SUSTAINING MOTHER TONGUES AND

Awadesh K. Mishra EFL University, Shillong Campus Shillong, Discussion points

1. Identification/Selection of mother tongues (MTs) as mediums of instruction at primary level of education.

2. Writing systems for teaching-learning in mother tongues/local languages.

3. Developing mother tongues/local languages for academic use (for maths and EVS) and producing teaching-learning materials in multiple mother tongues/languages.

4. Negative attitudes toward education through mother tongue (MT).

5. Availability of teachers and support to primary school teachers.

6. Cost-effectiveness. Mother Tongue

 Mother tongue is the main language used constantly from birth to interact and communicate with a child by their mother, caregivers, family, friends and community.

 Every „language‟ is a „mother tongue‟ but every „mother tongue‟ is not necessarily a „language‟.

 In a sense, it can be said that „mother tongue‟ is reality and „language‟ is an abstract socio-political construct.

16 September 2020 AKM-EFLU-SHILLONG 3 Mother Tongues in 2011 Census

 Raw returns of mother tongues: 19569.

 Rationalized mother tongues: 1369.

 “Unclassified”/ “Other” mother tongues: 1474.

 Mother tongues returned by 10,000 or more speakers grouped under appropriate languages: 121 languages (22 Scheduled and 99 Non- Scheduled).

16 September 2020 AKM-EFLU-SHILLONG 4  270 mother tongues spoken by 10,000 or more persons each: 123 mother tongues grouped under Scheduled Languages and 147 mother tongues grouped under Non-Scheduled languages.

 Mother tongues spoken by fewer than 10,000 persons each are classified under a particular language as “Others”.

16 September 2020 AKM-EFLU-SHILLONG 5 Social Identity and Linguistic Code

 The mother tongue declaration/assertion in Census is generally based on the consideration of the speaker's social identity and group loyalty, rather than the actual speech or the linguistic code for communication. Examples (Census 2011):

16 September 2020 AKM-EFLU-SHILLONG 6 16 September 2020 AKM-EFLU-SHILLONG 7 16 September 2020 AKM-EFLU-SHILLONG 8 16 September 2020 AKM-EFLU-SHILLONG 9 16 September 2020 AKM-EFLU-SHILLONG 10 16 September 2020 AKM-EFLU-SHILLONG 11 16 September 2020 AKM-EFLU-SHILLONG 12 16 September 2020 AKM-EFLU-SHILLONG 13 ALTERNATE NAMES OF MOTHER TONGUES

 Baiswari Awadhi  Banjara Gormati, Sugali, Lamani  Bodo Kachari  Bondo Praja Bonda, Bondo  Chhikachhiki /  Chin Bawm  Didei Gata  Gorum Parenga  Irularmozhi Irula/Iruliga  Khowa Bogun  Kurru Yerukula  Lakher Mara  Mahari Dhedi, Holia, Parvari

 Malani Kanashi16 September 2020 AKM-EFLU-SHILLONG 14  Meyor Zakhring  Mogh Arakanese  Multani Bahawalpuri, Jatki  Naga Kuki Thado/Kuki  Pardhan (Sik) Newari  Rajbangsi Kamtapuri, Rangpuri, Goalparia, Tajipuri  Rawati Raji, Jangali  Shekasip Khelma  Tadavi Dangi, , Dhanki  Tai Tai-Ahom  Takam Chakma  Talavia Dubli  Tenyidie Angami  Thado Kuki  Tikhak Tikhak Tangsa  Yongkuk Yongkuk Tangsa Etc. 16 September 2020 AKM-EFLU-SHILLONG 15 Mismatch between Mother Tongue Names and Linguistic Codes

 In Census, the MT names are those given by the people – who are mostly unaware and not a linguist to know the technical/actual names of their MTs. They often give caste/clan, profession, region, religion, etc. as the names of the MTs: Adivasi, Alchiki / Olchiki, Andhra, Ansari, Ardha Magadhi, Arunachali, Banglori, Belgaum, Bhagalpuri, Bishnoi, Bodish, Chhaparia, Chotanagpuri, Darbhangia, Deoghariya, Dera Gazi , , Dravidam, Gurmukhi, Indian, Jaini, , Kazi, Kerala, , Kirat / Kirati, Kol, Kurmi, Ludhiyani, Madhesi, Madurai, Mahto, Mallah, Manipal, Marak, , Mochi, Mushahar, Muzaffarpuria, Mysore, Naga, Purulia, Sadhu Bhasha, Sangma, Sekmai, Sikhi, Sikkimese, Teli, Vedic,

