Westernization vs Native Language

 

Westernization vs Native Language :-

One of the major effects of westernization is that people have started losing interest in learning their native language . One's native language is the repository of one's culture, history and social background . One who speaks and communicates in one's language one can  feel proud of oneself . Many Indians who live abroad make it compulsory for the family to speak in their native language at home so as to have a sense of belonging to their country.  In fact the native language binds us with our roots . Every language has its own speciality . A person who doesn't know his native language is like a slave. Due to competition in various fields &   people  start focusing on international languages . They feel attracted to  develop their  international language skills .  But in this scenario , native language has been neglected beyond the limits . 

 Lack of Determination :-

Our language is part of our culture and we are proud of it.  But due to too much influence of international language ,we don't give much  importance to our mother tongue . We do not insist that our children speak in our native language.  It is the need of the time that we must give  wholehearted attention  to preserve our native language but we do not encourage  our children to express their views in Hindi or their native language .   As we know, most of us are in the habit of delaying things unless and until we are consistent and regular in our efforts we cannot achieve our goals. Setting a goal is an easy task but the journey to reach that goal  demands determination.  One has to be focused and consistent in one's effort . To achieve  our goal in life,  we need to understand the importance of time. 

We can understand this fact very easily by taking an example from The Last Lesson  written by Alphonse Daudet . 

'The Last Lesson' is set in the days of the Franco-Prussian war (1870 - 1871).  Germany occupied two French districts of Alsace  and Lorraine .By an order from Berlin German language was imposed on French speaking people of Alsace and Lorraine . The story highlights the dismay and distress of master Hamel , his students and the villagers caused by that order from Berlin.

The order arouses patriotic feelings among the people . Suddenly they realise how precious their languages are to them . The people of Alsace were earlier indifferent to their language but now they develop a  new found love for French . Master Hamel goes on to declare ,"French is the most beautiful language in the world. It is the clearest and most logical language."   Even the villagers come and sit there on the back benches to pay their tribute .  In this way they show their respect for their language and it is theirs no more . All of them hate the foreign language, German, being imposed on the French speaking people . Their patriotic feeling united them for the cause of the French.  Even a little student, Franz, grows sentimental.  This is his last lesson in French.  He feels sorry for neglecting the lessons in French . Now he develops a deep love  and respect for French and the teacher who taught it . Moreover French people showed their strong dislike and resentment against the order that came from Berlin . The imposition of German over the French speaking population  was quite humiliating . It filled them with patriotic feelings for their great language . So the author wants to convey a message to us that we must safeguard our language and culture . We must keep them alive at any cost .