The creative exploration of linguistic resources reflect the values of different socio-cultural traits. The Indian reality is manifested at many levels of language organization from borrowing, lone creation to idiom, metaphor, symbolism and so on..

1. Socio-cultural Dimensions English as
a Second Language by Rekha Aslam
MA Sem.3, ELT1 Unit 1
Department of English, MKBU

2. • There is a close nexus between the form of English
language and the social structure and cultural
sensitivity of Indian culture. The creative exploration of
linguistic resources reflects the values of different
socio-cultural traits. The Indian reality is manifested at
many levels of language organization from borrowing,
lone creating to idioms, metaphor, symbolism etc.
brought to the English language. The paper describes
how English is made to fulfill the function of a second
language. The transition is shown with examples from
Fire on the Mountain by Anita Desai, Nectar in a Sieve
by Kamala Markandaya and R.K. Narayan’s The Dark
Room.

3. • English is taught in India as a second language.
Is this relevant to the Indian reality? How far
does it successfully express the Indian ethos?
That is to say how is English used creatively?
The creative writings of Indian writers who
have a near native control of the linguistic
codes illustrate how English is used creatively
and thereby the socio-cultural code infused in
it. Manipulation with English is possible since
it is a second language.

4. • Christopherson differentiates foreign and
second language on the following parameters:
a) A foreign language is a language which is not
one’s own, even though one may have a very
good knowledge of it. A second language, on the
other hand, is a language which is one’s own
though not the first in order to importance nor
usually the first to be learnt.

5. b) A foreign language is used for the purpose of
absorbing the culture of other nations; as a
second language is used as an alternative way of
expressing a culture of one’s own.
c) A foreign language tends to produce bilinguals
with a passive and receptive attitudes while a
second language produces bilinguals with a
passive and receptive attitude while a second
language produces bilinguals with active and
creative interest.

6. • This creativity can be approached from 2
points of view – how the language is
manipulated to express antithetically the
context and culture of India and how it is
exploited for discourse.
• Language is not an isolated entity. It is deeply
rooted in socio-cultural, religious etc..
concepts of Native speaker’s life.

7. • India being a multi lingual country, English serves as a
link language across the nation. It is also a language in
which a lot of Indian literature is being written – that is
to say, literature by Indians, about India but in English.
• Some basic vocabulary-clothes, food items, flora and
fauna, etc. Words from the native language of the
writer are sometimes absorbed directly into English
with as little phonological variation as English permits,
or they are literally or semantically translated or their
equivalents are found.

8. • A writer may make practice of using phonological
(graphic) adaptation, lone translation, lone
creation as per the requirement of emphasis, etc.
and availability.
• A writer may use a native word with the meaning
in the gloss, or within the text, or may simply
leave it to be understood in the context. i.e. ‘sari’,
the dress for the female, and ‘dhoti’, the dress of
the male are progressively used and accepted as
such.

9. • In certain cases, an equivalent word is available in
English, yet the native word is used. Markandaya
retains ‘chakkli’ for cobbler, ‘zamindar’ for
landlord, ‘chowkidar’ for watchman in order to
capture the socio-cultural aspect.
• Native words find their ways in English because of
the non-availability of an equivalent counter-part.
These words are deeply rooted in the Indian
culture, religion, philosophy, etc. i.e. ‘kum kum’
(red powder used as a beauty mark by women)

10. • ‘Namaskar’ (a greeting or salutation), ‘nani’
(mother’s mother).. Other words used in the
novels are: langur, bandaras (animal world),
churail ( supernatural); kheer, ‘dhal’(food
items)…..
• Another method of expressing the Indian reality
is to use a translation on the basis of semantics.
Instances around in Narayan. ‘After food she went
to her ‘bench’ in the hall and lay down on it,’
chewing a little areca-nut and a few betel leaves.
(T.D.R.:2)”

11. • Advertisements – News paper classifieds
• Acronyms such as All India Institute of Medical
Science (AIIMS), Delhi University of Teacher
Association (DUTA)
• Discourse pattern – the social meaning of
language that is emphasized by socio linguists.
Language used to talk to friends, to scold
children, conduct business.. i.e. “Accha, I’ll
come again.”

12. • Intimacy and turn-taking conversations
• Language of dominance
• Religious temper and language
• The caste hierarchy figures prominently in
discourse
• Semiotics in Indian Literature
• The symbols employed enrich second
language

13. • An attempt has been made to explore the
creative dimension of English, second language in
India. There are still a lot of dimensions that need
detailed work. This paper helps to understand
socio-cultural reality manifested at many levels of
language organization from borrowing, lone
creations to idiom, metaphor, imagery symbolism
and discourse imparts to English an Indian
English. This novels creativity – a role and
function English is made to fulfill.