English as Lingua Franca in the Indian Context

Abstract

India is a fast emerging Nation in the world and one of the top most contestants to become the next World Super Power. Time and again, it makes its presence felt to the Third World Nations through its multifaceted culture, indigenous languages and the multi-talented ubiquitous youth. Besides these, there are many other factors such as science and technology, music, books, architecture, medicine, natural resources and the like that make the world countries throng India. When India is one of the hubs for many things, it goes without saying that the Nation is filled with tourists and traders from different countries. It is here the need of a common language gets its prominence. Though there are many languages in India, the lacuna for a common language is filled successfully by none other than English, the Lingua Franca of the world.

India stands, by and large, high in the world economy now. English is, one of the most prominent reasons, among other things/factors that the economy reaches its height every now and then. One of the other reasons is Indians speak English fairly. English is a vehicle in which, by and large, the success of the Nation travels. The ethnic qualities of India are witnessed and liked throughout the world with the help of English language, without which the world will move at a snail’s pace. For example, India’s traditional forms of medicines are gaining momentum throughout the world for its unique qualities and effectiveness. One cannot witness or imagine this without the active role of the Queen’s language. It is not a denying fact that English language made happen globalization. People move freely around the world with the passport called English language. Indian literature in English takes the lion’s share in popularizing the Nation’s culture, ethnicity and custom. There is a great emergence of Indian writers such as Karnad, Basheer and others writing in English. These writers help the Nation in one way or the other through their writings in English. There are a great many numbers of languages in India that produce literature on its own way. However, they are not popularised until they are translated into English. Had not Gitanjali been translated into English, Tagore would not have received the prestigious Nobel Prize. Tagore, the first non-European, got the Nobel Prize largely for the English version of Gitanjali.