Colourful Thoughts

English not THE key for global success

In 1983/84 my school levied 25 paisa as a fine, if a teacher spotted a student conversing in Tamil or their local language within the school premises. This was such a move that every other mate of mine was jittery about, just not for the monetary reason, but the primary reason was to speak in English. When a student was caught, he would lie and swear that he did not speak in local language. Obviously it withered away slowly.

The rationale behind the rule is definitely good and it was to make every other youngster in the school to converse well in English. The intent was good, but it created false and shallow characters, students feeling inferior to others who had a natural gift to tongue twist in English. Some diligent students did manage to speak, but in them for sure grew an inferior feeling.

Recently I read an advisory note in a career guide column that ‘English is a must in the new economy’. Such a column from a widely read website stressed a need that this problem must be nurtured from roots. I know many of my classmates/colleagues who have procrastinated or held back their urge to grow up, feared, felt inferior, in spite of their good knowledge in their chosen profession. The reason for the inferior feelings, the fears etc were the ones created long down in the colonial era.

Readers please do not despise me as a one, championing linguistic feelings. This article is not about languages or linguistic afflictions. This is no anti-English, pro-Indian language related write-up. One that I like to mirror is the complex ‘English’ language crazy affinity and how the blinding zeal to learn English is illusionary and provides less impetus than perceived.

A Polish couple who became good friends to us innocently quipped in their second meeting that friendship with us (Indians) could help them learn ‘English’ quickly but would not stir their inferiority complex. The story of learning English is not an isolated one with respect to India/Asia.

Recently I worked in a joint venture programme and two of our teams met for discussing the strategy. A senior colleague rose to the podium and started to speak with a different accent: “I do not belong to this country, apologies for my funny English accent and should you not understand me, feel free to interrupt and I shall try to put it the best possible way”. This man then presented clearly and concisely but simple English. Contrastingly, in the same session, a fellow Indian spoke much more articulately with a false-American accent, was turned down as a bore.

The message loud and clear: It’s the subject expertise and self-confidence with simple English that finally mattered to present his view. Neither the accent nor the vocabulary did matter. A key message underlines the incident that this gentleman-the head of the programme, did not shy to expose his weakness, but also had the courage to accept it before a tall audience.

7 out of the top 10 GDP or the Human Development Index listed nations do not have English as their official language but have worked hard for their elevated international status. Japan, Germany, France are top developed nations that have spiralled up themselves in many fields, but found no impediments by choosing English for their learning or communication. Also, they have an identity that produces a class. China, a living illustration next door is a strong case for the developing nations.

Typically in a country like India, at the grass roots level language can be a major barrier to eradicate illiteracy. When a person is expected to learn to read in a language he does not understand, becoming literate can be confusing and frustrating process. Many give up permanently, convinced that reading and writing are beyond their grasp.

Gerardo Wipio Deicat, the Peruvian educator states that "those who teach in a language other than that of the child in the lower grades are violating principles of good pedagogy and are guilty of cultural imposition. More often than not, this type of education has been the cause of native children dropping out of school and experiencing psychological trauma, resulting in their failure to learn to read and write." May be that’s one reason many of us do not pursue and be successful at higher levels of scientific education to the extent we do easily in lower levels.

Many of us do not recognise our complex sentence formations that confuse our global partners and that’s because, we sub-consciously transliterate our native language to misrepresent and let go potential opportunities in spite of our correct understanding. If I wished to incur the wrath of the persons behind, I could quote some real life incidents. Though this is not worrying problem, the real issue lies in our approach to embrace the language. Instead of concentrating on constructs, we go behind styles and words.

The situation is the Indian states that are fanatic about their local languages, are yet forced to learn for global competence. In a lighter vein, an American said: “Lots of people speak English, so? I need to learn that language dude!” That’s the way Americans chose to - create a different style of English and now ironically a sizeable section of world is following their trend.

A story goes that God created many languages to divide the humans and fail their mission to reach Heavens. Do not be pedantic about the language and fall in the world of complexities. It’s wise to quote Swami Vivekananda: “Give me 100 confident and courageous youngsters; I shall create a new vibrant and radiant India.” Yes, indeed courage and self-confidence are the vehicles for success, not the language’s fluency or volubility. It’s the clarity; brevity and simplicity of expressing yourself that can ascent you to the path of success.

Another quote to help is the story of an entrepreneur, lost his first job of cleaning the floors in an IT company because he did not have an e-mail ID. But that turned him into a self-styled top business man, is ironically interchangeable with the tongue twisting flamboyant English speaking classmate who was initially envied, ended-up in a BPO call centre with a terrible lifestyle.

I have observed that many of us in the zeal to learn English, watch hours of TV, create unnecessary illusions and forget the prime aim of why we need to learn English and wander away to become superficial and pretentious humans. The important thing for success is hard work to gain subject knowledge. If gained, confidence follows, if confident, thoughts can easily and clearly be communicated. Language is needed for communication, but should not be the hindrance to your growth or the one that creates shallow-personality. Remember the next time you speak, language is for just communicating.

Jai Hind!