'Economic Development and Language: A Journey Through India'

Abstract

If we read economic history of India, the country is having trade relations with many countries since ancient time. Commodities and products in trade might have changed with passage of time, but products and skilled labour of India has remained so important at global level that world has invested resources to search new ways to reach to India. Now, it is trend in modern economic discussions to compare India with China on issues of population and economic growth rate. Trade relation with economies at global level has brought cultural and linguistic diversity in India. This diversity has become identity of the country. Albeit, society is now at the stage of development, where regional and focal dialects are getting extinct as a result of interaction between cultures and languages. Here, English language is now in wide use in practice and in education, which is international language. It is believed that knowledge of English and knowledge by English language leads to development. Parents are facing a giant question in front of them about whether to give education in mother tongue or in international language? On the other hand, as we have mentioned earlier comparison of Indian economy with that of China, India has larger number of international language speakers, even though Chinese economy is growing at higher rate. Economic history of India describes country’s trade relation with European countries and impact of British rule. Modern time will be witness of comparison with the China, once a communist economy. When India has established trade relation with world countries, it has interchanged not only commodities but also cultures. Language is indivisible part of culture. Even for profit motive, it is important to know, understand and adapt language of counterpart. Knowledge of language and multilingualism increases labours’ employability and mobility, which is crucial for economic development. Economic development too affects language. Importance of some language increases, and some other languages need support to sustain. Few dialects disappear in development and globalization. Also government considers this thing and includes language development in planning. India is not just a country; it is an entity that can’t be ignored at cultural and economic aspects. India is bestowed natural as well as cultural diversity. It will be interesting to know relation between economic development and language. This article reviews relation between economic development and language in reference of India.