A thought - The evolution of literature and languages of ethnic descent and the changing environment.

Meena Chopra

By Meena Chopra

The essence of a language lies in its literary merits which influence and impact its literature and literary capabilities. One wonders that what are these literary merits and from where and how do they surface. Any literary work, poetry or prose, which represents the high quality of artistic merit will create a standard and an immovable and everlasting place for itself in that particular language.

Language and culture are woven into the fabric of our normal life, but that depth, the centre point, from where all the imagination and creativity originate in the form of art and literature, are obscured in the inner depths of the unconscious mind. It is the deepest layer of the self and mind where all the diversity of life finds its ultimate abode by getting into the oneness of the being.  Keeping this in mind, is it not the responsibility of all the so called literary organizations, specifically ethnic, that they support and are helpful in the initiation and the continuity of that artistic quality and its expression in a language and in a way, so that it becomes individualised and its influence directly or indirectly can impact and be showcased in the contemporary literary stream. It becomes even more important for that literature which is being developed in ethnic languages through the contribution of immigrant population of varied ethnicities as the processes of immigration has always been more sensitive to the change and it gives ample opportunity to bring newness in the literary arts.  Amongst all this, it is very important that the soul of the language is kept alive which means its literary merit which is dependent on its artistic abilities has to be kept alive. It is necessary that there is a continuity and movement in this direction towards a concrete development.

It is natural for the artist or a writer that he feels all aspects of the life and nature within the depth of the soul. And in time the touch of these creative moments which had disappeared and got entrapped in the unknown maze of life, surface from its unconscious level to the conscious levels of mind in the nuances of a language and its form.

Any good literature has newness in it. This new-ness comes with changing thought of mind in a changing environment. This probably indicates that the thought process and day to day interactions are directly linked with the usage of our language but the quality of language depends on the literary capabilities and its artistic merit.

When we talk about the fast development, then a question rises as to what kind of relationship does self-expression has with language? In continuation to this, there is another question, that is, in this day and age of globalization and the changes that are seeping in because of speedy technological advancement of 21^st century, what kind of effect these dynamic changes will have on the finer sensibilities of human mind from where the creativity rises? And also what could be the primary medium of expression of these unexpressed feelings? Is it possible that the literary stream and the language will take a new form which is going to be very different from the prevailing stream? What would be the environment and the medium in which man would express the obscured subtle sensibilities at a higher level of creative expression?

In this fast pace of changing environment, will Hindi and other ethnic languages be able to remain in their original forms and if yes then till when? Is it not that Hindi and other ethnic languages need to have a new direction?  If the language has to remain alive and go ahead then is it not necessary that we embrace this inevitable change individually and bring back the vibrancy in the language? Is it not the utter need of these changing times? This change is compelling us to find a focal point in all the kind of diversity which rises from caste, creed, cultures, traditions, and also technological changes, a common playground where there is an exchange of thoughts. In today’s environment it is necessary to join hands with the diversity around to grow and co-exist. And this is challenging too. If observed carefully this is the predicament of any ethnic language in the fast paced environment today.

Leave alone the ethnic languages even the English language is also not spared from this change.   The effects of this change are shown maximum on the traditional form of English where the idiom and the usage is being changed radically and continuously.

The changing environment and the youth want that which can give an instant stimulation to their finer sensibilities. Something which they can understand in a glance. Meaning powerful images and visuals accompanied by sound effects and may be few words of a prevalent language which can give some sensible and in-depth meaning to their enquiring minds. The times are of multitasking and speed. Therefore Hindi or any other language that wants to get ahead will have to catch the speed of 'SMS'es and will have to be breaking free from the archaic bondages. It will have to embrace new experiments and the diversity. Not only this, an understanding of the reactions of the subconscious nature of this diversity with the conscious nature mind. This may help in giving a new direction in the expression of the subtle sensibilities in a newer medium and environment to the literary arts and then the language can get a new meaning. I think it is a very big challenge of the changing times to us and at the same time an opportunity for the literary arts.

-Meena Chopra