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The “Higher” Status Language Does Not Always Win: The Fall Of English In India And The Rise Of Hindi

Author

Listed:
  • KUSHANI DE SILVA

    (Department of Mathematics, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA)

  • ALADEEN BASHEER

    (#x2020;Department of Mathematics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA)

  • KWADWO ANTWI-FORDJOUR

    (#x2021;Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Samford University, Birmingham, AL 35229, USA)

  • MATTHEW A. BEAUREGARD

    (#xA7;Department of Mathematics, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX 75962, USA)

  • VINEETA CHAND

    (#xB6;Snoring Orange Studio, 1150 6th Street, Berkeley CA 94710, USA)

  • RANA D. PARSHAD

    (Department of Mathematics, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA)

Abstract

Classical language dynamics explain language shift as a process in which speakers adopt a higher status language in lieu of a lower status language. This is well documented with English having out-competed languages such as Scottish Gaelic, Welsh, and Mandarin. The 1961–1991 Indian censuses report a sharper increase in Hindi/English Bilinguals compared to Monolingual Hindi speakers, suggesting that English is on the rise in India — and is out-competing Hindi. However, the 1991–2011 data show that Bilingual numbers have saturated, while Monolingual Hindi speakers continue to rise exponentially. To capture this counter-intuitive dynamic, we propose a novel language dynamics model of interaction between Monolingual Hindi speakers and Hindi/English Bilinguals, which captures the Indian census data of the last 50 years with greater accuracy, than other well-known language dynamics models. We thus provide a first example of a lower status language having out competed English, a higher status language.

Suggested Citation

  • Kushani De Silva & Aladeen Basheer & Kwadwo Antwi-Fordjour & Matthew A. Beauregard & Vineeta Chand & Rana D. Parshad, 2020. "The “Higher” Status Language Does Not Always Win: The Fall Of English In India And The Rise Of Hindi," Advances in Complex Systems (ACS), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 23(08), pages 1-20, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:wsi:acsxxx:v:23:y:2020:i:08:n:s0219525920500216
    DOI: 10.1142/S0219525920500216
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