Zoroastrian, etc. 16 September 2020 AKM-EFLU-SHILLONG 16  Some MT names mentioned in the Census may not be linguistic codes and/or those may be non-existent as MTs: Anaha, Andaji, Baimida, Barshik, Bazbazia, Dupul, Gangmei, Ghuriya, Gogai, Gumesh, Hovak, Indoi, Kanamana, Kathak, Khongzai, Kipgen, Kissi, Kumodini, Kurokuro, Langling, Lavathi, Lawangi, Lumhao, Mita, Nagwanshi, Ongi, Parantu, Pawite, Pohan, Protari, Pujhore, Savaji, Simpa, Singson, Songlung, Sultani, Telki, Telsing, Thangngen, Tlangtlang, Uleshi, etc. 16 September 2020 AKM-EFLU-SHILLONG 17 Mother Tongue as Subject of Instruction (SOI)

 About 120 mother tongues/languages are used as subjects of instruction in schools, which include Adi, Adivasi Oriya, Ao, Apatani, , Assamese, Baiga, Banjara, Bengali, Bhojpuri, Bhoti, Bhutia, Bishnupriya Manipuri, Bodo, Bonda, Chakma, Chang, Chokri, Deori, Desia/Paroja, Dimasa, Dogri, English, French, Galong, Garo, Gondi, Gujarati, Gurung, Halabi, Halam Kuki, , Hmar, Ho, Juang, Kabui, Kamar, , Karbi, Kashmiri, Khampti, Kharia, Khasi, Khezha, Khiemnungan, Kisan, Kokbarak, Kolami, Kom, Konda, Konkani, Konyak, Koya, Kui, Kuki, Kurukh, Kuvi, Ladakhi, Lai, Lepcha, Liangmei, Limbu, Lotha, Maithili, , Mangar, Manipuri, Mao, Mara, Marathi, Maria, Mishmi, Mising, Mizo, Mogh, Monpa, Mundari, Muria, Nepali, Newari, Nicobarese, Nissi, Odia, Paite, Persian, Phom, Pochury, Punjabi, Rabha, Rai, Rengma, Sadri, Sangtam, , Santali, Saora, Sargujia, Savara, Sema, Sherpa, Sindhi, Singpho, Sunwar, Tai, Tamang, Tamil, Tangkhul, Tangsa, Telugu, Tenyidie, Thado, Tiwa, , Vaiphei, Yimchungre, Zemi and Zou. 16 September 2020 AKM-EFLU-SHILLONG 18 Mother Tongue as Medium of Instruction (MOI)

 At present about 35 mother tongues/languages are used as mediums of instruction at various levels of school education (some only for 2-3 years at primary level) which include Adivasi Oriya, Assamese, Banjara, Bengali, Bodo, Chakma, Dogri, English, Garo, Gondi, Gujarati, Hindi, Hmar, Kannada, Kashmiri, Khasi, Kolami, Konda, Konkani, Koya, Kui, Mizo, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Odia, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Santali, Savara, Sindhi, Tamil, Tangkhul, Telugu and Urdu.

16 September 2020 AKM-EFLU-SHILLONG 19  More MTs spoken by more than 10000 speakers each should be included as MOI.  These may include: Anal, Ao, Awadhi, Badaga, Bagri, Bhojpuri, Bishnupriya Manipuri, Brajbhasha, Chang, Chhattisgarhi, Coorgi, Deori, Desia, Gangte, Garhwali, Gojri, Hajong, Haryanvi, Irula, Kachchi, Karmali, Khandeshi, Kharia, Koch, Kokbarak, Kom, Koli, Korku, Kudubi, Kumauni, Kurukh, Limbu, Lotha, Lyngngam, Magahi, Malwani, Monpa, Mundari, Nagpuria, Paite, Paradhi, Phom, Pnar, Ponchi,Rai, Rajasthani, Relli, Sangtam, Saurashtri, Sema, Sirmauri, Surjapuri, Tamang, Thado, Tharu, Tiwa, Tulu, Vaiphei, , Yerava, Zou, etc.

16 September 2020 AKM-EFLU-SHILLONG 20  More MTs spoken by more fewer than 10000 speakers each should be included as MOI.  These may include: Aimol, Asuri, Atong, Bawm, Bhoi, Biate, Birhor, Birjia, Chai Bhasha, Chiru, Chothe, Didei/Gata, Gurung, Kanashi, Khampti, Khelma, Khoibu, Khoirao, Koraga, Korwa, Kota, , Mahili, Malto, Manjhi, Miji, Newari, Nihali, Parenga, Parji, Purki, Raji, Rangkhol, Sherdukpen, Simte, Singli, Singpho, Sulung/Puroik, Sunwar, Sunwar, Tangsa, Toda, Toto, Urali, Wancho, War, etc.

