ENGLISH PROJECT WORK (2024-25)
Title of the project and info ,etc.
TOPIC 7 –
Indigo
Collect all about different kinds of freedom movements of our
country.
What was the importance of Champaran Movement?
You can write about autobiography of any freedom fighter.
Quotation
“Mother Tongue is a city to the building of which every human
being brought a stone”
Table of Contents
1. Certificate
2. Acknowledgement
3. Objective
4. Action Plan
5. Material Evidence
6. Project Report
7. Conclusion
8. Student grp reflection
9. Bibliography
Certificate
Acknowledgement
Objective of the Project
The project clearly aims at understanding and analysing the concept of linguistic chauvinism,
procrastination, importance of mother tongue and time management.
Linguistic chauvinism refers to the belief that one language or language group is superior to others, leading
to the denigration or dismissal of languages perceived as lesser or unworthy of recognition. It manifests as
an attitude of arrogance and exclusion, where individuals or communities devalue linguistic diversity and
impose their language as the sole measure of intelligence, culture, or superiority. This phenomenon often
stems from deeply ingrained biases, historical power dynamics, and cultural hegemony. Linguistic
chauvinism can manifest in various ways, from mocking accents and dialects to advocating for the
dominance of a specific language in official settings or media. It creates an environment where individuals
who speak languages deemed "less prestigious" may feel marginalised, face discrimination, or even lose
their linguistic heritage.
Procrastination is the act of unnecessarily and voluntarily delaying or postponing something despite
knowing that there could be negative consequences for doing so. It is a common human experience
involving delays in everyday chores or even putting off tasks. It is often perceived as a negative trait due to
its hindering effect on one's productivity, associated with depression, low self-esteem, guilt, and feelings of
inadequacy. However, it can also be considered a wise response to certain demands that could present
risky or negative outcomes or require waiting for new information to arrive.
The term “Mother Tongue” is the home language of a nation and it reflects the culture and identity of that
particular nation. A parent language from which another language is descended is called mother tongue. It
refers to the language a baby learns from birth is called the birth language, and therefore plays crucial role
in our lives for various reasons. Our mother tongue helps us to become more intellectual and connect to
the people. If a person is fluent in his mother tongue then he can easily learn any other language.
Time management is the process of planning and exercising conscious control of time spent on specific
activities—especially to increase effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity. Time management involves
demands relating to work, social life, family, hobbies, personal interests, and commitments. Using time
effectively gives people more choices in managing activities. Time management may be aided by a range of
skills, tools, and techniques, especially when accomplishing specific tasks, projects, and goals complying
with a due date. Initially, the term time management encompassed only business and work activities, but
eventually, the term broadened to include personal activities as well. A time management system is a
designed combination of processes, tools, techniques, and methods. Time management is usually a
necessity in any project management, as it determines the project completion time and scope.
Action Plan
The entire project has been fulfilled following different steps and consultations with
teachers, experts and peers and with reference to print and visual media. The project aims
at achieving a clear understanding of the present scenario of diminishing the importance of
mother tongue in our lives. For the project, I read and critically evaluated our lesson “The
Last Lesson” and took out the theme of linguistic chauvinism, importance of mother tongue
and time management. For the project, I carried out several researches from the various
sources of internet.
Language is a powerful tool that shapes our communication, culture, and identity. It reflects
the rich tapestry of human diversity, with thousands of languages spoken around the world.
The theme of the story ‘The Last Lesson’ is linguistic chauvinism of the proud conquerors
and the pain that is inflicted on the people of a territory by them by taking away the right to
study or speak their own language and thus make them aliens in their own land of birth.
The story has a sub-theme also. It highlights the attitudes of the students and teachers to
learning and teaching.
