Barrier Free English: A Linking Factor in the New Age

chillibreeze writer — Deepti Bajaj

What better example of a global English world than Scripps National Spelling Bee Champion 2005, Anurag Kashyap? The National Spelling Bee is a typically American contest and the winner has Indian origins.

English is one language that has gained mass acceptance by people. The rich and large range of flexible words and unmatchable expressions makes it one of the most popular languages around the world.

Spoken by almost one billion people around the world, English originated as the language of England, and enjoys the position of being a principal means of communication today.

The British ruled India for two centuries. No one can deny that English is a legacy, which has left very strong impressions on Indian civilization. Even today someone who speaks fluent English is looked at with much adulation. The language has a hold so firm that it has taken the status of first language for many Indians.

And this is happening not only in India. English has grasped the whole world. International boundaries have become dilute since a common language provides for precise and persuasive communication of ideas.

Unavoidably, vocabulary has been twisted and twirled by many people. It is pivotal to understand that each culture has its own way of articulation. Thus, it becomes vital to speak well in order to learn and decipher correctly.

These days however, America is the biggest influence on the way people speak English. So, sensitize is what Americans would say with a ‘z’ and sensitise is what British would write with a ‘s’. God, why can’t they agree upon either ‘z’ or ‘s’?

Besides the Standard English in use in the world, new forms have started to appear in the guise of new English, defined as English made local, indigenous and informal. So, native words from pure Hindi such as Namaste, Kameez have been included in chaste English dictionaries. The experience is overwhelming when purists speak local words while speaking just correct English.

Varying styles of pronunciation are also a noticeable feature of English language. It is amazing to listen to a same word being verbalized differently as one moves across from one city to another or from one country to another. So, education is heard as ejucation in India. Even the word ‘Poor’ gets exploited rather poorly. A Brit will say it as ‘poor’ while an Indian will stretch the ‘r’. So, it will be heard as ‘pooerr’.

Who is benefiting?

Information barter has created pools of opportunities. This has been possible due to this common language of expression. Touring a new land has become more convenient.

Job markets suddenly seem to have boomed with jobs for people, who are not just graduates but who have mastered the art of English language. Though this scenario does not apply to the complete service sector, the BPO industry is certainly tapping this massive potential. It is a bitter reality that a graduate may have to lurk around looking for a job if he does not have good English skills. Additionally, jobs are flowing in from overseas to originally non-English speaking nations such as India, China.

A recent flood of English News Channels has hit the international viewer. Furthermore rising consumerism has compelled multinational companies to market their products in the most accessible language. So product instructions are not only printed in the mother language of producing company but also in English. Good for the buyers.

What does not change?

In the true sense of the word, emotions, people do not change. Whether you say, goodbye, c ya or ta ta, they all convey the same message with equal depth of soul.

According to research, most people do not speak English as a foreign language; they speak it as “native” speakers within their own cultures. People take their own nuances and adjust to a world where English is spoken commonly.

In spite of the innumerable nuances and differences, for global citizens, English is a unifying factor, if ever there was one.

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Deepti says, "Reading, writing, movies and listening to music are some of my hobbies. I wish to own a cafe or a shoe palace."

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