Is English Really Necessary for Career Success in India? Let's Discuss Your Views

The Importance of Language in Career Development

Before starting this discussion, I want to make one thing clear: I have studied in an English Medium School. I understand that if we want to work in reputed companies, we have to speak fluent English.

It is said that if we take education through our mother tongue, we understand the subject very well. English is a foreign language and now it has become a global language. Every country in this world is proud of its national language and mother tongue. The fact is we are not proud of our national language and mother tongue. Anyone speaking in their mother tongue is considered vernacular, and people who speak in English are considered sophisticated. Chinese, Japanese, German, French, and Spanish people conduct their business in their own language, and they are not fluent or they can't speak English properly. Yet their countries are developed.

Many of my relatives have studied in Marathi Medium, and they are very good at understanding subjects like Maths, Science, Geography, etc. Many of them are working in top companies and hold top positions in those companies (yes, they did brush up their language skills). Their conceptual understanding is also much better than the English medium population. This proves that language cannot be a barrier to building a great career in life.

If any company wants to become successful in India, they have to satisfy the needs of the Indian population, the majority of whom live in rural areas, and not all of them are experts in speaking English. If this is the case, then why are many bright candidates rejected during the interview process just because they can't speak English properly? It is fine if they are rejected on other grounds like lack of relevant skills, knowledge, experience, etc.

Defining Communication Skills in Corporate India

My next question is directed to corporate India. When you say communication skills, how do you define it? A person can be an excellent communicator even in their own mother tongue or national language. For example, Sushma Swaraj. Unfortunately, the word "Communication" has become synonymous with speaking English. Communication means speaking a language with correct grammar and pronunciation.

Please give your opinion on this topic. I know that communicating in English is the need of the hour, but I will appreciate everyone's view on this topic.

Dear Mandy007, you seem to have missed one point. All the countries you have mentioned have only one official/national language. However, India has many. It was for that reason, among others, that India is sometimes referred to as the Indian subcontinent. Please tell me what language should a person from Maharashtra use when working in Karnataka or Tamil Nadu, or vice versa. Also, the countries that you mentioned were not colonized by the British and became industrialized at the same pace as the British without the help of the English language. English is the language that has united India, not Hindi or any of our other official languages.

So, kindly tell me which language should corporates use without giving any undue advantage to people speaking their own mother tongue? My mother tongue is Tamil (I can't read or write in it), my regional language is Kannada (the official language of Karnataka), which I can read, write, and speak fluently; I can also read, write, and speak Hindi, but not fluently; I studied that as a second language. English was my first language since the age of 11. So, if I were working in any state other than Karnataka, which language should I be using?

The Role of Language in Effective Communication

Speaking English like a British is not the only criterion to mark a person as a good communicator. Language is only a medium.

Certain jobs demand specific language skills—it could be English, Hindi, Tamil, Marathi, Kannada, Arabic, Mandarin...

Here is an interesting post on communication: [URL="http://blogs.hbr.org/baldoni/2009/04/five_things_leaders_can_do_to.html"]

1. In the knowledge industry, particularly IT, ITeS, KPO, etc., English is the leading business language as the customer base is across the world. However, when dealing with China, the Middle East, Japan, Russia, and France, companies use either translators or people with respective country language skills.

2. In India, if we look at metros and mini metros, English has been accepted as the most preferred business language. However, when we go to the Northern part of India, Hindi is equally important as a business language.

3. Across India, to work in certain departments, local language skills are a must (e.g., a person who cannot speak Tamil can never function as an effective IR Officer in a Tyre Manufacturing Company in Coimbatore).

English is a good language, and this has helped Indians establish a better rapport with people from other English-speaking countries. It has also helped India cross geographical barriers, create more business opportunities, increase export revenue, etc.

@ Nashbramhall - With great respect to your experience and opinion, I express my disagreement on one point. I am unable to agree with the opinion that "English is the language that has united India, not Hindi or any of our other official languages." Before 1947, our literacy rates were not so good, kings were not speaking English, and all our freedom fighters were not speaking English. The constant urge towards freedom and the efforts of millions of people across Hindustan, under the leadership of many great leaders, made United India a reality. The colonial rule and slavery imposed by the East India Company acted as a catalyst for people to unite and fight for freedom.

I take your point. But please tell me, what is the official language of India? If instead of English, any of the other languages were declared the official language, would it have been accepted? I remember what happened in Tamil Nadu and other non-Hindi states when Hindi was made compulsory. Even now, though Hindi is the official language, "the constitution requires the authoritative text of all laws, including Parliamentary enactments and statutory instruments, to be in English until Parliament decides otherwise."

