English in India – history and present situation
I have tried to find useful web pages about the history of the English language in India (which is, of course, related to the history of the British Empire and its “crown”). I have also found information about the situation today – who speaks English, why is it so popular, what are the benefits and what are the drawbacks, plus a description from a more analyical, descriptive perspective. The first one is simply called Language in India, and I recommend looking at the introdution there.
Another one is called English in India, and this page is quite easy to understand. I also like this page from usingenglish.com called “English as a National Foreign Language”- it is informational, and it even has some multiple choice questions about the topic for you.
If you are looking for a more practical approach, check out this article from Washington Post, “In India, Dreams unfold in English”. It tells the story of a business man from India who attends a language course in order to meet new aquirements and opportunities in commerce. The article is, however, a year old, but I should think that this does not matter too much.
To see a map of the largest languages in India, with Hindu being the most common language (and not English!), click here.
