[ELTWeekly Volume 6, Issue 3 | January 27, 2014]
Language is power. Everyone knows that. Or ought to, at any rate. We often see some professionals more successful than others, not only because of their competence in their field of work, but also their command of language, whether it is written or spoken, their mother tongue or some other tongue. A good command of language helps one carve a niche for oneself in one’s personal and professional circles. And yet not many take this power of language seriously. And some do pay the price of neglecting it.
That one would love one’s mother tongue seems obvious. But isn’t it a fact that most people speak their mother tongue badly? Their writing skill in their mother tongue too leaves a lot to be desired. If one doesn’t speak or write one’s mother tongue properly, how can we expect one to perform well in another language, foreign or indigenous?
People often ask me which language or languages a young person must know to flourish in Gujarat. My answer to the question is very simple, at least in theory, and will hopefully motivate some Gujarati folks (and by extrapolation, any Indian) to learn a new language/ new languages.
First, you must know your mother tongue well. So if you have spent the first few years after your birth in Gujarat, you ought to have a fairly good command of Gujarati. If Gujarati is not your mother tongue but if you have lived in Gujarat for a few years or if you are planning to settle in Gujarat, it will be a wise decision to learn Gujarati. It will certainly prove helpful in your personal and professional life to be able to communicate in the local language.
Second, it is expected of every citizen that they know the “national” language language—for communication with people across the country. For us, that language is Hindi, which will serve your purpose in ordinary situations in most parts of India.
Third, it is fruitful to know at least the rudiments of the “mother” of many Indian languages—Sanskrit. Most other Indian languages have borrowed so heavily from Sanskrit that knowing it becomes a distinct advantage. The more you know and can do in Sanskrit, the better you can perform in most major Indian languages. Sanskrit is one of the most overtly systematic languages. It is believed that if one learns Sanskrit, it becomes easy for one to learn any other language.
Fourth, we cannot ignore the language most people all over the world use and/or value. English is a true lingua franca of the world if we look at the spread and volume of its use in the world. Whether you love it or hate it, the fact is that, in the world today, the more English you command, the better it is for your personal and professional life.
Fifth, you will find it advisable to learn an Indian language other than your mother tongue, the national language and English. India is a multicultural, multilingual country. Learning (or even attempting to learn) an unfamiliar Indian language will lend a fresh perspective to your view of India.
Sixth, learning a foreign language is believed to help one in many ways. It may give you pleasure to know a foreign language. It may increase your confidence in yourself. You will come in contact with a new culture via such a language. It will undoubtedly broaden your world view. You may come to see and understand that human beings are essentially the same even if they live in different countries or even on different continents. You may take a step closer to becoming a citizen of the world.
I can certainly give a piece of advice for language learners from personal experience. Don’t be happy with the bread-and-butter command of any language. Try to learn and command as much of it as possible; learn and practise as many aspects of every language you know as possible. Remember, one can never do enough while learning a language. And once you have acquired a language, you have acquired the power to communicate in it: that is certainly power!
One may ask me now: how can I learn any language? Well, let me quote as an answer to this question one of my favourite lines from the Bible: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Matthew 7:7, King James Version).
Wish you all a great New Year. Happy Learning, Happy Living!
The article on language is Power is really excellent, I do agree with you,those whose mother tongue is good their target language is also good.
Thank you, Heera.
Dr. Dharmendra Seth,
I congratulate you for expressing your views about “Language is Power”. It reminds me my school days of some 30-35 years back. Teachers were taking pain in teaching and evaluating the performance of students in subjects of languages, be it Gujarati, Hindi and English. The chapters in the books were so selected that it inculcate values in the students. I remember my Gujarati teacher of primary school had tears in his eyes while teaching poem. I remember that poem even today also because of his involvement and love for the language. As you said, Sanskrit is very important to know, but it is hardly being taught in the school. I must say, in Gujarat, teaching Hindi and Sanskrit is given less importance. It is because the system of education, we are poor in our vernacular language too. The system of education is to be blamed.
Please read chapters on education in the book of N. R. Narayana Murthy titled “A better India a better World.”
Thank you.
A. G. Patel
really an informative and interesting article.
thanks you sir.
amita
Couldn’t have been better.
1 As for “How to Learn a Language?”… while I agree with your views, would like to extend a bit.
You don’t Learn a Language.
You experience it.
You feel it
you breathe it.
You let it be a part of your being.
Every word, sentence, poem or story or article you try & live it.
And in doing this you enjoy the bliss & pleasure of the process and learning becomes a natural byproduct.
Otherwise, you do rot learning that become a hell for you.
What do you think?
This article is worthwile reading for the enthusiastic learners. It is true and evident that those who have power on various knowledges of languages they can learn more better than other. A founder of Homoeopathy Dr.Samual Hahnemann was having knowledge of 15 dlanguages. From his experiences it is evident that he discovered homoeopathy “A Therapeutic System of medicine” while he was transleting a culen’s Materia medica.
Dr. D’dra,
What you wrote about language learning is good and in simple manner. The only human being has got this special gift from nature. We have to use it for the real power within us.
Regards.
Dr V
Dharmendra , Good article. Congratulations! Undoubtedly Communication is the most powerful tool to connect people (written or oral) across cities , states, nations ! Command on language can make it “effective” !
That can be a big differentiator in today’s socially and economically connected world. Keep it up!
Agree with your views Sir.
To know the power of language, an individual has to be proficient in their own language. Normally individuals are not comfortable with their own language and they borrow number of words from English to complete a sentence in their own mother tongue.
English is a true lingua franca of the world as Sir stated in his article. The power resides in each individual and one has to acquire the power to communicate in your mother tongue and English as well.
Thanks for contributing this article Dharmendra.
A very balanced article specifying the importance of all languages especially from the point of view of Indians.
Mother tongue is the most important of all. After that, Hindi, the National language is no less important. And to gain latest knowledge in the world in any field and communicate with anyone anywhere, we have to know English.
Sir,
Very Nice and Informative Topic… It’s today we have discuss in MOEC….
Thanx… Kindly share others information pl.
Regards,