Passage 2
In many countries, only one language, the mother tongue, is enough to satisfy the need for expression of most of their inhabitants. In India, however, the position is more complicated. Here, an educated man is called upon to master more than one language. There is, first of all, the language that he learns on his mother's lap, and through which he expresses his first needs and feelings. Naturally, it is in this that he gains the most proficiency. But since India is a very large country, we really need an extra language - a lingua franca - as a means of communication with states other than our town. But even this is not enough. An educated Indian requires the mastery of an international language, one that is widely understood and is used in the dealings of one country with another. Ideally speaking then, an eduated Indian should be able to read and write in three languages, and moreover, should be able to express himself in all three ease and fluency.
Word - meanings :
- expression - अभिव्यक्ति
- inhabitants - निवासी
- complicated - जटिल
- proficiency - निपुणता
- lingua franca - सामान्य भाषा
- communication - संचार , पत्र - व्यव्हार
- fluency - प्रवाह
Questions :
1. What practice do many countries adopt regarding a language ?
2. What purpose does the language we use serve ?
3. What is the position in India regarding the languages ?
4. How many languages should an educated Indian learn ?
5. Give a suitable title to the passage.
Answers :
1. They have generally one language.
2. It satisfies our need for expression and communication.
3. In India, an educated person needs to master three languages - the mother tongue, a lingua franca and an international language.
4. Three.
5. The language problem in India.