Complexity of Language in Indian English Newspapers

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International Journal of Pure and Applied Mathematics Volume 119 No. 15 2018, 1867-1878 ISSN: 1314-3395 (on-line version) url: http://www.acadpubl.eu/hub/ Special Issue http://www.acadpubl.eu/hub/

COMPLEXITY OF LANGUAGE IN INDIAN ENGLISH NEWSPAPERS

*Ananthan S.S, Student, Master of Journalism and Mass Communication, Dept of Visual Media & Communication, Amrita School of Arts & Sciences, Kochi, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, India, Ph: 9567733747, email: [email protected]

*Sreekarthika M.J, Student, Master of Journalism and Mass Communication, Dept of Visual Media & Communication, Amrita School of Arts & Sciences, Kochi, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, India, Ph: 8137003372, email: [email protected]

*SreenaKarur, Assistant Professor,Dept of Visual Media & Communication, Amrita School of Arts & Sciences, Kochi, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, India, Ph: 9895210810, email: [email protected] ABSTRACT Though there is a decline in the Newspaper industry all around the world, India is not that much affected. The circulation of regional language newspapers is the main reason behind this. But when the future of English language newspapers is considered, it is not so bright. Most of the newspaper readers are depending on regional language newspapers and other online portals for news gathering. The complexity of language employed in Indian English Newspapers makes the non-nativereaders hard to interpret news and subsequently. they will choose other options to get news. This research paper finds whether complexity of language affectthe circulation of Indian English Newspapers adopting the quantitative study with survey method. The sample size chosen for the study is 239 out of 500 where regional language newspapers were excluded. The study mainly targeted the Indian English Newspaper readers from Trivandrum, Kollam, Alappuzha and Kochi. The study incorporated Uses and gratification Theory to examine whether the respondents are satisfied with the way English language is employed to write news articles. When the data obtained were analyzed, it was found that they faced many difficulties while reading Indian English Newspapers and they are not satisfied with the way English language is under in their subscription. Keywords: English newspapers, circulation, complex language, attitude of readers, non- native readers INTRODUCTION There is a gloomy future for Newspapers with the growth of the Internet (Rupert Murdoch, The Guardian). The newspaper industry was motivating in initial years before the introduction of Television and Internet. As Television arrived in the 1950s, it paved the way for the beginning in the decline of printed newspapers. The dominance of Internet in the past years was another threat to the future of newspapers, which is still evolving. Television and Internet are excellent in bringing news to the audience with its visual and audio aesthetics, this makes them best than a normal conventional newspaper. Print medium was always affected by new technologies much before the emergence of Internet technology, like Television and Radio which affected the readership habits. Many researchers have investigated the effects of other media on Print like, Lazarsfeld who

