Topper’s Copy

GS1

Art & Culture

10 marks

Discuss the factors responsible for the decline of regional languages like Dogri in India and suggest measures to preserve the country’s linguistic heritage.

Student’s Answer

Evaluation by SuperKalam

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Score:

6.5/10

0
3
6
10

Demand of the Question

  • Discuss the factors responsible for the decline of regional languages like Dogri in India
  • Suggest measures to preserve the country’s linguistic heritage

What you wrote:

India's linguistic landscape, comprising of 22 scheduled languages and about 19,500 dialects, represents the essence of its cultural diversity. However regional languages like Dongri - spoken in Jammu and recognized in the 8th schedule - face decline, signaling a deeper erosion of India's linguistic heritage.

[DRAWING: A circular diagram titled "Language loss cycle in India".
The cycle flows as follows:
1. "Globalization and English dominance" leads to
2. "Reduced Regional Use" which leads to
3. "Weakened intergenerational transmission" which leads to
4. "Cultural detachment and identity loss" which in turn leads back to "Globalization and English dominance".
To stop this viscous cycle, a separate box below the cycle is labeled "Need for revival: Policy + Education + Technology!"]

India's linguistic landscape, comprising of 22 scheduled languages and about 19,500 dialects, represents the essence of its cultural diversity. However regional languages like Dongri - spoken in Jammu and recognized in the 8th schedule - face decline, signaling a deeper erosion of India's linguistic heritage.

[DRAWING: A circular diagram titled "Language loss cycle in India".
The cycle flows as follows:
1. "Globalization and English dominance" leads to
2. "Reduced Regional Use" which leads to
3. "Weakened intergenerational transmission" which leads to
4. "Cultural detachment and identity loss" which in turn leads back to "Globalization and English dominance".
To stop this viscous cycle, a separate box below the cycle is labeled "Need for revival: Policy + Education + Technology!"]

Suggestions to improve:

  • Could strengthen with recent data (e.g., UNESCO's Atlas identifies 197 Indian languages as endangered, with nearly half of India's 780 languages potentially vanishing in next 50 years)

What you wrote:

Causes of decline of regional languages

1) Economic and educational pressures:
(i) English dominance: Corporate culture
(ii) School neglect: Sidelined curricula & undermined early exposure
(iii) Lack of market value: low economic value in Dongri media and publications.

2. Social and cultural factors:
(i) Urban migration: limits Dongri exposure.
(ii) Prestige hierarchy: less modern than Hindi/English.
(iii) Cultural dilution: low oral tradition & folk exposure.

3. Digital and institutional barriers:
(i) Digital absence: scarcity on major platforms.
(ii) Policy gaps: weak implemented safeguards under articles 29 and 30.
(iii) Documentation gaps: lack of linguistic records & archives.

Causes of decline of regional languages

1) Economic and educational pressures:
(i) English dominance: Corporate culture
(ii) School neglect: Sidelined curricula & undermined early exposure
(iii) Lack of market value: low economic value in Dongri media and publications.

2. Social and cultural factors:
(i) Urban migration: limits Dongri exposure.
(ii) Prestige hierarchy: less modern than Hindi/English.
(iii) Cultural dilution: low oral tradition & folk exposure.

3. Digital and institutional barriers:
(i) Digital absence: scarcity on major platforms.
(ii) Policy gaps: weak implemented safeguards under articles 29 and 30.
(iii) Documentation gaps: lack of linguistic records & archives.

Suggestions to improve:

  • Could add demographic dimension (e.g., younger Dogri speakers declining from 65% to 40% in urban areas due to educational preferences)
  • Can include globalization impact (e.g., social media platforms predominantly supporting major languages, marginalizing regional scripts)

What you wrote:

Measures for linguistic preservation

1) Education policy & reforms:
(i) NEP-2020 enforcement
(ii) Official use in local administration
(iii) Scholarships and grants

2) Technological intervention:
(i) Digital archives: Create databases
(ii) AI translation tools: Dongri compatible softwares
(iii) Media expansion: News, Youtube, etc.

