Communication devices have
been able to make substantial contributions to human life in countless ways. Though
the fact is so, such devices have done enough damages to several native
languages and changed the way people approach their languages.
Do you think it is an exaggeration to
believe that languages get afflicted?
How right is it to say that language is a
cultural instrument and no device can influence it in anyway?
Modern man stands hugely
obliged to the revolution that has been changing the very way people look at communication
as such. However, there is substance in the view that languages are afflicted,
and even such cultural instruments are not free from influences.
When it comes to how communication
devices affect languages, the first thing to notice is that there are not many serious
takers for native languages. For example, many Indian languages are not being
promoted thanks to the eclipse effect of the English language which is the
lingua franca. Secondly, it is not wrong to say that people have a bad tendency
of making unwelcome changes in the nicer or finer aspects of their native languages.
For example, transliterating
native words, absorbing English expressions as if they are as good as native ones
and the like are now fine. Falling spelling consciousness, poor assimilation of
sound system and alphabet and poor grammar sensitivity are the by-products of communication
explosion. It generates an everything-goes attitude.
Coming to the second view, I
find it wrong to believe so, for, of course language is a cultural instrument
and it is of longer evolution and lasting value, but the thing is, unless a
language is regularly promoted, it will go extinct in the long run. What happens
now is modern communication devices are English-loaded and almost all the
natives are forced to keep their language in the backburner. For example, mobile phones, net servers and similar
IT tools have implanted English expressions and mannerisms in other language users.
Texting, SMSing, blogging, tweeting, chatting and so goes the list.
In short, the revolution in communication
is for good and it is going to stay too. This does not mean that all the native
languages are fine everywhere. There are evidences that show that this
revolution hardly spares even cultural instruments like languages.
290 words
Ajaypeesdoc.
25.7.013: 7 pm
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