Language in Social and

Ethnic Interactions
Aditya Agarwal - 13043
Dasari Shanti Sree - 13225
Keerti Anand - 13344
Parag Bansal - 13464
Prashant Kumar - 13496

Introduction
Through this presentation, we attempt to look at the interaction of language
and culture. We will explore how we use language in society. We will also talk
about the impact of languages on culture and vice-versa.
Various factors like castes, social status, etc. which affect the linguistic features
of ones speech and writing
Face considerations in various South Asian languages

Topics Covered:
-

Where to use which language?

How we socialise? Where we learn languages?
Face considerations. What is polite way of speaking in any situation?
General conventions of verbal interaction
Language and caste system
Language and culture co-develop.
Language according to authoritative position and social status
Case study of few Languages.
Conclusion

How we socialise? Where we learn languages?

Socialization in every step involves language interaction.
The linguistic features of a language spoken by a person mainly depend on
these:
-

Family
Society
Schools and Educational Institutions
Peer Group
Technology

How we socialise? Where we learn languages?

Family

The most important institution for socialization in South Asia is still the
family
Family is the institution where we learn to speak our first word and they
remain the ones whom we interact the most throughout our life
In South Asia, family usually includes an extended paternal and maternal
family as well comprising of grandparents, uncles, aunties, nephews &
nieces. Our language is a result of all the interactions we have with them
Even in urban context a person in South Asia would interact more with his
extended family compared to his contemporary in some Western country

How we socialise? Where we learn languages?

Society

Community & caste system

The family, in turn, shares the belief systems and attitudes of the larger community or caste
(jati) group to which it belongs

Every caste, subcaste and families have well-defined codes of conduct, and in general follow
them in matters of food, dress, rituals, professions and language. In short, they follow these
codes of conduct in all aspects of life

The language spoken by a commoner would be quite different from the one spoken the
nobel or the clergy or from the priest community of the area
The tone of the language varies with castes and social status
For eg:

Sanskrit was divided into Bhasa (the language of the elite) and Apabhramsa (the
language of the commoner)

a person belonging to a noble family is expected to have a commanding tone in their

language while the commoners are expected to be soft spoken, while the workers class
is supposed to have a rude tone with frequent use of slangs & cuss words

How we socialise? Where we learn languages?

Society

Some communities have Samajs/Samitis like Vaishya Samaj, Jain Samaj, Agrasen
Samiti, Brahmo Samaj

These groups have regular meetings aimed towards the development of the
community and promote their beliefs and practices

Regular literary publications made by these groups highly influence the language,
cultural practices & belief systems of the community
Eg: http://www.agarwalcommunity.com/ http://www.thebrahmosamaj.net/
Undoubtedly, this is changing because of urbanization, education, and political
awareness

How we socialise? Where we learn languages?

Schools and Educational Institutions

After family and community come schools & educational institutions,

professional groups, and networking of various other kinds
They create awareness among children from different families belonging
to different caste groups of common ways of interaction in any social
context
These institutions provide common grounds for interaction among people
from various ethnic backgrounds
However, their influence is limited and educational institutions are not as
effective in socializing children in India as they are, in a Nordic country.

How we socialise? Where we learn languages?

Peer Groups
-

The friendships formed at educational institutions go a long way towards

forming extended networks
The interactions between friends at schools and work institutions
influence ones language heavily
Linguistic features are highly exchanged among the peers
-

Eg: A South Indian student in IIT Kanpur learns Hindi but the tone of the language is
different from the native speakers

How we socialise? Where we learn languages?

Technology & Internet

Technology & globalisation has promoted universalization of language

and in many cases extinction of native languages
SMS & Chatting - With the advent of SMS and online chatting, our
vocabulary has expanded to include the short forms of various words

Eg: ASAP, ASL, LOL, ROFL, WTF, Brb, tl;dr,Zzz..

Average Sentence length has decreased and quite often auxiliary verbs & prepositions are
dropped

The language spoken by the current generation is very different from the
one spoken by the elders. Even the native South Asian languages have
transformed a lot with popularisation of computers & social media

How we socialise? Where we learn languages?

Technology & Internet
Online Games

Similarly, gamers use a lot of these slang words like noob (newbie), gg
(good game), RPG (Role Playing Game)

Pirate English

Facebook has promoted the use of this very form of English

Eg: What are you doing today? will be translated to What be ye doin' today?

