It was last friday when I took out a few moments of my busy schedule and was reading a blog written by a colleague of mine. I dont know him and havent heard his name before mainly becoz he is in another city. What intrigued me most was his bravery in confessing that he is poor in English when it comes to speaking.
He fully confessed that even though after being studied in an English Medium school he lacked the required fluency that he is expected to have and for this sole reason he even got the lowest performance rating in the year end. He belongs to the southern part of India where mostly all the people know english more or less, yet he proudly confessed that his vernacular is much more strong compared to this foreign language.
This very blog reminded me of many such situations which we face when we are somehow unable to communicate properly in English or rather some of our dear friends or colleagues face this problem. I was reminded of a girl in my college days who used to suffer from inferiority complex just because she was weak in speaking english. But on the contrary I have found many of them who take this as a challenge and improve themselves a lot and that too much better than those who claim to be too eloquent in english.
I find this whole issue to be rather funny. India ranks the 2nd country where English is spoken the most. People love to communicate or rather add one or two lines in english and pretend that they dont know their mother tongue too well, predominant mostly in celebs or typical "high class society" people. For those who have studied abroad or have lived a few years of their life abroad I have found this tendency of showing off their english fluency. Well nothing is wrong with that until and unless u disrespect your very own mother tongue pretending that you are too poor at it.
The jobs nowadays specially those who are in IT, require fluency in english because they have to deal with foreign clients and people from different parts of the world. So over the years I have experienced that maximum of those who are weak in english either become too self conscious or suffer from inferiority complex and hating others or are bold enough to make their weakness as their biggest strength. And very few of them try to continue the way they speak being least bothered as to how their english might sound to the others. No matter how poor they might sound they pretend themselves to be the best speaker. :)
Well we have all appreciated that colleague of mine for his brave confession for this funny but serious and well known issue and in my opinion if we are brave enough to admit our shortcomings and improve them then I guess it will be a different world all total. Isnt it ?
He fully confessed that even though after being studied in an English Medium school he lacked the required fluency that he is expected to have and for this sole reason he even got the lowest performance rating in the year end. He belongs to the southern part of India where mostly all the people know english more or less, yet he proudly confessed that his vernacular is much more strong compared to this foreign language.
This very blog reminded me of many such situations which we face when we are somehow unable to communicate properly in English or rather some of our dear friends or colleagues face this problem. I was reminded of a girl in my college days who used to suffer from inferiority complex just because she was weak in speaking english. But on the contrary I have found many of them who take this as a challenge and improve themselves a lot and that too much better than those who claim to be too eloquent in english.
I find this whole issue to be rather funny. India ranks the 2nd country where English is spoken the most. People love to communicate or rather add one or two lines in english and pretend that they dont know their mother tongue too well, predominant mostly in celebs or typical "high class society" people. For those who have studied abroad or have lived a few years of their life abroad I have found this tendency of showing off their english fluency. Well nothing is wrong with that until and unless u disrespect your very own mother tongue pretending that you are too poor at it.
The jobs nowadays specially those who are in IT, require fluency in english because they have to deal with foreign clients and people from different parts of the world. So over the years I have experienced that maximum of those who are weak in english either become too self conscious or suffer from inferiority complex and hating others or are bold enough to make their weakness as their biggest strength. And very few of them try to continue the way they speak being least bothered as to how their english might sound to the others. No matter how poor they might sound they pretend themselves to be the best speaker. :)
Well we have all appreciated that colleague of mine for his brave confession for this funny but serious and well known issue and in my opinion if we are brave enough to admit our shortcomings and improve them then I guess it will be a different world all total. Isnt it ?
Language is a means of communication. English has become the global language whether we like it or not. But I think there's no need for any complex. One's personality is what matters much more than one's linguistic skills though the latter help in shaping the former.
ReplyDeleteGood observation and nicely pointed out. A lot of people still manage somehow with their broken English, provided they speak the right thing at the right place. English is somewhat our 1st language in city lives.. the difference which is apparent while we travel to rural areas.
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