Srinagar, Mar 14: Academics Monday underscored that being a global language, English has influenced almost all other languages, including the indigenous ones.
 “We are living in a global village. Anything happening anywhere has its influence on other places. Same is the case with English language. It has influenced almost all other languages,” said KU’s Dean, Academic Affairs, Prof AR Yousuf.
 Prof Yousuf, who presided over a national-level seminar in the campus, asserted that countless reputable journals were being published in English language “just because the language is accepted and recognized as a global language.”
 “It is with the result that these journals have an impact factor as well,” he said.
 The 3-day seminar titled English language and literature in India: Issues in Policy, Pedagogy and Research is being organized by the Department of English.
 “We need to train our students as per the market trends. It is therefore imperative that they are equipped with communication skills so that they are able to compete at the national and international levels,” Prof Yousuf said, hailing the Department’s endeavor to discuss the issues facing English language and literature.
 In his keynote address, Prof ML Raina, former professor at the Department of English University of Punjab, dwelt at length on the issues and challenges in English literature and language. “We must understand that there is a clear-cut difference between literature and literary studies. Primarily it’s the literature and art that transforms us,” he said, asserting that literary studies need to be explored in relation to the entire world.
 The Head, Department of English, Dr Lily Want, asserted that they were committed to constantly update themselves to the changing trends in English language and literature. “The present seminar, among other things, will discuss the role of English literature in an information society,” she said, underlining that the Department was constantly reviewing the curriculum at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels to keep pace with the institutions of repute.
 Dr Want said they were always in the process of ensuring maintenance of highest standards in academics and evaluation. “We are proud to have 34 research scholars in the department and number of students having qualified the National Eligibility Test,” she said.
 The Seminar Director, Prof Muhammad Aslam, said India had travelled a lot with regard to policy, pedagogy and research vis-à-vis English language and literature. “Even in our department, we have been carrying out research in almost all these areas,” he said.
 The seminar, he said, will throw up some major questions including the role that English departments can and must play in development of this language. “And there is a serious question of the role of literature in today’s world,” he said, asserting that Kashmir has been a “fertile ground” for English language and literature.
 He said the English Department has recently reviewed the undergraduate curriculum and incorporate more elements of language into it, apart from the essentialities of literature. “This seminar has special significance because through various presentations we will be discussing policy, pedagogy and research related issues by focusing attention on both language and literature,” he said. “For example, what is the status of literature in information technology; what is the status of various theories in literature put forth so far.”
 Dr Iffat Maqbool from the Department of English conducted the proceedings of the seminar, raising a fundamental question whether Indian English would threaten the indigenous language in future. Dr Tasleem A War presented vote of thanks.
 A number of reputable scholars from various parts of India are participating in the seminar. These include Prof GK Das; noted writer and scholar, Prof Badri Raina and eminent professor from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, Prof Harish Narang.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 14 Mar 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 14 Mar 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 15 Mar 2011 00:00:00 IST