Ss VELAMMAL VIDYALAYA ALS — ENGLISH PROJECT TITLE A Dissertation Submitted for the CBSE Senior Secondary Examination of the year 2024-2025 Submitted by NAME XII- EXAM NO Under the supervision and guidance of M.Nantha Kumar, P.G.T - English / P.Sathesh Kumar, P.G.T - English Velammal Vidyalaya Sr Sec SchoolVELAMMAL VIDYALAYA SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL KARUR ENGLISH BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE Certified to be the Bonafide ALS project work in English completed by of Class XII- at Velammal Vidyalaya Senior Secondary School, Karur — 639003 for the academic year 2024-25. School Seal Submitted for Internal Examination Held on at Velammal Vidyalaya Senior Secondary School, Karur — 639003 Date: INTERNAL EXAMINER EXTERNAL EXAMINER PRINCIPAL © seamed vith neh camerI would like to extend my sincere and heartfelt obligation to all those who have helped me in making this project. Without their active guidance, help, cooperation, and encouragement, I would not have been able to present the project on time. 1 am extremely thankful and pay my sincere gratitude to my English teacher Mr. M. Nantha Kumar/ P.Sathesh kumar, P.G.T - English for his valuable guidance and support for the completion of this project. I also acknowledge, with a deep sense of reverence, my gratitude towards My Principal, Mr. P.Ragunathan, my parents, other faculty members of the school, and friends for the valuable suggestions they provided during the completion of the project. ROLL NO: © scmed sth Xe ScmerCERTIFICATE BY GUIDE This is to certify that of Class XII of Velammal Vidyalaya Sr. Sec. School, Karur has completed his/her project file under my supervision. He/ She has taken proper care and shown utmost sincerity in completion of the project. I certify that this project is up to my expectations and as per the guidelines issued by CBSE. © scmed sth Xe ScmerCERTIFICATE FROM STUDENT I , student of Class XII of Velammal Vidyalaya Sr. Sec. School, Karur hereby certify that the project was undertaken by me as a part of CBSE curriculum. The data used in the project has been downloaded by me from the website of the company and therefore I take it to be authentic and reliable. Name: Roll No: (Signature) © scmed sth Xe ScmerCONTENTS * Action Plan * Title Page + Introduction + Importance of Language * Meaning of Linguistic Chauvinism + Examples in history where people had a language imposed upon them « Turkish imposed on Kurds + Portuguese becoming the Lingua Franca of Angola + Problem faced by Linguistic Minority + How they can keep their language alive + Linguistic Human Rights + Linguistic Chauvinism from English Literature * Conclusion * Student Reflection * Bibliography © scmed sth Xe ScmerWork Done S.No | Date Plan Work Done 1 15-10-2023 Project Initiation Project Initiated 2 16-10-2023 | Chapter and topic _| Importance of language selection 3 17-10-2023 Discussion of Objective and SOP draft Objective and SOP 4 18-10-2023 Discussion of Support Material collected Support Material 5 21-10-2023 1* Submission for | Submitted for 1 approval approval 6 29-10-2023 Corrections and Corrections and editions Editions 1 done 7 01-11-2023 Corrections and Corrections and Editions Editions 2 done 8 01-11-2023 _| Bibliography Bibliography Completed 9 07-11-2023 | Report Completion | Report Completed 10 08-11-2023 Reflection Reflection Completed mn First copy ‘Submitted submission for approval 12 Final Submission | Submitted © semmed wth ox ScannerLanguage Matters: Understanding Linguistic ChallengesObjectives © The core objective of this assignment is to explain the all the topics related to "when a people are enslaved ,as long as they hold fast to their language it is as if they had the key to their prison” that is about the language and linguistic chauvinism and other all related topics with examples ¢ And further to increase the knowledge about the topic as it relates to the lesson The Last Lesson which will be very useful during the examinations * And to know the importance of native language and the problems faced by the linguistic minority people and the resolutions taken by the people and the government to linguistic chauvinism and linguistic imperialism © scmed sth Xe ScmerIntroduction Language is one of the unique things which we all human beings posses and which makes us unique and different from all other species on the earth. Language helps in express our feelings and helps us to say our thoughts etc.... It is the primary means by which humans convey meaning either through speaking or writing. A language reflects and tells the people's rich cultural and social heritage. There are nearly 6,500 languages in the world. Thus by learning a new language, we can understand the different diversity of people's culture and tradition. This also helps in translating the pieces of information from one language to another through the knowledge can be expanded. But there are also some situations or incidents where people themselves fight against each other and the one who wins imposes their culture, tradition, and language on the people hence suppressing their own language and tradition and making it disappear. This is called linguistic imperialism. But every person has the belief that their language is better than all other languages and wants to secure their language and culture this