuri, Nicobarese, Pahari(Himachali), Pali,
Rajasthani, Sambalpuri/Kosali, Shaurseni(Prakrit), Siraiki, Tenyidi and Tulu.
(d)Present status on inclusion of languages in the 8th schedule;
“As the evolution of dialects and languages is dynamic, influenced by socio-eco-political
developments, it is difficult to fix any criterion for languages, whether to distinguish them
from dialects or for inclusion in the 8th schedule. Both attempts ( Pahwa (1996) and
Sitakant Mohapatra (2003) committe) to evolve such a fixed criteria for this problem have
not succeeded. The government is conscious of the sentiments and requirements for inclusion
of other languages in the 8th schedule and will examine the requests keeping in mind these
sentiments, and other considerations such as evolution of dialects into languages,
widespread use of a language etc.”

* Nature of Multilingualism;
(a)Multilingualism is universal in nature.
(b)It is purely based on the needs of society.
(c)It may be forced or voluntary .
(d)It is promoted or given to an individual by society.
(e)It is also caused due to migration of people.
(f)Spread more at social linguistic level instead of individual level.
(g)For the improvement of profession we need different language.
*Advantages of Multilingualism;
(a)More employment opportunities
(b)Improved intellect
(c)Increased understanding of language
(d)Globalisation
*Scope of Multilingualism;
(a)Multilingualism is not just limited to a specific field.
(b)It touches every aspect of human life.
(c)Education is imparted through multilingualism because of multilingual society.
(d)Our constitution provides us more than two languages to use for administration.
(e)Our judicial system uses various language.
(f)Our society use different language.
(g)International understanding.
*Multilingual Classroom;
*Multilingual classroom is a classroom where learner or the students speak more than one
language or there mother tongue is more than one language. It is normal in a diverse country
like India. As a result of globalisation, international migration, and intra state migration
these types of classrooms are in general specially in Europe. For this type of classroom we
have to search a common language and now in present era it is mostly English.
*Benefits of Multilingual Classroom;
(a)In this century learning more than one language is one of the factor that improve your
personality.
(b)Cognitive development.
(c)More job opportunities.
(d)Development of skills in collaboration and cooperation.
(e)More travel experiences.
(f)Appreciation in different culture and religion.
*Role of Teacher in Multilingual classroom;
*Respect all languages.
*Adaptive and kind towards other languages.
*Try not to ignore or rule out any language of learner.
*Always be ready to learn new languages.
*Three Language Policy ;
• The Three Language Formula was first devised for school education by the Central
Advisory Board of Education in 1956.
• Modified by the Conference of Chief Ministers in 1961.
• Formalized by the Kothari Commission in 1964-1966.
*NEP 2020 ;
• The NEP ,2020 has emphasized on the use of mother tongue or local language till class 5
.
• Recommended it's continuance till class 8 and beyond. • Students should learn three
languages in their school.
• Three languages learned by children will be the choices of States , regions and the
students themselves.
• Two of the three languages should be native to India • Rule will apply to both private
and public schools.
• High quality textbook will be made available in home languages.
• In cases where home - language textbook material is not available , the languages of the
transaction between teachers and students will remain the Home language wherever
possible.
• Teachers will be encouraged to use bilingual approach.
*Suggestions in NEP 2020 ;
• Hiring of outstanding local instructor in various subjects of local expertise.
• Establishment of strong department and programs in Indian Languages.
• The NRF will fund quality research.
• Inclusion of mother / local language as a medium of instruction.
• Multilingual approach .
• Expansion of institutes and universities studying all classical language.

THANK YOU.