THE GLOBAL DYNAMICS OF LANGUAGE: UNITING THREADS AND LOOMING EXTINCTION
Introduction
- Language is a powerful force that connects and defines societies. In India, English has served as a unifying thread amid linguistic diversity, a legacy of British colonialism.
- However, this scenario mirrors a global trend of shrinking linguistic diversity, with English at the forefront.
English as a Common Language in India: A Historical Thread
- English has served as a unifying language in India since the British colonial era, connecting a diverse, multilingual population.
- While it is widely spoken in urban areas, it poses communication challenges in remote regions.
- This situation prompts questions about the feasibility of a universal global language for enhanced unity and cooperation.
The Tower of Babel: Lessons on the Power of a Common Language
- Drawing a parallel to the biblical Tower of Babel narrative, where a common language united people until divine intervention caused linguistic diversity, some argue that British introduction of English to India inadvertently strengthened Indian unity, facilitating the end of colonialism.
- Regardless of its historical accuracy, this story underscores the significance of a common language as a tool for conveying information, ideas, and emotions.
Language Extinction on the Horizon
- The world boasts approximately 7,000 distinct languages, but this linguistic diversity is diminishing rapidly.
- A mathematical model predicts that within a century, 40% of languages with fewer than 35,000 speakers will face extinction, meaning they will no longer be spoken as mother tongues or principal languages.
- The dominance of a few major languages, including English, poses a significant threat to linguistic diversity.
Migration and Language Shift
- Migration to countries with a dominant language often compels individuals to adopt that language for social and economic advantages.
- Consequently, first-generation migrants become bilingual, and subsequent generations may lose their mother tongue.
- India’s increasing migration to English-speaking countries raises questions about the future of languages like Hindi, which boasts millions of second-language speakers worldwide.
Measuring Linguistic Diversity
- The Index of Linguistic Diversity (ILD) quantifies changes in the number of mother-tongue speakers worldwide over the past 30 years, reflecting declining linguistic diversity.
- The Language Diversity Index, based on the probability of two randomly selected individuals having different mother tongues, reveals variations between countries.
- Countries with fewer mother languages exhibit lower LDI values. Notably, the United States, due to its diverse immigrant population, has a higher LDI than the United Kingdom.
Global Decline in Linguistic Diversity
- Globally, linguistic diversity decreased by 20% between 1970 and 2005, with significant regional declines in the Americas, the Pacific (including Australia), and Africa.
- However, these indices may not fully capture the extent of change as the world’s population grows. The distribution of speakers is becoming increasingly skewed, leading to the extinction of several smaller languages.
The Precarious State of Endangered Languages
- Many languages now have only one living native speaker, highlighting the precarious position of these linguistic communities.
- When languages vanish, so too do their associated identities, cultures, and indigenous knowledge. The extinction of languages threatens cultural diversity and fosters cultural homogenization.
India’s Lingual Challenges and the Need for Strategies
- A UNESCO report from 2018 identifies 42 languages in India with fewer than 10,000 speakers, classifying them as potentially endangered. Most of these languages belong to indigenous tribal groups.
- Just as biodiversity loss raises global concerns, the loss of languages equates to a reduction in linguistic diversity, cultural variation, opinions, views, and knowledge.
- Preserving endangered languages is essential on a global scale, with organizations like the Linguistic Society of America taking commendable steps to document and protect these languages.
- Collaboration and similar efforts are needed worldwide to prevent further linguistic erosion.
Q. In a world where English is rapidly becoming the global lingua franca, what are the implications for linguistic diversity, cultural identity, and the preservation of endangered languages, with specific reference to India’s multilingual landscape?
Transforming India's Electoral Landscape: A Vision for Comprehensive Reform
Introduction:
- The Prime Minister has taken a commendable step by forming a committee to study the vital aspects of implementing One Nation-One Election in India.
- The proposal aims to streamline the electoral process by reducing the frequency of elections and implementing various reforms.
Reducing Frequent Elections:
- One way to reduce frequent elections is by extending the terms of assemblies by up to one year.
- This would allow elections to occur only once a year, in a month deemed most suitable based on various factors.
- The proposal also suggests holding all types of elections, including by-elections and civic or panchayat elections, in this designated “election month.”
Eliminating Mid-term Elections:
- The feasibility of simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and state assemblies hinges on eliminating mid-term elections.
- This would entail the simultaneous election of the Prime Minister or Chief Ministers, along with the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, through a secret and compulsory vote of members using Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) equipped with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT).
- Members abstaining from voting might lose their voting rights while retaining membership.
Restrictions on Contesting Multiple Seats:
- To prevent individuals from contesting from multiple constituencies or both Parliament and state assembly simultaneously, the proposal suggests mandatory resignation from any earlier seat before filing a nomination for another.
- Additionally, Parliamentarians taking an oath as a state minister (or Chief Minister) should automatically lose their parliamentary membership, and vice versa.
Reforms for Rajya Sabha and Legislative Councils:
- The proposal advocates for the restoration of secret voting in Rajya Sabha elections through EVMs equipped with VVPAT.
- It also calls for amending the Constitution to abolish Legislative Councils in states.
- Only individuals who have never contested an election should be appointed as nominated members of the Rajya Sabha.
Reducing Ministerial Strength:
- The proposal recommends reducing the strength of ministers to 10 percent of the lower House’s total members. It also calls for the abolition of the post of Parliamentary Secretaries.
Barring Security-losing Individuals:
- Individuals with a record of security breaches should be barred from contesting elections for the next six years.
- The “None-of-the above” (NOTA) option should be made practically useful by disqualifying all candidates receiving fewer votes than NOTA from future elections, except for the term in which NOTA won.
Presidential and Vice Presidential Elections:
- Both the President and Vice President should be elected simultaneously by all MPs and MLAs through EVMs equipped with VVPAT.
- In case of a vacancy, the Vice President could assume the role of President, and an interim Vice President could be elected by MPs.
Empowering the Election Commission:
- To expedite electoral reforms, the Election Commission should have the power to implement them with a one-year notice to Parliament.
- If Parliament does not disapprove the proposed reforms within the stipulated year, they should be deemed approved.
- Election Commissioners should be selected by a 3-member committee, including the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha.
Removal of Immunity for Elected Representatives:
- Elected representatives should lose immunity, even during legislative proceedings, to prevent unethical behavior like the JMM bribery case.
- Absconding parliamentarians from court summons or warrants should be reported to relevant police authorities.
Ensuring High Attendance:
- Parliamentarians and legislators with attendance less than 75 percent in the House should be disqualified from contesting elections for the next six years.
- Minimum medical-fitness certification may be required for candidates with health concerns.
- Bio-data of elected representatives, including asset details and spouse’s names, should be made public.
Stringent Rules and Penalties:
- Strict rules with fixed punishments for Parliamentarians should be enacted.
- Deductions of government dues should be made from their salaries and pensions.
- Defaulters should be barred from contesting elections or holding official posts until dues are cleared and government accommodations are vacated.
Reforming Political Parties:
- Political parties not contesting elections within the last five years should be de-recognized.
- Live TV debates should replace costly rallies. Electoral Bonds should be made transparent.
- Tax exemptions, subsidized land, and other government funding to political parties should be abolished.
Conclusion:
- The proposed electoral reforms encompass a wide range of measures aimed at enhancing transparency, accountability, and efficiency in India’s electoral process.
- These recommendations, if implemented, have the potential to significantly improve the functioning of the country’s democratic institutions and ensure a fairer electoral system.
What is the concept of “One Nation-One Election,” and why is it considered a significant electoral reform in India? Discuss the potential benefits and challenges associated with its implementation