Reference: [Languages with official status in India](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_with_official_status_in_India)

Dear Natbramhall,

You are talking about a small portion of Hindustani. If you see the survey, HINDI will stand above all languages, and above all, HINDI is recognized as our MATRIBHASHA. Further, corporates do not only mean white-collar people; it is the hard effort of blue-collar people who speak HINDI more often than any other language. I totally agree with Consultme for putting Hindi above all.

So please don't react when English is criticized. No one can replace HINDI or even Sanskrit. It is Hindi that has kept Hindustan united, and those who speak English have rather divided our country like the British did. Sometimes it is required, like a person must know Tamil if he or she wants to work with rural Tamils. English speakers will feel like strangers.

Regards,

The Importance of Language in Communication

There is no harm in communicating in English, but my objection is: why should you consider a person unsophisticated just because they can't speak English properly? English has become synonymous with sophistication. If someone can't speak English, they are ridiculed. Why?

It is a foreign language. Even if we speak English clearly, we still can't match the accent of Englishmen because they were born to speak that way. As mentioned in my post, we are ashamed to speak in our mother tongue even with people who belong to our mother tongue. Why?

My main concern is that we are losing our identity and underestimating the power of our mother tongue or national language.

I too accept your viewpoint, Mandy. We need English as a common language, or it has become a business language. However, to understand English, we need some structure, which can only be provided by our mother tongue. English is essential for growth in our careers, and we have made progress in this regard.

Somehow, the discussion is becoming heated, and it seems that a few individuals are taking it personally. I feel India was divided into many states based on language alone. Having the same language makes administration more convenient, yet we remain united. Previously, we were not united, and all the kings fought each other, especially just before colonization. However, in ancient India under great emperors, we were united, including Pakistan. Therefore, unity and division have occurred from time to time, not only in our country but also in great countries around the world. Thus, I do not agree that a language can unite a nation, but culture and geography can. The rest of Asia is influenced by Indian culture. The world and our society continue to prosper because of laws. Imagine if there were no laws; people would engage in killing, looting, rape, homicide, and genocide. Currently, this union of states known as India is trying to break the language barrier, not only within the country but also internationally for opportunities. Hindi is a fantastic language, and I love Hindi.

Especially for South Indians, English is the most commonly used language after their mother tongue. All languages in India, except Tamil (I am not familiar with any other language like that), originated from Sanskrit. I understand Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam as they are my mother tongue. I can communicate in all South Indian languages and Hindi, though I am not proficient. In the initial days of my career, English helped me connect with my customers in Bangalore. Later on, I also learned Kannada. India has many beautiful languages, but we need English for our growth.

Why Candidates Are Rejected for Not Speaking Good English

I would like to address why candidates are rejected for not speaking good English. In my organization, I have never considered proficiency in English as a yardstick for selecting people at the frontline managerial level. However, if they had good English skills, they would have been more confident. It is akin to dressing up. Why do people dress well? The reasons people talk about are correct, but primarily it is to impress others and influence them as we desire. Additionally, factors such as gender, climate, culture, cost, and convenience are taken into account. People respect and adopt what is good; we cannot impose it upon them. The English language is similar. Imagine a senior manager speaking broken English; they may struggle to command respect. If you ask me why, the answer is simply, "it is like that." Therefore, if you aim to progress, you must decide.

If you wish to pursue further studies and research, materials are available only in English. Wikipedia provides answers to numerous queries that we may not have learned in college, and many others may not be able to answer. We should also aspire to be global citizens. We are proud to be Indians, and we should also take pride in speaking good English. We are far superior to any other Asian country.

The lungi is a cool way to dress. Even white dhotis are also called lungis and are prestigious in South India, worn for noble occasions. However, one cannot attend a meeting wearing a lungi.

Corporates are highly influenced by the Western way of doing business, engaging with other countries. When foreign companies invest, they often have their representatives on the board of directors, showing that influence is also driven by the economy.

Even beggars in the US and London speak English. Therefore, knowing English is not a symbol of one's caliber. When you possess the caliber and are also savvy in English, you can access better opportunities.

Did you know that international speakers are paid $50,000 for one speech? If someone aims to grow, they must accept the truth that English is essential. Otherwise, continue debating and proving which language is superior, wasting your time (I was joking, okay).

Because of our proficiency in English, we are able to post, read, and comment on this site.

Regards

A blogger wrote a personal message to state that people did not appreciate my point of view and the debate has moved away from the topic. If that's the case, I am sorry.

Clarification on Language and Identity

Let me make certain things clear. Just because Hindi has been called the Matribhasha, it won't become the mother tongue of people whose mother tongue is Tamil, Bengali, etc. As I pointed out before, I know how to speak, read, and write in Hindi, Kannada, and English; I do not know how to read or write in my mother tongue, Tamil. Someone said in their response that it's a shame that people do not feel good to speak in their own mother tongue. You will be perhaps surprised if I tell you that a number of children born to first-generation immigrants in the UK do understand our mother tongues (we speak that at home).