Though the story is located in a particular village of Alsace district of France which had
passed into Prussian hands, it has a universal appeal. It highlights the efforts of the victors
to crush their victims—the vanquished people in all possible manner—materially, spiritually,
mentally and emotionally. Taking away mother tongue from the people is the harshest
punishment. The proper equation between student and teacher, his focused attention,
helpful and encouraging attitude and kind treatment can encourage students to learn
better.
Material Evidences
I researched through various sources during the completion of this project. Many of them came very useful while
others were not quite as useful as others. However, all of these sources played a vital part in this project.
The first source which came handy in making this project was my English textbook – ‘NCERT Flamingo Class 12’.A
chapter called ‘The Last Lesson’ gave me deep insights regarding linguistic chauvinism and procrastination and
helped me understand how different characters or real life people tend to reflect these traits.
The second source which was very significant for the completion of my project was the book ‘The Now Habit’ by
Neil A. Fiore. This book helped me understand the reasons behind procrastination and provided strategies to replace
avoidance with action.
Another source which came handy while making this project was the article ‘Linguistic Chauvinism’ by
Jeyashree G. Iyer. This research article helped me explore the impact of linguistic chauvinism on women's
empowerment and its manifestation in media and literature.
The final and probably the most important source for the successful completion of this project was internet. The
worldwide web helped me uniting all the information I had from the other sources and helped me get a better
understanding of the vast themes- linguistic chauvinism and procrastination. I also took help from the web to collect
beautiful and vibrant pictures which made this project not only interesting but also visually attractive and gave the
readers a chance to get to the depth of the project.
Project Report
Linguistic Chauvinism
Linguistic Chauvinism is inordinate love for one’s own language. This love is so much strong
that one considers one’s language superior to all the other languages of the world. This
theme is effectively brought out by the writer Alphouse who teaches people to hold on fast
and guard to their language which is the key to their freedom which symbolizes their
identity. No doubt is the term that firmly exercises power and superiority over others.
Linguistics is study of evolution of language owing to cultural, social, historical and political
manifestations. After the defeat in the war Prussia gained the control of French districts
Alsace and Lorraine which serves as the centre for Prussian army during the war. Due to the
large presence of Prussian soldiers and gaining control over these districts Prussian army
started imposing its culture and German language on the people living there. Orders
regarding teaching of only German language in schools were passed and those who knew
how to speak and write French were forced to flee. This was done to demean the French
language and crush the spirits of the native people so they can’t revolt in the future against
the Prussian hegemony.
Significance of Mother Tongue
Mother tongue, also known as first language or native language, is the language that a
person has learned from birth and has grown up speaking. It’s the language that is spoken
by a person’s family or community and is often the language used in the home
environment. The role of mother tongue in language understanding cannot be overstated. It
is the foundation on which all other languages are built. Children learn their mother tongue
naturally, without any formal instruction, by listening to their parents, siblings, and other
family members speak. The mother tongue provides a framework for understanding how
language works, including grammar, syntax, and vocabulary. Mother tongue or native
language is the first language that a person understands from their parents or family. It is
the language that a person is most fluent in and is most comfortable communicating in. A
person’s mother tongue can have a significant impact on their ability to learn and
understand other languages. Learning in your mother tongue has several benefits that
cannot be overlooked. Firstly, it is much easier to comprehend and understand concepts
when they are presented in your native language. This is because you already have a good
understanding of the vocabulary and structure of the language, allowing you to focus on the
topic being taught rather than trying to translate words or phrases in your head.
