Abstract:

This article examines the problems of language situation in India. The paper focuses on the stages of penetration of English into the territory of the state and its functional development taking into consideration the evolution of the social status of English by means of education and other social instruments. The authors explore the views of linguists on the role of English in India in the historical perspective. In terms of language development education is traditionally considered one of the most powerful tools thus making it extremely important to analyze the historic and current trends in this interaction. The purpose of this study is to identify the functional level of English language in one of the most multinational states in the world. The goal is achieved through the analysis of qualitative and quantitative parameters of the language situation in India. Qualitative indicators include demographic power of the language in different areas, particularly in education, the number of speakers within the particular region and outside, number of schools using regional and English language as a language of instruction and etc. Qualitative data include legislative background, social attitudes, quality of teaching and learning materials and others. The complexity of the language situation and language policy in India makes it a very useful object of research. The subject of this study is the place of English in the territory of India as the language of politics, education and mass media. The relevance of the problem is caused by the need to search for patterns and new approaches to the processes of preservation of linguistic diversity in the global world. The language policy of a multinational state aims to ensure the balance of the language picture in accordance with national interests of a state. Historically, the role of education in these processes was fundamental. The results of the study represent the level of prevalence of English in the territory of India in various fields, including education. According to the results, some languages do not have official or national language status, but in practice, the inhabitants of India use them actively. In India, there is a mixture of two types of language situation: on the one hand, the languages of interacting ethnoses with differentiated spheres of communication are used, at the same time, in the situation of interaction of a lot of local Indian languages and dialects, English had been playing the role of the language of interethnic communication. The results of the study provide a clear language picture of India and allow the authors to predict the trends in language development of this multinational state.

Keywords:

India, English, Language of Education, Language policy, Official language, Multinational state.