aggressive and unreasonable belief that their own language is better than any other language is called linguistic chauvinism which is going to be discussed in this project. Here we will discuss the importance of language, what is linguistic chauvinism, examples of linguistic chauvinism, and many more. © scmed sth Xe ScmerImportance of Language If culture was a house, then language was the key to the front door, to all the rooms inside.” Language is the only weapon that we use to express our feelings and thoughts to others. It is the most important part of the culture and helps in building a good community. Each and every language is unique in its own way. Communication is the core component of any society and language is an important aspect of that. As language began to develop, different cultural communities put together collective understandings through sounds. Over time, these sounds and their implied meanings became commonplace and language was formed. So here are some reasons why a language is very important. First things first language is the key to expressing your feelings and learning another language apart from your mother language is good because it reduces bilingualism risk. And this makes you feel safe in that unknown and new place if you know the language of that area. Thus language will enhance your security. Knowing more than one language is a significant advantage in many careers. This is especially true if you work in certain fields like human rights, business, or finances, but you can also earn a living as a translator or tutor. Knowing multiple languages also opens up opportunities to work internationally. Learning multiple languages connects you to many other different culture nd traditions. Because language is so closely linked to culture, it makes sense that learning a language would connect you to that culture. You learn much more than just words and phrases. A new language invites you into a culture’s rituals, history, values, and more. Being able to communicate with someone in their language fosters a unique bond and encourages empathy. © scmed sth Xe ScmerThe last reason why language is important is that language is not always neutral. because until now we have about how a language can reflect in people's culture and traditions, but a language can also draw you into a belief or behavior. Because according to Amanda Montell, a cultish, All the best cult leaders are masters of language. Their words build community, support group values, and shut down important questions. When people become radicalized into dangerous groups, their entry point is language. It’s important to recognize manipulative language, whether it’s your first language or a language you’re learning Thus the words that we use in a language are more important than learning a language. because the words hold the power over the language. © scmed sth Xe ScmerMeaning of linguistic chauvinism Linguistic chauvinism is the belief that one’s own language is superior to others, and the tendency to judge other languages and cultures based on one's own linguistic and cultural background. This can lead to discrimination, prejudice, and a sense of cultural superiority. It is important to recognize and respect the diversity of languages and cultures in our world. It was expressed in old times as kings, clergy, and noblemen, who thought themselves to be at the top of the social pyramid, spoke languages different from that of the masses. Fundamentally, it has a negative connotation associated with superiority, but on a broader level the chauvinism toward one language over another is equally applicable to multilingual circumstances in which that spoken by the majority would be deemed the “official” language © scmed sth Xe ScmerTurkish imposed on the Kurds Before the foundation of Turkey, the Kurds were recognized as their own Nation of themselves. The Turkish leader Mustafa Kemal also recognized the Kurds as a nation at the time and stated that the provinces in which the Kurds lived shall be granted autonomy. After the establishment of the Republic of Turkey, which ended the caliphates and sultanates in Turkey, there have been several Kurdish rebellions since the 1920s. The policy towards the Kurds changed most prominently in 1924, as the new constitution denied the Kurds autonomy. The Kurdish people and their language were soon oppressed by the Turkish Government, as the Turkish Constitution of 1924 prohibited the use of Kurdish in public places, and a law was issued that enabled the expropriation of the Kurdish landowners and the delivery of the land to Turkish-speaking people. Through the Turkish History Thesis, Kurds were classified as being of Turanian origin, having migrated from Central Asia 5000 years ago. Hence, a Kurdish nation was denied and Kurds were called Mountain Turks. From 1927 on, a General Inspector ruled over the First Inspectorate General through the implementation of emergency decrees and martial law. The areas around Hakkari, Mardin, Siirt, Urfa, Van, Elazig, and Diyarbakir were under his rule until 1952, when the government of the Democratic Party brought a new approach towards the Kurds and closed the General Inspectorates. © scmed sth Xe ScmerPortuguese becoming the lingua franca of Angola Portuguese is the sole official language. Due to cultural, social, and political mechanisms