MULTILINGUALISM KEY TO PRESERVING LINGUISTIC DIVERSITY

Census data suggest that the perceived conflict between regional languages and Hindi is largely exaggerated — the former serve an essential role within their respective States, while a common language facilitates nationwide interaction

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Language domination and linguistic imposition have always been an issue of political debate in India. In a linguistically diverse country, such debates are inevitable. However, the concern is not the debate itself but its nature. The current discourse on language debate gives an impression that the debate is not towards promoting regional languages but creating conflict between the various linguistic identities. Most of the commentary expressed apprehension regarding the growth and survival of regional languages with the imposition of Hindi.

However, both perspectives are misplaced. First, there is no explicit policy or attempt to promote Hindi at the expense of regional languages. Second, concerns about the survival of regional languages with Hindi's expansion lack empirical support — census data do not indicate a decline in the number of regional language speakers.

Language is the primary means of communication, and individuals often learn languages other than their mother tongue to facilitate broader interactions. In a linguistically diverse country where States and regions are identified based on specific language, the mother tongue differs from one place to another. Learning an alternative language suitable for communication becomes important with the evolving reality of the rising mobility of individuals from their State to another in search of livelihood and various other reasons.

However, as inter-State mobility increases due to economic opportunities and social factors, learning an additional language becomes essential. Now the issue is that if a person moves to a place where her mother tongue is not spoken, which language should she learn? A person who frequently moves across States or regions is likely to learn a language widely used for mass communication. Alternatively, she may choose to learn the local language of each new State if she stays for a longer stint.

Major spoken languages