Back to: Pedagogy of English- Unit 4
India is a diverse nation where people belonging to different religions, cultures, social backgrounds, and the like reside. It is a secular nation. Diversity means a combination of different social backgrounds, races, cultures, ethnicity, gender, religion, and different languages. Linguistic diversity refers to the difference between languages. In a classroom, learners belonging to different cultures who speak different languages may be present. Diversity is seen in the classroom too. Diversity in the classroom may even be related to the varying intellectual abilities and social skills of the students. Having diversity in the classroom helps students understand each other’s culture, language, ethnicity, religion, etc. Through diversity, a new perspective will be brought into the classroom.
Scholars state that
“Language diversity, or linguistic diversity, is a broad term used to describe the differences between different languages and the ways that people communicate with each other. Language is one of the features of humanity that sets the species apart from others on Earth, as far as scientists are aware.”
Characteristics of Linguistic Diversity
- Linguistic diversity encompasses different types of qualities such as a person’s language, grammar, and vocabulary.
- One country may have more than a thousand languages all on its own.
- The tribal groups, specifically those who are more isolated from the world, are more likely to speak a different language.
- Linguistic diversity aids in measuring the concentration or density of a particular language in different areas.
- The sharing of linguistic traits of certain groups or communities amongst one another leads to the development of a language family.
- A language family is composed of languages that comprise the common elements.
- Linguistic diversity is one of the main features of diversity that form an integral part.
Linguistic Diversity in the classroom will help students learn from each other as well as help the students in their personal development. For a teacher to teach effectively and for students to work as a team, understanding each other in every aspect is essential. This will lead to healthy relationships among the classmates and a good atmosphere in the classroom.
