http://www.livemint.com/2010/04/19202309/Sanskrit-reviving-the-languag.html? I read an article entitled Sanskrit: reviving the language in today's India, which was published in The Wall Street Journal on April 19, 2010. I chose to focus on this article for this class because it highlights how the existence and prominence of a language can depend largely on its significance to a community and how much effort a large group of people is willing to put into reviving the language. Additionally, this article highlighted the many reasons why language is important to people.
What strikes me about the re-emergence of the Sanskrit language is how well incorporated it is into many sectors of society. Rather than serving solely a linguistic or a cultural purpose, many communities have an interest and investment in the Sanskrit language, such as those who are religions, in the government, or in the sciences. The popular appeal, widespread respect, and the seemingly unifying force that Sanskrit is creating is very nice to see.
Going along with this idea, this quote was very interesting, as well: “I am interested in the grammar of the language. The religious stuff that we have been taught would not be so relevant to students who are non-believers, who love the language for its use of words and language alone and not because it is full of religious hymns,” says Rajesh Pratap, a postgraduate in Sanskrit from Haridwar’s Rishikul State Ayurvedic College. This quotation shows how scholars, as well as the general population, are also propelling the study and reemergence of a language. Some of these scholars are focusing purely on the linguistics of the language- on its structure and its history. Other scholars are taking this linguistic data and connecting it with the cultural and religious ties that this language has with the past. In the end, the study of Sanskrit has the strong potential to contribute to the global intellectual discourse surrounding linguistics and culture. Moreover, the study of this language reveals the possibility of rediscovering heritage and culture and bringing these insights back to modern day Indians who, until recently, have not been meaningfully exposed to this language and its associated traditions.
The investment in this language is especially apparent and affective due to its strong presence in schools: Sanskrit will be a compulsory subject till graduation. I believe that the strong, institutional educational component of the revival of this language is of the utmost importance. By enforcing this language requirement, all young people in the school system will be not only exposed to, but deeply immersed in learning this language during the very most formative years of their life (and during, in psychology terms, the critical periods of language development when acquisition is more easily possible). Although not every youth has the opportunity to go through schooling, the educational system is the best way to reach the greatest amount of people in the new generation. Youth are the optimal demographic in the revival of a language, as they have the sustained, available time to fully practice and ultimately adopt the language and the culture and history that surrounds it. Ultimately, while the participation and investment of everyone- linguistic scholars, religious institutions and people, and scientists, to name a few- is necessary and meaningful, the true success of reviving the Sanskrit language will stem from its presence throughout the education system and the trickle effects of having a huge community of educated people familiar with and fond of this language.
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