Source: This post on India’s linguistic diversity is based on the article “Multilingualism can be magical if it’s error-free” published in “Live mint” on 27th October 2023.
Syllabus: GS Paper 1 Indian Society – Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
News: The article discusses the importance and benefits of multilingualism in India, highlighting the rich linguistic diversity in the country. The author also emphasizes the role of multilingualism in enhancing cognitive skills, problem-solving, and creativity.
What are the various constitutional provisions related to language in India?
Protection of Linguistic Minorities: Article 29 ensures that any section of citizens with a distinct language, script, or culture can conserve it.
Educational Rights: Article 30 grants minorities the right to establish and administer educational institutions. State aid to these institutions cannot be discriminatory.
Language in Parliament: Article 120 stipulates that business in Parliament is transacted in Hindi or English. However, a member can address the House in his mother-tongue with permission.
Official Language: Article 343 designates Hindi in Devanagari script as the Union’s official language. English usage is allowed for 15 years from the Constitution’s commencement.
Language Commission: Article 344 mandates the constitution of a Commission to recommend the progressive use of Hindi for official purposes.
State Official Languages: Article 345 allows states to adopt any language in use in the State or Hindi for official purposes.
Communication Between States: Article 346 specifies the languages for communication between states and between states and the Union.
Language in Judiciary: Article 348 states that the Supreme Court and High Courts use English for proceedings, but with certain exceptions.
Linguistic Development: Articles 350, 350A, 350B, and 351 provide directives for redressal of grievances, primary education in mother-tongue, appointment of a Special Officer for linguistic minorities, and promotion and development of the Hindi language, respectively.
How linguistically diverse is India?
Language Landscape: India boasts an impressive linguistic diversity, with over 19,500 languages spoken throughout the nation.
Local Linguistic Varieties: Even within small regions, the linguistic richness is evident.
Daily Multilingual Exposure: People are frequently exposed to different languages, either audibly or visually, aside from the one or more used at home.
For instance, New Delhi reflects this linguistic diversity in its street signage. The city employs four scripts – English, Devanagri, Gurmukhi, and Urdu – on its street signs.
What are the benefits of being multilingual?
1) Enhanced Cognitive Skills: Multilingual individuals often display improved cognitive abilities, allowing them to process and adapt to information more efficiently.
2) Research Findings: A study had demonstrated that bilingual children could adapt and process information better than their monolingual counterparts.
3) Delay in Cognitive Decline: Elderly people who are multilingual tend to experience a slower onset of cognitive decline, safeguarding their mental faculties for longer.
4) Boost Creativity: Being multilingual can foster creativity. The mental juggling between languages enhances the mind’s ability to think divergently and convergently.
5) Subconscious Processing: For those fluent in multiple languages, shifting between them occurs subconsciously, further refining their mental agility.
6) Open-mindedness: Multilingual individuals often develop an open-mindedness to different sociocultural constructs, expanding their horizons and making them more receptive to varied perspectives.
Question for practice:
How does India’s rich linguistic diversity, as reflected in street signs and the broader cultural landscape, impact cognitive abilities and foster creativity among its multilingual population?
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