Face Considerations I
-

Dictate what is considered polite or impolite in any interactions and how

people treat each other
In South Asia, politeness is determined using various factors such as
relative power, status, intimacy of participants. It is also influenced by
situation and place where we are speaking
In private domains, intimacy may take precedence over relative status
while in public domains, demonstration of intimacy is not appropriate
according to community norms

Face Consideration II
-

Use of phrases such as jaanu, janeman are common during interaction

between husband and wife in private domain, but is considered
inappropriate in public domains.
While, honorific pronouns are used in public interactions. Phrases such as
arrey sunte ho jee, aji sunte ho, [childs name] ke papa/mummi are
common in public domains.
Importance of status and power in exaggerated in public domains to
project ones own sophistication and well culturedness.
An example to use expressions to use what is your command to mean
What can I do for you?

Development of Language and Culture

-

Language and Culture arent independent things, but they co-evolve.

Communities gradually modify words and sentences of a language and
overtime it becomes a dialect. For example, variant of Hindi, we speak in
our respective local areas are different from mainstream Hindi.
Not only, language modifies according to culture, but Language also
influences our belief and value system. People who speak common
language tend to have similar types of beliefs.
When we adopt a new word in a language, we tend to attach a meaning to
it, such meaning might not be present in our culture previously. For
example, the use of word dude.

Westernization
The sociologist George Ritzer defined Westernization as the Economic,
Political and Cultural influence of the West on the rest of the world.
The influence of Westernization, in particular, Americanisation is greatly
observed in the social and ethnic circles. Making use of words such as
Cmon, Bye Bye and Whats up has penetrated deep into the public
tongue for many languages, especially in urban areas.
The advent of consumerism, such as McDonald's, has brought with itself many
phrases, such as Just Do it!, and I am lovin it.

Babu English
Most discussed and amusing variety of Indian/South Asian English is
termed babu (baboo) English.
Not restricted to the style of administrative English; the style is indicative of
profuse stylistic ornamentation and politeness. This style of communication
written or spoken has been the focus of attention, discussion, and linguistic
entertainment for centuries
An employer who had ordered his clerk to buy a cane tiffin basket, an incident
of a dog bite, a petition of a beef hawker, a judgment by a native magistrate, a
leave application on account of a wifes death, the four little girls in manhood,
and a complaint of savage dogs being kept by Europeans.

Example of Babu English

Sir,
Being in much need and suffering many privations, I have after long time come to
the determination to trouble your bounteous goodness. To my sorrow I have not
the good friendships with many people hence my slow rate of progress and
destitute state. Here on earth who have I but thee, and there is Our Father in
heaven, needless to say that unless your milk of human kindness is showered on
my sad state no other hope is left in this world.
(The Adventure of English, by Melvyn Bragg. Arcade, 2006)

Case Study : Maithili

The language used to speak to subordinates such as servants, sweepers,
maids is markedly different from what is spoken with family members.
Also, the language used to speak in extremely formal settings, such as with
in-laws, is also different than the vernacular form.
One could be easily offended if he/she is talked in the variation of the first
kind.
Also, friends make use of many cuss words, example Boori (fool) considered
ridiculously impolite in formal circles.

Case Study: Hindi

In South Asian Languages, the language also changes denoting respect unlike
English.
Hindi has a distinct second person pronoun marked aapwhich is used for
elders, new acquaintances, and anyone considered worthy of respect.
There is a honorific particle, ji, which is used with names to denote respect,
for example Gandhiji.
The verbs also change accordingly as likhiye is used to express respect
whereas likho aur likh is used in other cases.

A practical example :
A survey conducted by us in one of the wings of Hall-9, yielded the following
results on the most preferred form of language in the following situations :
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)

Talking to parents on phone : Native Language

Talking to parents in front of friends : Hindi
Talking to waiter in a high-class restaurant(Taj) : English
Talking to the waiter in Sagar Dhaba: Hindi
Ordering food from Dominos: English + Hindi (Mixed)

Clearly, English is perceived as a more prestigious language for

communication. And lesser known native tongues, have a sense of
embarrassment associated with them

Style of debate: South Asian vs. Anglo-American

The tradition of debate in South Asia, though intense, projects the value of
dialogue, discussion, unlike the dispute, argument variation of the Western
world.
In an argumentative style of debate, the goal is to convince the audience that
the view put forward is the only desirable one, compared to all competing
opinions.
In a deliberative style of debate, points in favour as well as those opposed to a
particular position are put forward so that the audience is informed on all
facets of an issue.

Academic & Scientific Writing

Traditional South Asian discourse used poetry (verse form) for all forms of
discourse, owing to knowledge being transmitted orally during olden days.
Verse form was preferred to prose as it was easier to commit to memory.
Development of the genre of prose is a relatively recent phenomenon that
began with the advent of the Western influence of the English language.
However, recent research has shown that despite such influences, South Asian
literature still continues to reflect core cultural values.

