Business of ‘English’
K S Sivakumaran
I am rooted in my own culture and love my mother tongue. Yet I want
to enrich my knowledge and experience pleasure in knowing other
cultures. I come to know about other cultures through my interest in the
English language and love of English Literature. Since some of us were
educated in the English medium, we came to be familiar with the
‘standard English’ and at the same time enjoyed varieties of English
through original and translated literary works, particularly poetry,
fiction and drama.
Communication difficulties maybe encountered with those who
speak other varieties |
I personally prefer ‘standard English’ in formal writing and writing
that is meant to be read by educated and learned people. Currently what
is known as ‘Sri Lankan English’ is being promoted to encourage young
people to learn the language in their own way at least in the primary
level since four or five generations of young people were deprived of
using it effectively as English was ‘dethroned’ for one reason or the
other. But English has become a global language with its own colonial
colouring.
This article strives to enlighten our reader on some salient features
of ‘Standard English’. Those who spoke Standard English a few decades
ago in Lanka and elsewhere also followed a pattern of speech with
attention to pronunciation. The kind of pronunciation was generally
received universally. They called it “RP” or Received Pronunciation.
In other words, due to the acquired habits, for an educated person
speech will come naturally. However, it would not indicate the speaker’s
regional origin even though one could identify slight differences in the
accent of his speech. For instance speakers from New York City speak in
an accent that is closely related to RP, and also different from a
person from Kentucky speaking in ‘standard English’ and with RP. English
is not a native tongue for Lankans and therefore even if we speak
‘standard English’ even to the extent of using ‘bookish English’, our
accent will vary from what Daniel Jones prescribes. This is not a crime
or a matter to be laughed at.
This is because those who speak Standard English with RP are in fact
a minority. And Standard English ironically is a dialect spoken by the
elites and university dons and Londoners and BBC to a greater extent.
Personally I enjoy listening to Shakespearean actors on the stage and
films because they speak clearly with words clearly pronounced. Lawrence
Olivier, James Mason, Richard Burton and others come to mind. The main
point is that a linguist will not regard RP or Standard British English
as better in any respect than any other regional or national dialect.
As we know language evolves, all the time adding new words and
idioms, at times borrowed from other languages. So now there are plenty
of varieties of English, which are all accepted. But so long as it is
not spoken clearly the problem of communication arises. Among those who
speak English one finds different accents and different use of language
although he or she speaks correctly formal or standard English. Sri
Lankans may encounter communication difficulties with those who speak
Indian, Maldivian, Oman, US and Australian English, because of the
different speech rhythms and speed of speech.
Even in Lanka what most of the radio and TV announcers and
newsreaders are difficult to understand because they are unconsciously
imitating foreign accents, particularly American, worse still without
understanding broadcasting etiquette and rattling words and reading
without understanding.
This bars effective communication. Should I say English language
learning and teaching has become a ‘business’? It is hear Standard
English and Received Pronunciation could be profitably used. |