Time Management
Time Management is the process of planning, organising, and prioritising tasks to make the
most efficient use of available time. It involves setting goals, breaking them down into
manageable steps, and allocating time for each activity. By implementing effective Time
Management Strategies, individuals can enhance their productivity, reduce stress, and
optimise their use of time. Time Management allows individuals to prioritise tasks and
allocate their time efficiently. By focusing on high-priority activities, individuals can make
the most of their productive hours, accomplish more in less time, and achieve better
results. Effective Time Management prevents wasting time on non-essential tasks or getting
overwhelmed by a heavy workload. Poor Time Management often leads to increased stress
levels. Procrastination can be avoided, as well as missed deadlines, and last-minute rushes,
which create unnecessary pressure and anxiety. By effectively managing time, individuals
can plan and organise their tasks, stay ahead of deadlines, and approach their
responsibilities with a calmer and more composed mindset. Reduced stress levels
contribute to better mental and emotional well-being. Time Management allows individuals
to allocate sufficient time for critical thinking and decision-making. Rushed and impulsive
decisions can lead to negative consequences. With effective Time Management, individuals
have the space to evaluate options, weigh pros and cons, gather information, and make
informed decisions. This applies to both personal and professional choices.
Procrastination
Procrastination is the act of delaying or putting off tasks until the last minute, or past their
deadline. Some researchers define procrastination as a "form of self-regulation failure
characterized by the irrational delay of tasks despite potentially negative consequences. No
matter how well-organized and committed you are, chances are that you have found
yourself frittering away hours on trivial pursuits (watching TV, updating your Facebook
status, shopping online) when you should have been spending that time on work or school-
related projects. Whether you're putting off finishing a project for work, avoiding homework
assignments, or ignoring household chores, procrastination can have a major impact on
your job, your grades, and your life. In the story, The Last Lesson, M Hamel often delay the
lectures by giving the students holiday when he wanted to go for fishing or make the
students water the plants. The students also often delayed their homework and waste their
time in useless chores. With the time they had reached to the situation when they could not
even learn their language anymore.
Conclusion
The ‘Last Lesson’ by Alphonse Daudet is mainly about the longing to learn the mother
tongue and love for it. It has a sense of patriotism. In the ‘Last Lesson’ the Prussians
rejected the freedom of the people of Lorraine and Alsace to learn their own mother
tongue and started forcing German onto them. The colonizers took away the basic rights of
the people. When the students could not learn their own language, they sensed a feeling of
being restricted and being forced to not do something that they enjoy doing and find their
solace in. The practice of linguistic chauvinism is highlighted in this story to draw our
attention. It throws light upon the pride one owns in their mother tongue and considering
other languages not equally worthy. People of Lorraine and Alsace were the victims of
linguistic chauvinism They were forced to learn German. Franz, a school student who was
always reluctant in his French class and never took it seriously, saw how important it was to
learn his mother tongue. This quality of people displays that humans respect things more
when they see it going. Also, the parents preferred to see their children working well rather
than learning French. In the later years they realised how much they missed learning French
and felt sorry about it. How Prussians drilled their land is shown by how unfairly they were
treated in their own motherland. The story ends on a very sentimental note. On the one
hand, the citizens of Alsace were disappointed about losing their freedom under the reign
of the Prussians. But also, on the other hand, they had come to realise what they were
going to miss – the freedom and the privilege of learning their language, both of which they
had taken for granted. The Last Lesson summary shows how the teacher’s departure
inspires patriotism in the villagers at the end of the story. We can see how the citizens of
Alsace are getting ready for a new tomorrow of bitter realities by showing exceptional
mental resolve.
Students Group Reflection
This project helped me to do lot of research and analysis about the concepts of linguistic
chauvinism, procrastination, importance of mother tongue and time management. Due to
the research conducted for the project I came to know about so many new things and facts
about the topic. According to me, every individual should be able to speak, learn and write
his mother tongue. Mother tongue should be respected and honoured by the people. But
we should not disrespect of dismean the language and culture of other people. Language
unites us and embarks us the values of togertherness and unity. So we should not show
superiority to the language and culture of other people. Secondly, we should not delay or
put our work to the other day. We never know what must be the situation further or we will
be able to complete our work or not. Time Management plays an important role in the lives
of the people. We should always manage our time and task assigned and should avoid
delaying that work. We should always perform our work in timely manner without crossing
the deadlines. These teachings I learn from my project and will always try to implement
them in my life.
Bibliography
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In the successful completion of this project these sources came handy:
