Problematizing English in India

Problematizing English in India empirically examines the status, role and functions of English in India in a historical and socio-psychological perspective. According to the authors, English is in a paradoxical situation in India, enmeshed as it is in a variety of different situations. Whereas the role of English is minimal in the domain of the hearth and home, it is of paramount importance in higher education. Indeed, English is the vehicle of upward social mobility. Against this background, the authors provide a critical examination of the place of English in India from the time it was introduced into the country. They also deconstruct the imperial ethos that gave English the position of power it finds itself in today. The book is based on a substantially large sample of 1,128 informants and 73 in-depth interviews with professionals, educationists and politicians. Based on this sample, Professor Agnihotri and Dr Khanna analyze a variety of aspects, including the attitudes towards and stereotypes of English and English-speaking Indians; patterns of motivational orientation; parental encouragement; and levels of classroom anxiety in different parts of the country. The authors conclude that the space called English has to be reworked in the Indian context. They suggest that the material and methods used to teach English need to be radically modified in tune with India’s multilingual and multicultural ethos. Overall, the book provides a fascinating collage of strikingly different opinions about the place of English and its future role in India. It will be of interest to linguists, sociolinguists and educationists, as also to those studying applied linguists and methods of English Language Teaching.…