Ideas of India
Deepika Padmanabhan on Language, Identity, and Nation-Building in South India
Oct 10, 2024
Deepika Padmanabhan, a PhD candidate at Yale, dives into the intricate ties between language and identity in South India. She discusses how dominant languages like Hindi and English shape the identities of regional speakers in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The conversation highlights the politics of linguistic diversity, exploring how language acts as a nation-building tool and the implications of imposed languages on local identities. Additionally, she reflects on the complexities of bilingualism and the impact of technology on language accessibility.
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Quick takeaways
- The imposition of dominant languages like Hindi and English significantly shapes the identities of regional speakers in South India.
- Everyday practices of linguistic promotion by nationalizing elites create complex tensions between national and subnational identities in multilingual contexts.
Deep dives
Impact of Language on Regional Identity
Exposure to dominant national languages like Hindi and English influences the identities of regional speakers in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Research highlights that such exposure increases identification with a broader Indian identity among Tamilians and Kannadigas. This shift occurs as individuals navigate their self-perception between subnational identities linked to their regional languages and a national identity framed by the dominant languages. This phenomenon underscores the complex interplay between language, politics, and identity in a multilingual society.
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