that date back to colonial history, the number of native Portuguese speakers is large and growing. A 2012 study by the Angolan National Institute for Statistics found that Portuguese is the mother tongue of 39% of the population. It is spoken as a second language by many more throughout the country, and younger urban generations are moving towards the dominant or exclusive use of Portuguese. The 2014 population census found that about 71% of the nearly 25.8 million inhabitants of Angola speak Portuguese at home. In urban areas, 85% of the population declared to speak Portuguese at home in the 2014 census, against 49% in rural areas. Portuguese was quickly adopted by Angolans in the mid-twentieth century as a lingua franca among the various ethnic groups. After the Angolan Civil War, many people moved to the cities where they learned Portuguese. When they returned to the countryside, more people were speaking Portuguese as a first language. The variant of the Portuguese language used in Angola is known as Angolan Portuguese. Phonetically, this variant is very similar to the Mozambican variant with some exceptions. Some believe that Angolan Portuguese resembles a pidgin in some aspects. However, in Cabinda, wedged between two French-speaking countries — the DRC and the Congo — many people speak French as well as, or better than, Portuguese. In fact, of the literate population, 90 percent speak French while 10 percent speak Portuguese. Also, the Angolan Bakongo who were exiled in the Democratic Republic of the Congo usually speaks better French and Lingala than Portuguese and Kikongo. © scmed sth Xe ScmerProblems faced by the Linguistic Minority Linguistic minorities are segregated from the rest of the community by their language, which limits their opportunities in terms of education, employment, and general economic and political life. They have access only to a very limited proportion of the information generated in society, as media and governments are not able or willing to provide more than the minimum in minority languages. Their only recourse may be to give up their language and become assimilated into the culture of the dominant language, thereby losing the unifying basis of their culture. The problem of national languages and linguistic minorities has especially arisen with the creation of new national states in Asia and Africa after the Second World War. The colonial territories of the European powers which became independent, were very often populated by various peoples and tribes, each with their own language and culture which in many ways differed from each other, so that no adequate communication could and can take place between the different groups. In the colonial epoch the dominant language for inter-group communication was the language of the colonial power. Indonesia is a good example. In the Indonesian archipelago, which consists of thousands of islands, about six hundred languages and dialects are spoken, the largest of which, such as the Javanese languages are spoken by fifty million people, while some of the other languages are spoken by only a few hundred thousand people. © scmed sth Xe ScmerTherefore the major problems faced by linguistic minorities are Problem of Identity Because of the differences in socio-cultural practices, history, and backgrounds, minorities have to grapple with the issue of identity everywhere which gives rise to the problem of adjustment with the majority community. Problem of security Different identity and their small number relative to the rest of society develop a feeling of insecurity about their life, assets, and well-being. This sense of insecurity may get accentuated at times when relations between the majority and the minority communities in society are strained or not very cordial. © Problem relating to equality The minority community in a society may remain deprived of the benefit of opportunities for development as a result of discrimination, Because of the difference in identity, the minority community develops the perception of the sense of inequity. However, if we consider metropolitan cities there are many diverse of people with different cultures and traditions. Thus their level of acceptance would depend on the state in question. Some metropolitan cities such as Mumbai and Delhi are more diverse and hence it might be easier for the linguistic minorities to assimilate. © scmed sth Xe ScmerHow they can keep their language alive A lingui: minority in a state does not have as much liberty to exercise linguistic skills as the natives of the state. They initially try to learn the jargon in order to cope with day-to-day life activities and finally begin to understand the native language with regular interaction. At the workplace and educational organizations English or the link language helps a lot to cope with the work and learning process. But when it comes to understanding the basic norms of society in order to socialize one does face a sort of linguistic barrier during communication. To keep their language alive the linguistic minorities can form small communities where they can celebrate their festivals as per their traditions. Moreover, they can continue to speak their native language at their homes in order to make their children learn the language. People must even try to visit their native places at regular