Communication in Modern India
There are four major language families in India.
1. Indo-Aryan 2. Dravidian 3. Austro-Asiatic 4. Sino-Tibetan
These four language families have given birth to hundreds of languages and dialects in every part of India. The government of India recognizes about 20 languages, but it conducts its business in only two: English and Hindi.
There was much resentment in India when Hindi became the second official language because that was mainly spoken in the central and northern part where the capital of New Delhi is located. Most Dravidian speaking people in southern India did not know Hindi.
English is the first official language and almost everyone speaks English. It may seem odd that Americans and Indians both speak English but it is for the very same reason: both India and America were British colonies before gaining independence.
Below is a map showing the various languages and where they are spoken in India. |