16 September 2020 AKM-EFLU-SHILLONG 21 Mother Tongue Based Multilingual Education

 Mother tongue based multilingual education (MTBMLE) is seen as one of the most practical approaches to dealing with the need for multiple languages in education.  MTBMLE is learner-centred, active basic education which starts in the mother tongue and gradually introduces one or more other languages in a structured manner.  Teaching-learning is predominantly done in the mother tongue for at least up to class 5, alongside the development of other languages.  It is possible to make it easier for children to learn and make sure that children are able to gain good second language skills, at the same time as maintaining and developing their mother tongue.

16 September 2020 AKM-EFLU-SHILLONG 22 16 September 2020 AKM-EFLU-SHILLONG 23 Writing Systems

 About 35 types of scripts/writing systems are currently used which include: Akha, Arakanese, Assamese, Bengali, Bhoti, Devanagari, Divehi/Thaana, Gujarati, Gurmukhi, Kannada, Kirat/Kirawa Chaap, Koinch Breshe, Lhoyig, Lik Tai, Malayalam, Marathi, Meetei Mayek, Odia, Oja Path, Ol Chiki, Perso-Arabic, Prachalit, Roman, Rong/Lepcha, Sambota, Samboti, Srijunga, Tai/Ahom, Tamil, Tamyig/Samboti, Telugu, Tibetan, Tolong Siki, Warangchiti, etc.

16 September 2020 AKM-EFLU-SHILLONG 24  The mother tongues/languages used as MOI and/or SOI in schools are already using about 35 types of scripts/writing systems.  If about 300 more mother are added to the list of mediums of instruction, they can use one of these scripts (of related mother tongue/language).  For example, Pnar – Roman, Magahi – Devanagari, Toda – Tamil, Khoibu – Roman, Paola – Roman, Maring – Roman, Hajong – Assamese/Bengali, Rajbangsi – Bengali, Tulu – Kannada, Parenga – Odia, Angika – Devanagari, and so on.  Standardisation of writing systems for existing MTs used as MOI/SOI and newly introduced mother tongues would be required.

16 September 2020 AKM-EFLU-SHILLONG 25 Developing mother tongues/local languages for academic use

 Glossaries of scientific and technical terms to be used for maths and EVS would be required.

 The syllabi/textbooks for these subjects would only require certain basic mathematical and scientific terms like angle, triangle, addition, subtraction, division, multiplication, per cent/percentage, environment, speed, pressure, volume, boiling point, gas, liquid, solid, etc., for which almost all MTs would have existing similar terms. 16 September 2020 AKM-EFLU-SHILLONG 26  If not, new terms can be coined on the basis of existing word-stock or they can be borrowed from related languages/regional languages or adopt modified versions of terms from English/related languages/regional languages.

 Institutions like CIIL, CSTT, SCERTs, literary societies, etc. can collaborate to develop scientific and technical terms.

16 September 2020 AKM-EFLU-SHILLONG 27 Negative attitudes toward education through mother tongue  Parents may want that their children learn English or a dominant regional language, and receive instruction in English or a dominant regional language.  Often, these attitudes stem from the notion that English or a dominant regional language provides access to the larger/global community.  Parents should be reassured that there is increased commitment to giving children access to desired languages, and that teaching methods and materials are changing as a result.

16 September 2020 AKM-EFLU-SHILLONG 28 Availability of Teachers and Teacher support

 Teachers have to be appointed for each of the mother tongues/languages for every school.  Teachers should be proficient in the mother tongues/languages they would have to teach through.  It should be assured that a teacher is not transferred to a school where the medium of instruction is different from the teacher‟s mother tongue or the language he/she is proficient in.  A component of B.Ed. or D El Ed should include language education. 16 September 2020 AKM-EFLU-SHILLONG 29 Cost-effectiveness

 The existing research indicates that mother tongue based education systems cost more to set up, but the overall costs of moving to mother tongue based approaches are not as high as might be expected.  Additional costs include expenditure towards: standardisation of orthography; developing scientific and technical terms in mother tongues/local languages for academic use; developing and publishing textbooks/teaching-learning materials; deployment of teachers and teacher training.  Since the materials would be mainly start-up costs, the investment will eventually be returned through decreased dropout and repetition rates.

16 September 2020 AKM-EFLU-SHILLONG 30 ‘Language is not everything in education but without language everything is nothing in education’. (Ekkehard Wolff, 2006)

Thank You!

16 September 2020 AKM-EFLU-SHILLONG 31