intervals in order to stay close to their roots. Nowadays the most common ways that are used by people to keep their language alive are : © Creating recorded and printed resources This is one of the most common ways by which linguists etc. preserve their language after which these resources are published and preserved in libraries, academic institutions, museums, and cultural centers. ® Teaching and taking language classes © Using digital media and social media outlets. These days technologies have developed so drastically that nearly every person present on the earth is made available to the technological world and thus people use these technologies, digital and social media to preserve their language by publishing it on the web. ¢ Insist on speaking in your native language at your homes. © scmed sth Xe ScmerLinguistic Human Rights Linguistic rights are the human and civil rights concerning the individual and collective right to choose the language or languages for communication in a private or public atmosphere. Other parameters for analyzing linguistic rights include the degree of territoriality, amount of positivity, orientation in terms of assimilation or maintenance, and overtness Linguistic rights include © the right to one's own language in legal, administrative and judicial acts ¢ language education and media in a language understood and freely chosen by those concerned. Important documents for linguistic rights include 1, the Universal Declaration of Linguistic Rights (1996), 2. the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages (1992), .. the Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) and 4, the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (1988) 5. Convention against Discrimination in Education w 6. the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) These rights are introduced only because The freedom to express ourselves through language is a fundamental human right. Whether with friends or family, communicating our thoughts, ideas, wishes and needs with those around us is key to basic survival. Language is also a vehicle for participation in community and cultural life. © scmed sth Xe ScmerLinguistic Chauvinism found in English Literature. Linguistic chauvinism is inordinate love for one's own language: this love is so much that one considers one's language to be superior to all the other languages of the world. An example can be given from the lesson called The Last Lesson from the Standard XII book Flamingo. The order from Berlin was one of the examples of linguistic chauvinism. because during the days of the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871) in which France was defeated by Prussia led by Bismarck. Prussia then coi led of what now are the nations of Germany, Poland, and parts of Austria. In this story, the French districts of Alsace and Lorraine have passed into Prussian hands. Then the order from Berlin came to these parts of Alsace and Lorraine to teach and speak only German. This has affected everyone because they have been speaking and learning French since their childhood and now immediately they were forced to speak and learn German, Not only the students but also the teacher and the everyone has affected by this order. © scmed sth Xe ScmerConclusion Language is one of the most important things that helps in knowing the original identity of the people. It is the only and only way by which we people communicate with each other and which makes us different from each other from the rest of the species present in the world. Thus learning a language is good because it helps in knowing the pieces of information that are written in another language and helps in translating and hence expanding our knowledge. But when a group of community or people of a country are forced to learn and speak another language and are not allowed to speak their native language they lose their identity of who they are. When people stop using their native language the language and its culture start to fade away without any identity and a language that had existed before. So even if they are forced to speak another language people must hold on to their native language and must flourish the language as the language identifies the people who they are. © scmed sth Xe ScmerStudent reflection I never knew that a language is this important for people before writing this assignment. At first, I thought there might be nothing much in this topic but once I started searching on the web it gave me millions of things that never knew existed. I was shocked to see how people in ancient times we deprived of their own rights to speak their native language and were forced to learn a new language. But I am glad that people held on to their own language even when they were forced not to use that language also in order to make a language exist people have made so many laws and rules against linguistic chauvinism and linguistic imperialism. This assignment has helped me gain knowledge about the language and how it is important and what it says about our identity. © scmed sth Xe ScmerBibliography Primary Source: Book name: Cullti Author : Amanda Montell Secondary Sources: The Polemicist | Blunt Bigotry, Fight Fascism (wordpress.com, , www.scribd.com , www.teachmint.com , www.livemint.com , saifahmadkhan.wordpress.com , www.slideshare.net © scmed sth Xe Scmer