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studied radio (Radio and Printed Page) and Belrun who studied Television (The Effects of Television on the Reading and Buying of Newspapers and Magazines). When history is traced, it shows the future of newspapers is always affected by its contemporaries. Examining the current media scenario, newspapers are in midst of stiff competition against the Internet. In a survey conducted by Dr. Pradeep Tiwari, senior photo Journalist, The Tribune Publications in 2016 asserts that there is a considerable amount of decrease in print readers, especially in non-vernacular languages. All media publications around the globe are shifting to online publications because of a decline in advertising revenues (Franklin B, 2008, The future of newspapers, journalism studies). In his piece, “The Last Bastion of a profitable press” SashiTharoor affirms this and says “Newspaper circulation in India has grown from 39.1 million copies in 2006 to 2016, newspaper circulation grew 12% in India while it fell in almost every other major media market” (12% in U.K, 17% IN U.S and 3% in Germany and France). Though the readership of printed newspapers is in a decline on a worldwide basis, the latest data released by Audit Bureau of Circulations on May 8, 2017, confirms that there is an unusual growth of print media in India. ABC said in a statement and confirmed that print medium in India is “thriving, growing and expanding” in spite of “stiff competition” from Television, Radio and other digital industries and India has bucked the global trend of decline readership of print media. Though the circulation for print publications in India is not that much affected and is not on a decline like in the most developed markets, the condition of English newspapers seems pathetic. According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations; there is no stop for Regional language newspaper circulation but English publication saw a below average growth over the decade, at a mere 2.87% while Hindi (8.76%), Telugu (8.28%), Kannada (6.20%), Tamil (5.5%) and Malayalam (4. 11 %) saw an increase in growth. There is no doubt that English newspapers are threatened by the rise of digital more than dailies in any other language. About 80% of print readers in India consume content in Hindi & Regional languages (Industry Report Afaqs Reporter). Ten years ago, English was the only place to be in the Indian newspaper business. There were large newspapers in other languages but they lacked in pages, confidence, and profit. Over the past decade, the combined circulation of English dailies has given up by over 50% but readership has grown only in figures. (Afaqs reporter, special edition). It is the privileged English speakers who have been the first to go online. Equally, it is English that unlocks the vast treasure of content on the internet – though, admittedly, video knows no language. The 125 million Indians online are also the ones most likely to move to mobile devices and gather information there (Afaqs reporter, special edition). There is one major warning sign about English‟s apparent inability to grow further. Over the past decade, the combined circulation of English dailies has gone up by over 50 percent, but readership has grown only in single figures. In other words, people are sharing their dailies less than before – and new converts are harder to find. This suggests that Indians who do pick up the reading habit, stick to the local language in which they are most comfortable, instead of moving on to English. In sum, this study was particularly done to examine the plight of English language newspapers. Though many reasons like the growth of Internet, social media and online

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portals have something to do with decline of English newspaper subscription this research will provide a better framework to check whether language is hidden reason for the same. LITERATURE REVIEW Related Theories Elihu Katz, Jay G. Blumber and Michael Gurevitch, who are the founders of the Uses and Gratification Theory(UGT), have presented a systematic and comprehensive articulation of audience member role in the communication process. Apart from that, there are few famous researchers who have utilized this theory formerly. Wilbur Schramm (1954) has developed a means of determining which offerings of Mass Communication will be selected by a given individual. Schramm‟s fraction of selection has shown how media choices are made and he came out with the formulae, which is the expectation of the reward from the audience against how much effort they require to secure the reward. Past Research Findings The emergence of the internet has affected the environment of traditional media dramatically. The main characters such as immediacy, accuracy, simplicity, and interactivity of online portals have gained success in catching the attention of new and old readers. Leaving immediacy apart from the traits of the traditional print medium; accuracy, simplicity, and interactivity can be brought to conventional print medium for the growth and promising future of newspapers. Print media is losing their consumers because they want news on demand. Readers are choosing online and multimedia products rather than printed materials because they want news on demand which is simplified and customized that do not kill their time. The print media separation happens as a result of globalization is another insight in the fate of newspaper industry (published in the Journal of Business Perspective 2007). The study shows that newspaper organization has understood the current trends of the audience who live in the globalized world and are providing what they are in need through the internet. There is a rise in growth of online portals/websites that provide news well and simplified saving the time of readers. An indication of a downturn in print newspaper is surfaced in these recent years. Advancement in technology has influenced reading habit of newspapers and caused it to transcend from print newspapers to online news. A qualitative research has been conducted among the young generation by Liew Chee Kit, school of communication and language studies, Malaysia. Liew Chee comes to a conclusion that the readership towards printed newspapers is declining in Malaysia and they are preferring online news portals over the other. (Print Newspaper versus Online News Media: A quantitative study on Young Generation Preference). “The concept of readability” which has been written by Edgar Dale and Jeanne S Chall published in 1949 explains the concept of readability. They asserted that readability refers to the sum total of all the elements including their interaction that has an effect on the success of a piece of a printed material. Considering a newspaper as an example, the readability is depending on many factors which are internal and external; the content of the