Language in Professional Contexts

Coming to the point of the discussion, I recall having to go to Calcutta (Present Kolkata) on duty from LRDE to inspect generators being manufactured. What language should I have used? Of course, in the 1960s, within the company, the supervisors and workers spoke in Bengali and spoke to me in English. We did not expect them to speak in fluent English. If a person did not know English, someone else would translate it for us.

Globalization and Language Learning

In the era of Globalization, even the Chinese are learning English; I have taught over 40 Chinese students who came to study MBA. Even now, I am in touch with a few, and the common language is English. I am not defending the use of English, but it happens to be used more widely than any other language.

You have triggered an interesting and relevant discussion on a topic that surfaces time and again. I would like to share my views on the points raised by you.

In my opinion, it is incorrect to say that corporates stress the proficiency of English for all their recruitment. The language skill is considered only on a need basis. For example, if a tradesman is to be recruited, his language proficiency is not given as much importance as his skill in his trade. Not knowing English does not automatically mean that a person is very fluent in his mother tongue. There are many who are not very adept even in their mother tongue, yet still do a good job and be successful.

Communication: Language and Behavior

I always maintain that communication is to be seen from two angles: the language part and the behavioral part. If you are interested, you may like to go through some of the postings on Cite HR. Many members have made useful contributions on this score. Here again, one point is to be stressed: whether it is English or the local language, adroitness is taken into reckoning based on the job requirement. It is not an inflexible MUST.

The prominence and importance of English have been already discussed in detail by fellow members.

Regards,
V. Raghunathan

Please read the article at Urdu as medium of instruction and compulsory subject - DAWN.COM. As I have been away from India for over 45 years and visit India for short periods, I am not conversant with recruitment policies. However, in the 1960s when I was there, as Raghunathan has clearly stated, the requirement of a good command of English was not necessary for all jobs.

The Importance of Effective Communication in the Corporate World

In the corporate world, an individual is expected to communicate their ideas, concerns, and suggestions to the employer and customer in an effective manner. In a multilingual work environment, a common denominator language is used for communication. It can be English, Hindi, or any other language.

It's more important how you communicate your thoughts effectively rather than your pronunciation and vocabulary. In a customer-facing role, an employee can be expected to have a good command over language and pronunciation.

Languages are beautiful things to learn, with all Indian languages and scripts giving you a strong command over grammar and pronunciation. It's not difficult for us to learn any new language.

People are giving undue importance to English. It's just one of the languages.

Regards,
Abhishek

Good to see that forum members are reaching a consensus now. During the course of the discussion, unfortunately, it has been hijacked by language sentiments. The personal disagreement was on 'what made united India' and not on whether English is great, Hindi, or hundreds of other languages.

The British tried to destroy the culture and heritage of the rest of the world with colonialism. However, we have not treated English or any other country in the same manner. Even though English is a foreign language (the word "foreign" itself is relative today), you can find many forms of colloquial English across India—Kolkata, Trivandrum, Kochi, Chennai, Bangalore, Indore, Mumbai, Delhi, Bhopal, Ahmedabad, etc. This shows how much we love this language.

At the same time, we should not worry much about the medium of communication. We need to be really passionate about what we are doing. Language is not going to be a hurdle for the best products or services. Hope these two examples can substantiate this view:

1. "The Alchemist," originally written in Portuguese, has sold more than 30 million copies in 56 different languages, becoming one of the best-selling books in history and winning the Guinness World Record for the most translated book by a living author.

2. China became the global hub of production even though the Chinese are very poor in English usage. Even user manuals of products (multilingual) are getting printed there!

Yes, English language plays a very big role in corporate India. Since India is a multilingual country, the English language is playing an important role not only in the corporate sector but also in other sectors. The English language is becoming more and more important day by day.

Due to British dominancy for two hundred years, the mindset of Indians has changed. Indians have adapted to Western culture and habits. No single Indian language has become universally accepted among Indians as a common language.

Communication does not mean proficiency in any particular language. Communication is about understanding the messages that are exchanged among people.

It is unwise to consider English proficiency as equivalent to communication.

Thank you for a very enlightening discussion. Much has already been said, and different viewpoints covered. I just want to point out that even though English is the "official" business language in corporate India, Hindi or any other Indian language is used more often to discuss issues. This is typical when managers are talking verbally and not through official channels. Most important discussions happen in such conversations, and even decisions are made (which are officially communicated later in "English").

So, nothing to worry, Mandy, all our language heritage is safe and thriving. By the way, you must be aware that India is a country with the second-largest number of English-speaking population (after the US, as per Wikipedia). So why bother? We could just announce English as one more of our regional languages! (If Britain can claim "Indian Curry" as their dish, then why not?)

Thanks once again.