Lurker Posted September 24, 2012 Posted September 24, 2012 The reason english is the no 1 language in the world (well apart from it being the language that US and UK uses) is the ease of its communication and its ability to adapt with time and absorb words of other languages. No other language has this kind of flexibilty. Which other nation, and its people, have taken to English as much as Indians have. Or have Indians hit the jackpot when it comes to understand the virtue of English?? Ever wondered that? :winky::winky:
Mariyam Posted September 24, 2012 Posted September 24, 2012 Rather than thrusting Hindi or Sanskrit upon people who dont want to learn it, the government should incentivize the learning of the language to get some additional benefits, if it wants a common unifying language across the nation. Give extra increments to government officers learning hindi (already being done) and some sort of similar measure in the private sector too. Why do you say "common unifying language"? Why the inherent assumption that having a language in common would unify people? History tells us otherwise. The Soviets 'unified' their domain by forcing the Russian language on the Ukrainians, Latvians, Georgians and the various hordes of central Asian horsemen. Little good it did them in the long run. Algeria also forced Arabic as the national language on its citizens, a sizable minority of whom are Berber speaking. And as a result of that there is a clear cleft in the country on the lines of language. When a solitary language is selected as a national language, the state intentionally (or unwittingly) puts that linguistic group on a higher pedestal. For all this talk of a common unifying language, has India, ever in her history had a common language across the length of the country. Or even one specific lingua franca/ marketplace language?
Tiger80 Posted September 24, 2012 Posted September 24, 2012 GOAT == Tendulkar? :yikes: :hysterical::hysterical:
coffee_rules Posted September 24, 2012 Posted September 24, 2012 Why do you say "common unifying language"? Why the inherent assumption that having a language in common would unify people? History tells us otherwise. The Soviets 'unified' their domain by forcing the Russian language on the Ukrainians, Latvians, Georgians and the various hordes of central Asian horsemen. Little good it did them in the long run. Algeria also forced Arabic as the national language on its citizens, a sizable minority of whom are Berber speaking. And as a result of that there is a clear cleft in the country on the lines of language. When a solitary language is selected as a national language, the state intentionally (or unwittingly) puts that linguistic group on a higher pedestal. For all this talk of a common unifying language, has India, ever in her history had a common language across the length of the country. Or even one specific lingua franca/ marketplace language? On the other side of the spectrum is Canada. With linguistic and cultural differences, a sizeable population of Quebec province wants to separate out. They didn't make English a common language like USA did.
Lurker Posted September 24, 2012 Posted September 24, 2012 For all this talk of a common unifying language, has India, ever in her history had a common language across the length of the country. Or even one specific lingua franca/ marketplace language? Talk? What talk :hmmmm2: I must have missed it but was "common language" the theme in the last election?? Or the one before that? Or the one before that?? Or the one before that ....... Or has it been discussed ten times, or even once, in the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha in last 10-20 years??? Or has any political party made it as the lead item in its manifesto? If not, who is doing all this talking?? :giggle: Far as I can see this "common language talk" has less takers than iPhone thread lol. And I will guarantee it that if you painstakenly undertook to find how many thread has been on the subject, they would be lot less than Ranbir Kapoor! I think this is another red herring a la "Hindi is forced", but I am sure you have enough reasons to write what you have. Can you elaborate please?
Mariyam Posted September 25, 2012 Posted September 25, 2012 Lurker, I made that point in the context of this thread. A few posts back, it was Surajmal and then Ganeshran who raised the point of a unifying language- Sanskrit and Hindi respectively. My view is that having a common language (whatever it may be) is not really a unifier of people.
Trichromatic Posted October 14, 2012 Posted October 14, 2012 Official site - Hindi version http://bharat.gov.in/govt/loksabha.php Details still appear in English.
achilles Posted October 15, 2012 Posted October 15, 2012 Always thought I had more affinity for Hindi than I did for Hindus. Hindi is a national language. Not a language that only a few communities speak.