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subject matter, clarity, theme, color of printing and illustrations, length of subject matter and total get up of the newspaper. Sometimes the personal taste of the reader determines whether the newspaper is readable or not. They confirm that interest in a particular news is not a meter for measuring the readability. The style of writing constitutes the ease of reading and understanding. Dr. Sumeer Gul and Tariq Ahamad Shah in recent 2010 have come up with the reason for the uncontrollable growth in online portals. 5780 online newspapers have marked their place on the internet from 178 nations. The USA ranks first while India comes down to fourth. The research conducted by Sumeer Gul and ThariqAhamed Shah on Growth and Development of Online Newspapers with Special Reference to India concludes language barrier is the biggest impediment to the growth of print communication. (Growth and development of online newspapers with special reference to India). When contents provided on online news portals of corresponding newspapers were analyzed strong and crisp and information was provided following the codes of reporting (5Ws &1H). The information collected are arranged and placed orderly with continuity using the simplest form of language. Headlines were the main attractions and they have the capability to catch the attention of readers who are consuming the same news over printed medium (Content analysis of online English newspapers in India). The main objective of the research paper published most recently (Dec 2016) “Small Circulation, Big Impact: English Language Newspaper Readability in Bangladesh” by Jude William, HasiqueOsmani and Asiuzzaman was to know the content and proportion of news and information appearing in English language newspapers published in Bangladesh. The researchers analyzed five English language newspapers as per the official circulation figure. Data gathered were broadly classified into story analysis, newspaper structure, types of content and content promotion so that the newspaper industry could make better arrangements for future growth of the medium. The future of traditional media in the digitalized world is clearly examined by Meera U Menon and Sreenakaur, Amrita University Kochi Kerala. The reasons for migration of print readers to online readers were clearly depicted in this paper. This research paper also points whether Print media have chances in coming generations. The lexical style of Indian English newspapers was starkly examined by Vinod s Dubey in 1991 confirms there will be many constraints as it is a non-native language of India. The paper examines the nativization of English language in India. OBECTIVES The main objective of the research is to assess the impact of lexical style (language) followed by the major Indian English newspapers over its readership and circulation.  To determine the attitude of readers towards the flowery use of language in newspapers.  To explore whether the language used in Indian English newspapers leads to misinterpretation of news.

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 To determine whether this ornamentation in language affects the circulation of such newspapers.  To examine the gratification of Indian English newspaper readers to their subscription. HYPOTHESIS The hypotheses put forward in this study are: Hypothesis 1: There is complexity in the language used in Indian English newspapers. Hypothesis 2: The lexical pattern employed in Indian English newspapers have significant role in its declining circulation. Hypothesis 3: Simplification of language in English newspapers will increase the readership and Circulation. METHODOLOGY Theoretical framework This research is made possible on the behalf of Users and Gratification Theory. Users and Gratification Theory explains why people seek out a particular media and what they use for it. Being an audience-centered approach, this theory forms the base of the research which focuses on what readers do with newspapers, what newspapers do to people and whether they are satisfied with it. Users and Gratification Theory helps to explore how readers seek out particular newspaper to fulfill their needs and what is the reason behind this. Research Design A survey was conducted using the quantitative questionnaire to examine the present condition regarding the circulation of Indian English newspapers. Four newspapers namely New Indian Express, The Hindu, The Times of India and Deccan Chronicle have been taken into consideration as they are the most circulated in the state. Closed-ended questions were prepared which was the main tool for data collection. The questions were well organized in order to get the basic data preferences of Indian English newspapers and determine the gratification obtained among the readers. In order to get the basic data for analyzing the hypothesis, one major issue having regional and national importance were taken into account. Newspaper reports of this issue from considered newspapers were distributed among the respondents and asked to choose the most acceptable report in terms of simplicity in language. The survey questionnaire was posted on social media websites and mailed to various respondents. The questionnaire was cross-checked by the faculties of Visual Media Department, Amrita School of Arts and Sciences, Kochi. The collected data was analyzed using statistical packaging for the social sciences (SPSS) format for the derivation of conclusion.

