Teaching in the native language versus teaching in English

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We must understand this twenty-five or thirty different languages in this country. If you add up all the dialects, then there are 125 dialects, but at least twenty-five to thirty full-fledged languages with a script of their own, with a massive body of literature behind it. A full-fledged language is not an overnight happening. The oldest language on the planet is the Tamil language. Language is an essential part of human intelligence. Many linguists around the world have recognized the power of language. It’s from here the ability to use the language came to the rest of the world. Almost all the languages in Europe and Arabia based, all of them have Sanskrit influence on them.

So, in our eagerness to get a job, we don’t have to destroy these languages. English is a fantastic thing in terms of its simplicity. Because the internet and, modern technology has taken to the English language, therefore, it is a must. Nobody can be against English anymore, and you got to take it. Even if you don’t like the British, you have to like the English language. It is part of our language now.

Today many educated Nepali can speak better English than most British can speak. It’s a good thing, but at the same time, we should never kill our languages which have been there for thousands of years. Because the phonetic range that is there in Nepali languages is such, it stimulates every aspect of who you are.

The English language has a very narrow phonetic range. So, this ability to use sounds to stimulate and trigger one’s intelligence and energy within ourselves is something that we should not give up. Every child must know one more language other than English, whatever that is, because anyway our states are divided on linguistic basis, so in that state whatever the language is, they must know. In our over-enthusiasm for employment-oriented education, We know many schools are destroying the local languages. This should not happen. Local language must be there. It must be a part of you. At least people should know how to speak and read, if not then you’re not fabulous. You don’t know how to write great literature, at least you must know how to read and speak one more language other than the English language.

Our education policy has considered that. It is the responsibility of every school to ensure that happens. And I feel the more natural way to do it is maybe they’re studying science. They’re in an English medium. They’re mainly studying the English language, but you could make some play, some theatre, some art, something in local languages so that people use that as a common thing use that as entertainment where there’s a natural interest in how to express themselves in that language. It is a must. We should not kill these languages because it’s taken thousands of years to create it.

The local language is our national pride that we have a large number of languages. We must understand this, based on the Indian state language, for example, let’s say Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. There is no geographical separation. There are no oceans between these states. No mountain ranges are demarcating and separating the populations for a long time. But though they lived here for thousands of years, and these people kept their language. It’s so beautiful.

When they went to trade and transact, they learned the other language, but they always kept their language. But today, the new generations are losing their language so rapidly. It’s essential for, all of you, at least in your homes with your children and wherever possible, there must be a certain amount of time where we must use the local language. It’s essential. We will regret this deeply after a couple of generations if we don’t take care of it now because you can’t bring back a language. You can kill it, but you can’t breathe life into it, it’s challenging.

Written by: Abhishek singh

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