The Status and Role of English language in Contemporary Times: A Paradox of Demand and Mistrust

This paper examines the role of English language in the global context as well as within India and explores the love-hate status that it has been accorded by linguists, scholars and researchers over the years. On the one hand, English, a widely used language in science, technology and commerce serves as a lingua franca and is perceived as the language of opportunity and upward social mobility. On the other, it is seen as a potent threat to local languages and is condemned as the weapon of the rich and the elite to maintain the staus-quo. The author examines different views towards English language and concludes by advocating multilingualism as an effective resource in a language classroom to encourage in learners a simultaneous acquisition of several languages.