General conventions of verbal interaction

Few Conventions:The word muh (face) refers both to the physical part of the body and the
social face of the person, while the word naam (name) refers to the persons
name, status, fame or reputation.
Example: To lose ones face: muh kala hona (for ones face to be blackened)
To lose ones name: naam doobna (for the name to drown)

SOCIAL INTERACTION
It is governed by the notions of maryada (decorum, propriety of conduct) and
lihaz (considerateness, deference).
The South Asian context of self is not that of an individual self, hence any
undesirable action directed toward (or perpetrated by) an individual may
result in blackening the face of an entire community or drowning the name of
an entire group, reinforced by the notion of excommunication.
An essential component of these notions is humility which is reflected in
overstating the addressees status and downgrading ones own.

APOLOGY
Traditional ways of verbal interaction have undergone change as a result of
westernization as in the case of apology. In Hindi, there are no exact
equivalents for sorry.
One apologizes by asking for forgiveness using terms like kshama or maafi.
However, in intimate circles one does not apologize for minor lapses except
for saying galti ho gaya implying that it would have been unintentional.
A similar scenario is seen in the case of regret where phrases such as afsoos
hona and dukh hona are used.

Conventions: Caste System

-

One of the relevant parameters for conventionalization in addition to age

gender is caste.
Terms of address, greeting are all determined by caste of speaker and
addressee.
For example, paaye laagu maharaj i.e. I touch your feet, Sir are uttered
only by non-Brahmins when greeting a Brahmin.
Terms such as pandit ji, acharya mahodaya are reserved for brahmins;
thakur saheb, raja saheb for Kshatriyas and lala ji and seth ji for
vaishyas(traders).
Although these terms of address are undergoing changes in urban areas
but they are still prevalent in non-urban areas.

Non-Vocal Gestures in Human Communication

Even with the development of true vocal language among human beings,
there remains a considerable place for manual and facial gesture in
communication.
In man the expression of feeling and emotion is often carried by these
gestures quite as effectively as by vocal speech, if not more so.
Admitting a wide range of individual difference in these mannerisms, we may
mention a few which are fairly universal. Doubt, or hesitation, is expressed by
raising the brows. The eyes, however, are not widely opened as in attention or
fear. Raised brows and a wide direct gaze after speaking serve as a facial
interrogation point, and demand an answer.

Creoles and Pidgins

Creoles and pidgins are usually created to aid social interaction in many ways.
In places, where a multiplicity of languages is found social interaction
becomes limited due to language barrier.
A result people become bilingual or multilingual or in some other cases create
a new language which then becomes the mother tongue to the generations to
come.

Nagamese: A Case Study

A creole used in Nagaland.

Origin from the interaction of the hill tribesman with the Assamese in the
plains
Developed primarily as a market language to communicate for trade
Come to serve as the more common lingua franca of the state despite
English being the official language of the state.
Shares a large part of its lexicon with Assamese

Though the origin of Nagamese is unknown, it is evident from the accounts of

Lt. Bigges (Tour Diary 1841) that this language was in use before the British
soldiers set their feet in the Naga Hills.
The construction of roads, penetration of Marwari traders in far flung areas,
and various state and central agencies bringing Non-Nagas in Nagaland are
stated as the primary reason for the spread of Nagamese. It is absolutely clear
that colonization was not responsible for the birth of Nagamese.
Nagamese is increasingly used in informal conversation though formal
discourse is still done in English or any other indigenous language.

Many Nagas are Christian (67% of population), so in mixed congregations,

Nagamese is the language of worship. It is also used commonly in homes of
mixed backgrounds, on the floor of the Legislature, by many state agencies
and during rural programs.
Thus Nagamese serves as a good example of a language made to simplify
social and economic interactions particularly among the tribes in Nagaland.

Conclusion
In conclusion, we would like to say that a normal person learns the languages
he uses social interactions from many different ways including family, society
and various other cultural contacts.
The language one uses in a formal setting is usually much different from an
informal setting.
Westernization in many ways has affected the way we speak and has changed
our ideas about literature as well with time.

References
1)
2)
3)
4)

Braj B. Kachru, Yamuna Kachru, and S.N.Sridhar. Language in South Asia.

Cambridge University Press, 2008
Babu English, http://grammar.about.com/od/ab/g/BabuEnglishterm.htm
Ritzer, George, and Paul Dean. Globalization: A basic text. John Wiley &
Sons, 2015
https://rapidiq.wordpress.com/2008/06/30/survival-phrases-in-nagamesethe-lingua-franca-of-nagaland/