Here are my answers to Admin Noronha's questions. Admin Noronha wrote: > >* What makes English a "foreign language"? National boundaries? Its origins? >How does this tie up with its current position in India, where it is used as >an >associate national language? >
The fact that the native language of most Goans residing in Goa is Konknni, not English. > >* How do you define one's "primary language"? In places like Goa, does this >tally with the "official language" (both >in terms of script and dialect)? > The primary language is defined as the language that is spoken most of the time at home. It is usually also the first language that a child learns to speak. It does not necessarily tally with the official language in terms of script and dialect. > >* Is the presumption that we don't have to "teach one's kids grammatically and >lexically" when it comes to "their own mother tongue" > A child automatically learns the correct grammar and lexicon of his/her mother tongue. It is only when he/she has to pick up a secondary language or adopt a second language as his/her primary language that he/she has to make a special effort to learns its correct grammar and lexicon. > >The challenge is what happens to those still struggling to pick up those >skills. Do we treat them with disdain, charity, condescension or hope? > We provide them with better schools and teachers. We encourage them to read and write in the language of their choice, and provide them with all the resources that they need to do so. This can be undertaken both as a public and private effort. Cheers, Santosh ----- Original Message ----- From: Frederick FN Noronha फ्रेडरिक नोरोन्या *فريدريك نورونيا <[email protected]> All good arguments, but veering off the point. A few issues struck me while reading this: * What makes English a "foreign language"? National boundaries? Its origins? How does this tie up with its current position in India, where it is used as an associate national language? * Also, what about these facts: " Today there are more non-native than native users of English, and English has become the linguistic key used for opening borders: it is a global medium with local identities and messages (Kachru 1996: 11,14). English has become a world language, spoken by at least 750 million people. It is more widely spoken and written than any other language, even Latin, has ever been. It can, indeed, be said to be the first truly global language. English is nowadays the dominant or official language in over 60 countries." http://www.languageinindia.com/may2003/annika.html * How do you define one's "primary language"? In places like Goa, does this tally with the "official language" (both in terms of script and dialect)? * Is the presumption that we don't have to "teach one's kids grammatically and lexically" when it comes to "their own mother tongue". Does the process of language acquisition among children vary according to what they claim as their relationship with a local, national or "foreign" language? This raises a whole lot of issues, specially in places like Goa, where those who are capable have picked up English to near mother-tongue levels (the TOEFL scores and Dr Kurzon's work has studied that). The challenge is what happens to those still struggling to pick up those skills. Do we treat them with disdain, charity, condescension or hope? FN --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Protect Goa's natural beauty Support Goa's first Tiger Reserve Sign the petition at: http://www.goanet.org/petition/petition.php ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
