Socio-cultural Dimensions English as a Second Language by Rekha Aslam

MA Sem.3, ELT1 Unit 1Department of English, MKBU

• There is a close nexus between the form of English language and the social structure and cultural sensitivity of Indian culture. The creative exploration of linguistic resources reflects the values of different socio-cultural traits. The Indian reality is manifested at many levels of language organization from borrowing, lone creating to idioms, metaphor, symbolism etc. brought to the English language. The paper describes how English is made to fulfill the function of a second language. The transition is shown with examples from Fire on the Mountain by Anita Desai, Nectar in a Sieve by Kamala Markandaya and R.K. Narayan’s The Dark Room.

• English is taught in India as a second language. Is this relevant to the Indian reality? How far does it successfully express the Indian ethos? That is to say how is English used creatively? The creative writings of Indian writers who have a near native control of the linguistic codes illustrate how English is used creatively and thereby the socio-cultural code infused in it. Manipulation with English is possible since it is a second language.

• Christopherson differentiates foreign and second language on the following parameters:a) A foreign language is a language which is not

one’s own, even though one may have a very good knowledge of it. A second language, on the other hand, is a language which is one’s own though not the first in order to importance nor usually the first to be learnt.

b) A foreign language is used for the purpose of absorbing the culture of other nations; as a second language is used as an alternative way of expressing a culture of one’s own.

c) A foreign language tends to produce bilinguals with a passive and receptive attitudes while a second language produces bilinguals with a passive and receptive attitude while a second language produces bilinguals with active and creative interest.

• This creativity can be approached from 2 points of view – how the language is manipulated to express antithetically the context and culture of India and how it is exploited for discourse.

• Language is not an isolated entity. It is deeply rooted in socio-cultural, religious etc.. concepts of Native speaker’s life.

• India being a multi lingual country, English serves as a link language across the nation. It is also a language in which a lot of Indian literature is being written – that is to say, literature by Indians, about India but in English.

• Some basic vocabulary-clothes, food items, flora and fauna, etc. Words from the native language of the writer are sometimes absorbed directly into English with as little phonological variation as English permits, or they are literally or semantically translated or their equivalents are found.

• A writer may make practice of using phonological (graphic) adaptation, lone translation, lone creation as per the requirement of emphasis, etc. and availability.

• A writer may use a native word with the meaning in the gloss, or within the text, or may simply leave it to be understood in the context. i.e. ‘sari’, the dress for the female, and ‘dhoti’, the dress of the male are progressively used and accepted as such.

• In certain cases, an equivalent word is available in English, yet the native word is used. Markandaya retains ‘chakkli’ for cobbler, ‘zamindar’ for landlord, ‘chowkidar’ for watchman in order to capture the socio-cultural aspect.

• Native words find their ways in English because of the non-availability of an equivalent counter-part. These words are deeply rooted in the Indian culture, religion, philosophy, etc. i.e. ‘kum kum’ (red powder used as a beauty mark by women)

• ‘Namaskar’ (a greeting or salutation), ‘nani’ (mother’s mother).. Other words used in the novels are: langur, bandaras (animal world), churail ( supernatural); kheer, ‘dhal’(food items)…..

• Another method of expressing the Indian reality is to use a translation on the basis of semantics. Instances around in Narayan. ‘After food she went to her ‘bench’ in the hall and lay down on it,’ chewing a little areca-nut and a few betel leaves. (T.D.R.:2)”

• Advertisements – News paper classifieds• Acronyms such as All India Institute of Medical

Science (AIIMS), Delhi University of Teacher Association (DUTA)

• Discourse pattern – the social meaning of language that is emphasized by socio linguists. Language used to talk to friends, to scold children, conduct business.. i.e. “Accha, I’ll come again.”

• Intimacy and turn-taking conversations• Language of dominance• Religious temper and language• The caste hierarchy figures prominently in

discourse• Semiotics in Indian Literature• The symbols employed enrich second

language

• An attempt has been made to explore the creative dimension of English, second language in India. There are still a lot of dimensions that need detailed work. This paper helps to understand socio-cultural reality manifested at many levels of language organization from borrowing, lone creations to idiom, metaphor, imagery symbolism and discourse imparts to English an Indian English. This novels creativity – a role and function English is made to fulfill.