Crookbond Posted October 15, 2012 Posted October 15, 2012 Hindi is a national language. Not a language that only a few communities speak. Misconception.
someone Posted October 15, 2012 Posted October 15, 2012 Wonder what's the difference between "national" and "official" language? Also, why so much infighting among ourselves on this Indian language? We should instead feel proud of the language and aim collectively to make it a global language!
Crookbond Posted October 15, 2012 Posted October 15, 2012 Wonder what's the difference between "national" and "official" language? Also, why so much infighting among ourselves on this Indian language? We should instead feel proud of the language and aim collectively to make it a global language! If that's the point English is an official language too.
someone Posted October 15, 2012 Posted October 15, 2012 If that's the point English is an official language too. What about national? Which one belongs where?
India-KXIP fan Posted October 15, 2012 Posted October 15, 2012 Maybe cause its boring :dontknow: Sounds a little slower and weaker tone. Someone swearing in Hindi is more funny rather than threatning, like they're trying to put you to sleep. Its hilarious when people yell at you in Hindi, I always start laughing how they try to be intimidating but the way its spoken it sounds so weak. Speaking wise Punjabi>Hindi. A full on Punjabi verbal is so much more interesting and intimidating for those at the recieving end.
Crookbond Posted October 15, 2012 Posted October 15, 2012 What about national? Which one belongs where? We don't have any national language.
someone Posted October 15, 2012 Posted October 15, 2012 Maybe cause its boring :dontknow: Sounds a little slower and weaker tone. Someone swearing in Hindi is more funny rather than threatning, like they're trying to put you to sleep. Its hilarious when people yell at you in Hindi, I always start laughing how they try to be intimidating but the way its spoken it sounds so weak. Speaking wise Punjabi>Hindi. A full on Punjabi verbal is so much more interesting and intimidating for those at the recieving end. We are not going to go anywhere if each citizen talks about how one language is better than another language. That's very wrong of you and stupid if you ask me. It is not a language test to see which language is superior. Hindi is still the most language which can be understood in India. Of course, if India has an opportunity to put its "own" language as a global language, it will be Hindi. But getting the opportunity itself is a whole different matter and something very hard.
Ranvir Posted October 15, 2012 Posted October 15, 2012 A language shouldn't be forced on anyone. Indians are not all the same, I see India as a union of states, it's a bit like Europe. Everyone in Europe is white (the native population), has similarities in their culture but also a lot of differences, there is something that binds them together just like India. Variety is what makes India what it is. The worst thing I've seen in some Indians in the UK is that they cannot speak their mother tongue but will try to learn French or Spanish, I mean come on! Why do some of us have this inferiority complex. Also, it doesn't matter if a language sounds sweeter or softer, learn your own language first. There may be better mothers out there but I love my mother the most. That's the same with languages. As a person who speaks Punjabi, I can understand a lot of Hindi, due to the big similarity between the languages and watching Bollywood films, listening to songs. I cannot imagine what it's like for a south indian, the south languages are miles apart from Hindi.
Nova Posted October 16, 2012 Posted October 16, 2012 The worst thing I've seen in some Indians in the UK is that they cannot speak their mother tongue but will try to learn French or Spanish, I mean come on! Why do some of us have this inferiority complex. I don't think it's got anything to do with inferiority complex. It makes sense to learn French or Spanish, for someone living in the EU, as it provides opportunity to interact and understand the culture of your neighboring countries. French is the official language of 32 nations btw.
ganeshran Posted October 16, 2012 Posted October 16, 2012 People learn french or Spanish because its easy as hell to score marks in the subject, atleast in state boards, the same reason many opt for Sanskrit in southern states. In Andhra you can actually write your answers in Telugu/English in a Sanskrit exam and its easy to score close to 100% and push your percentage up. It is a more pragmatic decision than one driven by complexes or anything
nikred Posted October 16, 2012 Posted October 16, 2012 People learn french or Spanish because its easy as hell to score marks in the subject' date=' atleast in state boards, the same reason many opt for Sanskrit in southern states. In Andhra you can actually [b']write your answers in Telugu/English in a Sanskrit exam and its easy to score close to 100% and push your percentage up. It is a more pragmatic decision than one driven by complexes or anything You should not reveal everything like that. :mad:
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