3) Community & cultural revival:
(i) Dongri poetry, folklore & theatre promotion
(ii) Vernacular empowerment, decolonising linguistics: English elitism -> Local

Measures for linguistic preservation

1) Education policy & reforms:
(i) NEP-2020 enforcement
(ii) Official use in local administration
(iii) Scholarships and grants

2) Technological intervention:
(i) Digital archives: Create databases
(ii) AI translation tools: Dongri compatible softwares
(iii) Media expansion: News, Youtube, etc.

3) Community & cultural revival:
(i) Dongri poetry, folklore & theatre promotion
(ii) Vernacular empowerment, decolonising linguistics: English elitism -> Local

Suggestions to improve:

  • Could elaborate on PM-SHRI scheme promoting NEP 2020 principles for mother tongue education in early years
  • Can add successful examples (e.g., Welsh language revival in Wales through mandatory education, or Tamil's digital preservation through government initiatives)
  • Could mention Classical Language status as preservation tool (like Sanskrit, Tamil received such recognition)

What you wrote:

Way Forward -> 1) SDG Alignment: 4 (Quality Education) and 11.
-> 2) Cultural identity: Plural ethos & linguistic equity.
-> 3) Decolonising linguistics: English elitism to local languages

As Mahatma Gandhi said, "A nation's culture resides in the hearts and in the souls of its people." Language revival thus ensures India's 'unity in diversity' remains vibrant in digital age.

Way Forward -> 1) SDG Alignment: 4 (Quality Education) and 11.
-> 2) Cultural identity: Plural ethos & linguistic equity.
-> 3) Decolonising linguistics: English elitism to local languages

As Mahatma Gandhi said, "A nation's culture resides in the hearts and in the souls of its people." Language revival thus ensures India's 'unity in diversity' remains vibrant in digital age.

Suggestions to improve:

  • Could strengthen with specific policy recommendation (e.g., establishing Regional Language Development Councils under Ministry of Education for systematic preservation efforts)

Your answer demonstrates strong analytical skills with the effective diagram and comprehensive coverage of both causes and solutions. The structure is logical and you've addressed all key demands well. Consider adding more specific examples and recent policy developments to enhance depth and contemporary relevance.

Marks: 6.5/10

Demand of the Question

  • Discuss the factors responsible for the decline of regional languages like Dogri in India
  • Suggest measures to preserve the country’s linguistic heritage

What you wrote:

India's linguistic landscape, comprising of 22 scheduled languages and about 19,500 dialects, represents the essence of its cultural diversity. However regional languages like Dongri - spoken in Jammu and recognized in the 8th schedule - face decline, signaling a deeper erosion of India's linguistic heritage.

[DRAWING: A circular diagram titled "Language loss cycle in India".
The cycle flows as follows:
1. "Globalization and English dominance" leads to
2. "Reduced Regional Use" which leads to
3. "Weakened intergenerational transmission" which leads to
4. "Cultural detachment and identity loss" which in turn leads back to "Globalization and English dominance".
To stop this viscous cycle, a separate box below the cycle is labeled "Need for revival: Policy + Education + Technology!"]

India's linguistic landscape, comprising of 22 scheduled languages and about 19,500 dialects, represents the essence of its cultural diversity. However regional languages like Dongri - spoken in Jammu and recognized in the 8th schedule - face decline, signaling a deeper erosion of India's linguistic heritage.

[DRAWING: A circular diagram titled "Language loss cycle in India".
The cycle flows as follows:
1. "Globalization and English dominance" leads to
2. "Reduced Regional Use" which leads to
3. "Weakened intergenerational transmission" which leads to
4. "Cultural detachment and identity loss" which in turn leads back to "Globalization and English dominance".
To stop this viscous cycle, a separate box below the cycle is labeled "Need for revival: Policy + Education + Technology!"]

Suggestions to improve:

  • Could strengthen with recent data (e.g., UNESCO's Atlas identifies 197 Indian languages as endangered, with nearly half of India's 780 languages potentially vanishing in next 50 years)

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