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FINDINGS Total of 500 respondents was taken into consideration. The questionnaire was distributed among the people of different places in the districts of Thiruvanthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha and Kochi. Out of 500 respondents, there were only 239 English newspaper readers. Remaining respondents were excluded from the research as they were regional language newspaper readers. The data is collected using quantitative analysis and it is presented in the graphical form. Subscription rates of each newspaper among respondents

Subscription rates of newspapers

16% 24%

33%

27%

The Hindu The Times of India New Indian Express Deccan Chronicle

Graph 1 Graph 1 gives the idea about the subscription of English language newspapers by the respondents. Collected data is converted to its percentage and arranged in tabular format. According to the data collected from the respondents, The New Indian Express is subscribed by 33% of total respondents. 27% of respondents subscribe The Times of India. Hindu is subscribed by 24% of total respondents. Deccan Chronicle is the least subscribed newspaper which marked 16% of total respondents. From the data it can be clearly understood that the New Indian express is subscribed by most of the English newspaper readers.

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Difficulties faced by the respondents while reading news reports in the subscribed newspapers

Difficulties faced by the respondents while reading news reports in the subscribed newspapers (In percentage) 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0%

The Times of India New Indian Express The Hindu Deccan Chronicle

Graph 2 Graph 2 mentioned above gives the details regarding the difficulties faced by the readers while reading their subscribed newspaper. 21% of the respondents who read The Hindu say that they have difficulties in understanding the news reports. 17% of respondents who read New Indian Express have difficulty in understanding.7% of Deccan Chronicle subscribers have difficulty in understanding. 14% of TOI readers find difficulty in understanding.14% of respondents who subscribe Deccan Chronicle say they are finding lexical mistakes while reading. No other respondents who subscribe other newspapers have such an opinion.20% of Hindu subscribers have wrongly interpreted the news while they read. 18% of respondents who subscribe New Indian Express interpret news wrong while reading the news reports. 14% TOI subscribers face the same problem. Only 5% of total Deccan Chronicle subscribers interpret news wrong. Complexity in language is given more importance in this question as it is the core area of research29% of respondents who subscribe TOI says the language used in TOI is complex in nature. 32% of total Hindu subscribers confirm that the language employed in their daily newspaper is complex too. 17% of New Indian Express subscribers say they face the same problem. 15% of total Deccan subscribers confirmthe complexity of language in their subscribed newspapers too. Deccan Chronicle is the only newspaper that has credibility issues. When coming to confusion, Deccan Chronicle comes first on the list with 15% of total respondents saying they have faced confusions while reading. 11% of Hindu & TOI respondents confirm the same difficulty. 32% of TOI respondents, 38% of New Indian Express respondents, 16% Hindu respondents and 36% Deccan Chronicle respondents confirm they do not face any difficulty while reading their subscription.

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Is the language used in your subscribed newspaper complex?

Complexity in language of the subscribed newspapers 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% The Times of India New Indian Express The Hindu Deccan Chronicle

Yes % No%

Graph 3 The Figure 3 submitted above clearly interprets the attitude of readers towards the language employed in their subscription. 80% of respondents who subscribe The Hindu say the language used in their daily is complex in nature. 57% of respondents who subscribe TOI have the same opinion. 44% of total Deccan Chronicle subscribers say their daily follow complex language too. 38% of total respondents who subscribe New Indian express also had the same attitude towards their daily. Are readers satisfied with the way English language is used in their subscription

Readers attitude towards complexity in words and sentence construction 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 The Times of India New Indian Express The Hindu Deccan Chronicle

