It is always facinating to see the change in the dominant language to understand the changes that the larger society is going through. In a sense language mirrors the trends in the society. When I landed in Delhi 4 years ago, one thing that struck me as being very strange was the expression of combining 'aap' with 'ho'. 'Kya aap free ho?' 'kya aap aa rahe ho?' 'aap ise kar loge please?' (as opposed to 'Kya aap free hai?' 'kya aap aa rahe hain?' 'kya aap ise karlenge please?') I guess, 30 years ago, an expression like that would have raised eyeballs. Today these expressions are commonplace. A friend who teaches languages in the university of Delhi explained to me that it was the influence of Punjabi on the Hindi that we speak in Delhi, and therefore the useage. Though I believed him then, I think I have my own explaination for the phenomenon.
Hindi, today, is clearly one of the most widely understood languages in India. Such an expression, which is clearly ungramatical is very popular in commercial Hindi films as well. Today, it is accepted as the norm everywhere. I travelled extensively in Utter Pradesh, a bastion of 'classical' Hindi. And I found that such an expression is commonplace in small towns there. One language that has wider reach and influence in all parts of the country is English. There is no distinction between an 'aap', 'tum' and 'tu' in English (as in Punjabi). So, how would you translate 'how are you?' into Hindi? 'Aap kaise hain?' 'tum kaise ho?' 'tu kaisa hai?' or 'aap kaise ho?' Thus, I think it is English that influences Hindi and therefore, it is the English (western, read American) culture that has a lot of influence on our society.
However, another phenomnenon that is not so obvious is the cultural confusion that today's youth face. It is pan-Indian to address everyone older as 'aap'. Our work environments are increasingly getting informal, be it classrooms or offices. Transactions are on a first name basis. Therefore, does one address his collogue as 'tum' while he is actually older in age? Most people find the mid-way. 'Aap pasad karlo ma'am' or ' wahan jaana aap'. This is the same dilemma faced when doesn't feel comfortable addressing an elderly genetleman as 'chacha', or 'mama'. Perhaps it is not considered appropriate anymore.
As someone who is traditional and orthodox when it comes to language, this trend clearly does not appeal to me. However, I think we have to live with more such trends in the future and prepare ourselves for it.
Raksha Kumar
