Attitudes of Dalit students and teachers towards English: a language of Dalit emancipation?

Abstract

English is known as a language of domination and hegemony making. But in certain contexts, it can function as a liberatory tool that can be used to overcome hindrances for emancipation and progress. The objective of this paper is to exemplify how Dalits—marginalised and oppressed communities—in India view English as a means of resisting injustice and freeing themselves from oppressive conditions. This article reports findings of an attitude study: specifically, it looks at the English attitudes found among the Dalit community in Tamil Nadu. The findings are derived from the analysis of 57 questionnaires filled up by research students and 25 teacher interviews. Although English, in most circumstances, does have an upper caste monopoly, findings show that it is also seen as a language of democracy and an emancipatory tool, as it provides an opportunity for social mobility and escape from the caste identity encoded in their mother tongues. We conclude that English is important for the Dalits in Tamil Nadu. They recognise and appreciate the instrumental and enriching role it plays in their lives. But mother tongue remains equally important for them.