Yes% No%

Graph 4

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Graph 4 clearly depicts the attitude of readers towards the use of complex language in their corresponding newspapers. 75% of total respondents who read TOI have opinion that they are not satisfied with the way their newspaper is using English language.67 % of respondents who subscribe Hindu have the same opinion and 59 % of total Deccan chronicle readers say they are not satisfied with the way the English language is used in their newspaper, which means their language is complex too. When New Indian Express is considered only 35% of total respondents felt the language employed is complex. Factors influencing the readers in their subscription

Factors influencing the readers in theirsubscription Factors No of respondents percentage Price 45 19 Layout 11 5 Advertisements 35 15 Structure and news arrangement 49 20 Fame and Publicity 34 14 Mode of understanding 65 27 Total 239 100 Table 1 Table 1 shows the percentage of factors that motivate the reader to subscribe a particular English language newspaper. According to the data collected 17% of total respondents say the price is the subscribing factor. 13% of respondents say the layout of newspapers is the motivating factor for the subscription. 11% respondents say advertisements in newspapers attract them to subscribe newspapers. 24% respondents subscribe newspapers on the basis of structure and arrangement of news articles in the newspaper. 7% respondents subscribe newspaper on behalf of the fame and publicity of their subscription. Majority of the respondents that is, 28 % say they will subscribe newspaper on the basis of mode of understanding. From the table presented above, it can be clearly understood that readers will subscribe those newspapers which are easy to understand. DISCUSSIONS When a survey was conducted among the 500 respondents, more than half of the respondents subscribed regional language newspapers. There were 239 respondents who subscribed Indian English newspapers only. This points to the declining population of Indian English Newspapers among the Kerala readers. From the survey conducted among the Indian English newspaper readers, The New Indian Express is found to be the most subscribed newspaper.79 respondents from total sample subscribed The New Indian Express. All the data collected from all respondents

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using survey questionnaire were co-related with data collected from New Indian Express respondents to find out why The New Indian Express had a greater number of subscription when compared to other Newspaper brands. When all the respondents were asked whether they face any difficulty while reading, all the respondents from every newspaper brand said they had experienced every kind of lexical difficulties. But the degree of difficulty was less for the New Indian Express respondents when compared to other three newspapers. When the respondents are asked to examine the extent of complexity in the language employed in their subscription, New Indian Express is the only newspaper that had less complexity in language.The Hindu became the newspaper that has the highest complexity with 80% of total subscribers saying their subscription has complexity in language. When readers are asked about the degree of satisfaction they get when they read their subscription with regard to the way the English language is used, 65% of the total New Indian Express respondents said they are satisfied, which was the highest in the survey. The uses and gratification theory was applied here. As the theory mention, people use media for their satisfaction and if they are not getting the desired impact they will search for another. Though Deccan chronicle respondents have a similar percentage of user gratification with their subscription, fame publicity and credibility issue make negative shades to Deccan Chronicle. When the respondents are asked about the criteria they would subscribe a newspaper, the mode of understanding became the most selected criteria that a reader used to give first priority. Which means readers will subscribe those newspapers which do not have much complexity in news articles.When the attitude of readers who read New Indian Express were examined, they all supported the use of simple language avoiding the complex composition of rhetoric words from news articles. When the news story from the considered newspapers are distributed among the respondents to select simplest and understandable news story majority of the total respondents selected news story reported by New Indian Express. CONCLUSION From the results arrived from the survey, New Indian Express has greater circulation among the Newspaper readers in southern parts of Kerala. The ability to convey news reports in simplest form without employing much complexity, the ability to leave no room for difficulties while reading and the satisfaction that they get with regard to the way they dealEnglish language influenced the newspaper readers to choose New Indian Express over other three newspapers. Most of the respondents claimed that they willsubscribe newspaper on the basis of ease of understanding, this is because non-native speakers of English will have a tendency to read newspapers in their regional language in which they are most comfortable with. In such a condition, the Indian English newspapers must follow such a lexical style which has an easy mode of understanding. So, in short apart from other reasons for the decline of Indian English newspapers, the complexity employed in the language also results in the same.

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