Mother tongue and Teaching of English

 Mother tongue and Teaching of English 

Introduction: We are living in the world of urgency; English has become the need of hour in Indian scenario. Even though our country is a land of many languages the significance of this language can never be ignored .It has been enjoying the unique place since the period of foreigners’ advent to this great country.

 Debatable topic   The use of mother tongue in teaching of English as a second language is a debatable topic. There is a contradictory view on the place of mother tongue in the teaching of English. “The issue creates a lot of heat than the light .The supporters of Translation Method strongly advocate the usage of mother tongue in the teaching of English.

   On the other hand the followers of the Direct Method insist on the “inhibition of the mother tongue” in teaching this language. H. Champion holds the opinion that the mother tongue may be used in the learning stage, but never in the practice stage. Staunch believers of mother tongue say that the usage of the mother tongue is must. But it fails to bring good results in most of the times.

    Let us carefully consider how the mother tongue can be used in teaching English. It can assist the teaching of English directly and indirectly.

THREATS OF EXCESSIVE USAGE OF MOTHER TONGUE

In the process of teaching English as a foreign language excessive use of mother tongue is nothing but teaching of mother tongue, but not English. Here most of the time mother tongue is used, naturally they learn more of their local language and very little of English.

        Every language is unique all the words and ideas cannot be exactly translated in mother tongue; if it is done the beauty of the language will be spoiled. It is an injustice to the language.

For example-vahah kuchh hi dinonka mehman hai (Hindi) The above sentence cannot be translated into English; if it is done, it conveys entirely different meaning. In case of translation of poetry the whole poetic beauty is spoiled.

   To learn any language it has to be used continuously and regularly, an atmosphere to learn the language needs to be created .If frequently the local language is used, then the creation of this kind of atmosphere to learn the foreign language remains like a far away dream that can never be reached.

   Two languages mother tongue widely differ from each other. Their systems, spelling, sounds, structures, etc are quite different. If the learners continue to using mother tongue there will be every likelihood of committing mistakes in English. Most of our Indian languages are phonetic languages, but English is not a phonetic language. The spelling system of English is quite different. The students will be learning English spellings in the same way as they have been learning spelling in mother tongue, whereas in English single letter’s pronunciation varies from word to word.

  For example-cat, cement (the first letter of both words is same but is read differently in both words in cat ‘k’ and in cement‘s’)

CONCLUSION

   Every language is unique, it is opined that teaching of any language should be in the same, but at the same time it does not mean that the use of mother tongue is harmful in teaching learning of English. In fact excessive use of it is dangerous. The judicious use of mother tongue should be made an aid and serves as a helping hand to the students and teachers both. Once again it’s a matter of common sense i e. how much to use?

        Staunch believers of direct method are against the use of mother tongue, which is not completely correct. In the teaching of a foreign language the complete exclusion of mother tongue is neither practical nor advisable. In this connection Prof .V K Gokak says ‘English in India, its present and future.’ We cannot keep the mother tongue out of the child even if we try and keep it out of the class room. It is there waiting for him, at home in the market and on the play ground. If it can be used slightly for teaching English so much the better.”

    Language should be caught rather than taught. It should be taught as per the needs of class room.     

NO LANGUAGE HAMPERS THE OTHER

There is no language that hampers the mothers tongue, if the healthy situation to

      Learning of English will definitely be supplemented if the proper and meaningful situations are created with the help of mother tongue. If it is felt the foreign language (English) hampers the mother tongue it is merely an illusion. In such situations English also can be learnt easily like mother tongue.B M Shri,T N Shrikanthyya,A N Murthiraay,Dr Kuvempu are the well known names for their linguistic ability and depth of knowledge in English. But at the same time their contributions and creations of masterpieces in the language of Kannada can never be ignored, it is unfair if we say what these great personalities have done cannot be done by all. Success of this cannot be even predicted without proper preparation, guidance, and monitoring. Teachers of the language need to create the atmosphere that is conducive to learn both the languages

Mr Gajanana Wadeyar

TGT English

JNV DAVANAGERE

Cell-8088763290