The economics behind promoting local languages
I was at a government bank in India recently trying to get some work done. After waiting for a long time, went to the guy at the desk and asked.him in the local language if he could help me. I was ignored. So were the other folks near me, who were conversing in the local language. Based on my prior experience, I tried a trick I had used in similar situations. Spoke to the guy in English and .wonder of wonders, he responded so politely. Very soon, my work was done while the folks who came before me, but were conversing in the local language, were still waiting for their turn.
Traditionally in India, local languages have been ignored by governments, private and public institutions and in schools and colleges. If a child studies at an English medium school, parents take pride in showcasing their kids and proclaim it loudly that their child goes to an English medium school. Here is how it is detrimental to sound development of kids and a major flaw in the Indian education system.
Schooling and education:
Let us take an example. Assume a child studies 5 subjects (english, local language, science, maths, social studies). If the child does not have to study English and instead studies all subjects in the local language, the child would have at least 25% more time to concentrate on core subjects like science, maths and social studies. Besides the child is at ease since all the subjects are in a language they understand.
Teaching and publishing:
If the focus changes to the local language, their would be more teachers who would be able to articulate themselves in a language they are familiar with. More books would be published, which will give a fillip to the publishing industry. And given, the scale of digitization today, publishing includes both print and online media.
Research:
Since students have more time to spend on science, maths, they would make better scientists and researchers.
Job creation:
This is actually a double edged sword in today's world. You are more employable if you are English educated. However, the "focus on local language" paradigm will be a game changer. If industries start working.in the local language even at a senior level, their will be many more employable people than we have today. Jobs will be easier to fulfill since the only requirement is now knowledgeable resources and not knowledgeable plus English speaking.
What do we lose?
It is widely believed that the BPO operations are largely successful in India because India has a large English speaking population. This is however a myth. Many of these people.have to trained.in the right accents. If India.moves to a local language focus, will the services industry die its natural death? Not at all. A Microsoft or an IBM would now have to build software to support 20+ Indian languages, which in itself is an additional opportunity for both the employers and the employees. If they already make for Japanese, their is no reason why they can't.for Hindi or Oriya or Bengali.
I was at a government bank in India recently trying to get some work done. After waiting for a long time, went to the guy at the desk and asked.him in the local language if he could help me. I was ignored. So were the other folks near me, who were conversing in the local language. Based on my prior experience, I tried a trick I had used in similar situations. Spoke to the guy in English and .wonder of wonders, he responded so politely. Very soon, my work was done while the folks who came before me, but were conversing in the local language, were still waiting for their turn.
Traditionally in India, local languages have been ignored by governments, private and public institutions and in schools and colleges. If a child studies at an English medium school, parents take pride in showcasing their kids and proclaim it loudly that their child goes to an English medium school. Here is how it is detrimental to sound development of kids and a major flaw in the Indian education system.
Schooling and education:
Let us take an example. Assume a child studies 5 subjects (english, local language, science, maths, social studies). If the child does not have to study English and instead studies all subjects in the local language, the child would have at least 25% more time to concentrate on core subjects like science, maths and social studies. Besides the child is at ease since all the subjects are in a language they understand.
Teaching and publishing:
If the focus changes to the local language, their would be more teachers who would be able to articulate themselves in a language they are familiar with. More books would be published, which will give a fillip to the publishing industry. And given, the scale of digitization today, publishing includes both print and online media.
Research:
Since students have more time to spend on science, maths, they would make better scientists and researchers.
Job creation:
This is actually a double edged sword in today's world. You are more employable if you are English educated. However, the "focus on local language" paradigm will be a game changer. If industries start working.in the local language even at a senior level, their will be many more employable people than we have today. Jobs will be easier to fulfill since the only requirement is now knowledgeable resources and not knowledgeable plus English speaking.
What do we lose?
It is widely believed that the BPO operations are largely successful in India because India has a large English speaking population. This is however a myth. Many of these people.have to trained.in the right accents. If India.moves to a local language focus, will the services industry die its natural death? Not at all. A Microsoft or an IBM would now have to build software to support 20+ Indian languages, which in itself is an additional opportunity for both the employers and the employees. If they already make for Japanese, their is no reason why they can't.for Hindi or Oriya or Bengali.
2 comments:
Hi Arun,
My point of view is different i still believe the present structure is beneficial otherwise we are handicapped one way or the other. Look at it... assume that every child studies and learns in the local language ...there are about 28 states 7 UT and about 22 or more languages that each state speaks, reads and writes... now the question here is ...will it prevent an individual to do just work in that state assumes its his home state ...whereas for most jobs we do migrate from one state to the other....so people working in just one region does not help the local economy whereas migration brings in skills and talents and helps the state grow.... so i still would think English as a common language that can be used....
Moreover times have changed kids these days only speak english cos the mothers and fathers think its good for them or fashionable...which cuts out on them learning fully the local language... although i believe that traditions should always be preserved......but times have changed!!!
Conclusive i think both the languages must be learnt by the kids.. this gives them the skill sets necessary to take on the world....There might be a small percentage of benefit with learning in the local language... however in a bigger picture it balances out.... i still believe that kids studying in the indian system are multi talented and multiskilled....
Navin Don
Navin Don, thanks for posting your comment. If you look at the % populating in India that is able to converse in English, it is only about 20%. Wiki says based on 2001 census, it is about 12%. This means that India's vast 80-88% people speak the local language(s). If each of the state start promoting their local language including private companies, a large population would be employable.
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