languages are important human achievements enabling communication, helping storing and sharing of knowledge through generations which has resulted in great successes in almost all areas of mankind. They are the medium of expressions of emotions through literature and writings that have encouraged and motivated people over the ages.
In this progressive competitive world, languages also fight their own battle of survival. Many languages have ceased to exist and have been relegated to history. Once gone, they are lost for ever. One of many reasons behind this gradual underuse and disappearance of languages is economic implication.
Knowledge of languages that can help studying various subjects at higher degree levels and possibilities of getting better job prospects is gearing people to go for languages such as English in non-English speaking countries. While the economic necessities are well understood, it should not stamp out mother-tongues, languages that have been used for centuries, with rich cultural heritage, specific emotional essence and communication nuances of the area. These are developed over generations and deeply ingrained in community psyche.
Unfortunately, people often discriminate between languages, consider one to be better than other and encourage children to learn one, not the other. However, children have capabilities to learn more than one language, even early in their life. It is very common to see many Indians are able to read, write and speak in multiple languages. While it is acceptable to learn languages with specific scopes, it should not lead to underuse or abandonment of other language. So there is a bit of responsibility to continue using various languages, encouraging people to learn many and supporting the languages. Supporting one’s language and ensuring its continuance is everybody’s business; it is not just the responsibility of one group. Parents, people, cultures and Governments should support and create appropriate ambiance for the languages to survive. Obviously languages should not be forced upon, although there are many examples of such in the history. However, there should be structure, direction and support to use the languages at various levels. Overall it is important to create a need, however subtle, to use the language.
Sometimes there should be clear tangible benefit for using the language. But more important to all these is the ‘love for the language’ which may help in continued use of a language. There should be genuine interest for using it in day- to- day communication, interaction, information sharing, and obviously in literature. literature that is close to life; that can easily reach people and be used or quoted in day-to-day life is more useful; than the detached, highly academic literati and their writings that are inaccessible to common people. This love for one’s language should be generated and handed down to the younger generations. This requires great commitment from parents, teachers, authors, local organisations and the State. In addition, languages too need to adapt to the changes of modern societies and evolve. It cannot be overempahsized that the need to ensure active use and permanence of the languages is at its height at the moment.
(Dr Kar is MD, DPM, DNB, MRCPsych, consultant psychiatrist, who lives in Wolverhampton, UK. Email: nmadhab@yahoo.com)