Importance of the English Language
A
language is a systematic means of communication by the use of sounds or
conventional symbols. It is the code we all use to express ourselves and
communicate to others. It is a communication by word of mouth. It is the mental
faculty or power of vocal communication. It is a system for communicating ideas
and feelings using sounds, gestures, signs or marks.
Any
means of communicating ideas, specifically, human speech, the expression of
ideas by the voice and sounds articulated by the organs of the throat and mouth
is a language. This is a system for communication. A language is the written
and spoken methods of combining words to create meaning used by a particular
group of people. Language, so far as we know, is something specific to humans,
that is to say it is the basic capacity that distinguishes humans from all
other living beings. Language therefore remains potentially a communicative
medium capable of expressing ideas and concepts as well as moods, feelings and
attitudes.
A
set of linguists who based their assumptions of language on psychology made
claims that language is nothing but ‘habit formation’. According to them,
language is learnt through use, through practice. In their view, ‘the more one
is exposed to the use of language, the better one learns’. Written languages
use symbols (characters) to build words. The entire set of words is the
language’s vocabulary.
The
ways in which the words can be meaningfully combined is defined by the
language’s syntax and grammar. The actual meaning of words and combinations of
words is defined by the language’s semantics. The latest and the most advanced
discoveries and inventions in science and technology are being made in the
universities located in the United States of America where English language is
the means of scientific discourse. The historical circumstances of India
(having been ruled by the British for over two centuries) have given the
Indians an easy access to mastering English language, and innumerable
opportunities for advancement in the field of science and technology. Many
Indians have become so skilled in English language and have won many
international awards for creative and comparative literatures during the last
few years. Sometime ago, an Indian author, Arundhati Roy, won the prestigious booker
prize for her book “The God of Small Things”.
Her
book sold lakhs of copies all over the globe. Over the years, English language
has become one of our principal assets in getting a global leadership for books
written by Indian authors and for films made by Indians in English language. A
famous Indian movie maker Shekhar Kapoor’s film “Elizabeth” has got several
nominations for Oscar Awards. It does not require any further argument to
establish the advantage English language has brought to us at the international
level. English language comes to our aid in our commercial transactions
throughout the globe.
English
is the language of the latest business management in the world and Indian
proficiency in English has brought laurels to many Indian business managers.
English is a means not only for international commerce; it has become
increasingly essential for inter-state commerce and communication. In India,
people going from North to South for education or business mostly communicate
in English, which has become a link language. Keeping this in mind, the
Parliament has also recognized English as an official language in addition to
Hindi. All the facts of history and developments in present day India underline
the continued importance of learning English in addition to vernaculars.
Some
of the states of India are witnessing popular increase in public demand for
teaching of English language from the primary classes. Realizing the
importance, recently, the Minister of Indian Railways, Laloo Prasad Yadav, demands
teaching of English language in schools. The great demand for admission in
English medium schools throughout the country is a testimony to the attraction
of English to the people of India. Many of the leaders, who denounce English,
send their own children to English medium schools. Many of the schools in the
country have English as the sole or additional medium of instruction.
A
language attracts people because of the wealth of literature and knowledge
enshrined in it. English poses no danger to Indian languages. The Indian
languages are vibrant and are developing by the contributions of great minds
using them as their vehicle of expression. English is available to us as a
historical heritage in addition to our own language. We must make the best use
of English to develop ourselves culturally and materially so that we can
compete with the best in the world of mind and matter. English language is our
window to the world.
English
language is one tool to establish our viewpoint. We can learn from others
experience. We can check the theories of foreigners against our experience. We
can reject the untenable and accept the tenable. We can also propagate our
theories among the international audience and readers.
We
can make use of English to promote our worldview and spiritual heritage
throughout the globe. Swami Vivekananda established the greatness of Indian
view of religion at the world conference of religions in Chicago in 1893. He
addressed the gathering in impressive English. Many spiritual gurus have since
converted thousands of English people to our spirituality by expressing their
thought and ideas in masterful English. English has thus become an effective
means of promoting Indian view of life, and strengthening our cultural identity
in the world.
When
William Caxton set up his printing press in London (1477) the new hybrid
language (vernacular English mixed with courtly French and scholarly Latin)
became increasingly standardized, and by 1611, when the Authorized (King James)
Version of the Bible was published, the educated English of London had become
the core of what is now called Standard English. By the time of Johnson’s
dictionary (1755) and the American Declaration of Independence (1776), English
was international and recognizable as the language we use today. The
Orthography of English was more or less established by 1650 and, in England in
particular, a form of standard educated speech, known as Received Pronunciation
(RP) spread from the major public schools in the 19th century. This accent was
adopted in the early 20th century by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
for its announcers and readers, and is variously known as RP, BBC English,
Oxford English, and the King’s or Queen’s English.
Generally,
Standard English today does not depend on accent but rather on shared
educational experience, mainly of the printed language. Present-day English is
an immensely varied language, having absorbed material from many other tongues.
It is spoken by more than 300 million native speakers, and between 400 and 800
million foreign users. It is the official language of air transport and
shipping; the leading language of science, technology, computers, and commerce;
and a major medium of education, publishing, and international negotiation. For
this reason, scholars frequently refer to its latest phase as World English.
The Benefits of Learning English
English,
is an international language in the world. Most people are using this language
on the daily life. It is an important language because we use this language to
communication with other country's people. We also use English in many places.
For example, it is used in the international business, computer language,
movies, and so on.
As
a result, many people think learning English can get big benefits. Why we say
learning English can get big benefits? Because you can become an international
person, because you can communicate with any people in the world, and because
you can improve the changes in the job. English is a common language and you
can use English to become an international person. First, you could get the
news faster than the others could. Second, you should understand other
countries for using English.
Third,
you would depend on English to read the latest books or magazines in the world.
Therefore, it can let you gain more and more knowledge for studying English.
English is an international language. When you go traveling, you will speak
English to ask the roads. When you play the computer, you will use English took
to other people. In addition, you can know many friends in the world.
So,
learning English is a good way to communicate for foreign people. English is a
general language because we have to use this every day. For example, there are
many new technologies, new computers, new machines, and so on. So we need
someone who will read, speak, listen, and write English very well. Besides,
many companies need good office employees to do international business.
Consequently, if you read, write, listen, and speak very well, you will have
good occupation for getting jobs. In conclusion, we will know learning English
can get three major benefits, which are becoming an international person,
communicating with any people in the world, and improving the changes in the
job. When we know the benefits of learning english then , we can be a lot to
communicate with many people , because the English language is a universal
language.
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