By Priyadarshi Kumar
7097 Languages, 7 Continents and 7 Billion People, numerous ways of communication as Verbal, Oral, Sign Language, Gestures, Face and Eyes, but Language simultaneously administers all. Though written form is considered to be the most impressive way as Speaking counts, supremely Language is what we all entail for. Despite being a multilingual or being acknowledged to so many languages it's the Mother-tongue that soothes a heart. We carve to laugh, cry, love in that certain language. Do we relate language learning just a process acquiring hundredth of thousandths of words? No, Language Acquisition Process includes being known to its culture behaviorally, emotionally and aesthetically; well said by Noam Chomsky. What makes Mandarin capacious of 873 speakers worldwide to Toda blatant to few hundreds speakers, we just have to introspect into the causes.
In this contemporary era, do we ever think how extensively a language affects us? A Society's development and degradation is adored to the value they give to their language. Sanskrit, Latin and Greek are Proto-Languages. Sanskrit was primarily spoken in India. We claim it as Indigenous, thereby we do have rich Literature and Culture. Keeping Science aside, we even take stand for such notions that Science depicts ambiguity for. From Satyug to Kalyug or from Stone Age 8700 BCE to Post Modernity 1991-Present, Human Civilization was a slave of Language that evolved with time. Why English has evolved as a Global Language? Here is an interesting description. A Russian and A Israeli meets in Berlin. So, eventually when they open their mouth, we are going to listen, "Hello, how are you" instead of Здравствуйте (Russian) or שלום (Hebrew). Its not that English was decided to be Global Language but with time it had to. Certain causes are numerous countries served as British Colonies, Extensive development of English Speaking Economies, Settlement of Internet Firms in such countries or English as a bridge between people with different background. In other case, Chinese, why is it gaining momentum? Because of some harsh policies implemented by Communist Chinese Government, that triumphantly established Chinese known as Hanyu in Nation Building Projects. It worked on unifying Scripts. Even China blocked Facebook and launched its own Social Networking Sites. A research by a Journal admits, Spanish as the fastest growing Language. It has 550 Million Speakers. Why only Spain? Germany or Japan has tremendously endorsed Charismatic Affection for their language and we are well settled to the results.
India is considered a Linguistic Area when we boast of 1652 Languages under 4 of 9 Major Language Family. Hindi itself has about 15 Dialects. I don't agree, we are implementing our Language Skills. Alas, we Indians have a libertine for our our Language. We don't din our Mother-tongue nevertheless we are ashamed of it. When we will come out of Foreign Language apathy. English is considered as Class whereas Hindi or any such Regional Languages are left in consolidating way. Our Language is our Identity. Rita Mae Brown, American Writer quoted "Language is the Road-map of a Culture". Decorously, Language is the root that nurture us. Learning a Foreign Language must be appreciated but allowing it in our nerves is simply Abomination. We must widen the horizon. Local Languages should be encouraged. It should be the Medium of Instruction in Schools. Official Works should be prompted and Tourism should be promoted in respective languages.
Ad hoc, its time for wonders, its time to hover and allure the world with our Language Abundance. Language Dissimilarity is a benevolence for us. We need a Political motto in Unifying Speakers. We don't just need a movement, rather we need a Turmoil. Hindi and Urdu having a good fate are second most spoken in world with data of 570 Native and 970 total speakers. Then, do we related India just to Hindi? No, we have numerous significant language. A proper strategy need to be drafted and implemented. Old Manuscripts and Hand Written Books need to be preserved. Rituals, Customs and Folk Songs that are passed orally need to be penned. On being questioned, which language do I fall for? I would gladly reply 'MAGAHI' or 'MAGADHI' to some Elite High Profile Class. Magahi is a dialect of Hindi. Its basically spoken in Gaya, Nawada, Nalanda, Aurangabad, Jehanabad in Bihar and subjoining areas of Magadh Division. For me Magahi is a feeling. It luxuries my heart and comforts my soul. To sum up, I would say respect your Language as the way you devote to your Deity. From our Ancestors to Unborn, a language may distort and change for good and the very same form should be intergenerationally transmitted. It shouldn't be altered or interrupted. Literally, Language is our Birth Right and Intellectual or Fanatic, whatever seems fair we will clung to.
Discrete Sources: Ethnologue, The Indian Express, Internet World Stats.
Writer Priyadarshi Kumar is German and Hindi Language and Translation Intern at Modlingua, India's No1. certified translation and Language service providers based in New Delhi