AMITY-UNESCO RESULT
Answer: (Jarawa in Andaman, Lepcha in Sikkim,Jaunsari in Uttarakhand, Kondh in Orissa,
Bodo in Assam, Khasi in Meghalaya, Gond in Madhya Pradesh, Gaddi in Himachal Pradesh,
Rabari in Gujarat, Bhil in Rajasthan)
English has become the most widely used language as the entire world becomes accessible in the 21st century. However, variations exist in the language’s cultural and regional aspects, especially when an American gets an order of french fries when the British menu only has chips listed. And so we wonder if English should be the sole bureaucratic language with such minute yet significant differences. Should one deviation of the lingo be the official one for all countries, let alone a different native language? Should English, being the most widely spoken language with approx. 1.35 bn global speakers, officially accept variations?
Data or data?
With changes in accents, the pronunciations of words are impacted. The pronouncing of the term water as ‘wader’ in Australian English and ‘vahtur’ in Indian English shows the role accents have. This creates linguistic confusion from region to region and even minor arguments in favour of the “correct” pronunciation.
Tyred or flat tire?
The most common distinction in spelling comes with ‘s’ in British English (realise) and ‘z’ in American English (realize). Still, the most notable contrast is the use of ‘t’ in past tense. American English uses ‘dreamed’ and ‘learned’ whereas British English has ‘dreamt’ and ‘learnt’. With such contrasts, the most notable inconvenience is the red underlines on Microsoft Word. So, is there any such thing as a “correct” manuscript?
The street talk
Perhaps the widest distinction is between vocab and slang when it comes to words. What we call brinjal in India is known to the British as aubergine; Canadians use eraser while Australians refer to it as rubber. Standard greetings also differ from country to country. From a ‘what’s up?’ in America to a ‘howzit?’ in Africa, these slangs are unique to their regions. Though British English is known as the ‘proper’ form of the language, this aspect of variation is more powerful as it creates a stereotypical sense of racial difference and sometimes even fosters superiority.
A unified road
Maybe a few ‘ah’ and ‘eh’ distinctions can be ignored, but it becomes unacceptable when they affect the interaction. So, should the formal aspect of communication be unified or not? Well, the most obvious solution to prevent variations is to have a globally accepted English form. This ensures that people have a unified manner of communication. However, it would be impossible to fight the distinctions stemming from difference in accents. And isn’t this what makes humans a unique species, where each specimen is distinct? The human touch, as they say it, is what sets our race apart. So why deprive our language, the foundation of our society, of something so imperative to our being. The conflict of the discussion is evident when the 30-participant poll had 23 participants disagree that English should have one globally accepted variation.
[Dishita is currently pursuing psychology and pre-med at Emory University, USA]
Nurturing financial gurus
Everyone should have a basic understanding of economics in order to manage personal finances, and make informed decisions as workers, consumers, investors and innovators. This learning must begin at an early age as it equips the students with essential life skills to navigate the financial complexities of the modern world. To most, this may sound tedious and complicated, but at Amity, the study of economics and commerce has been made fun and engaging through the Ecom Forum, an interactive inter-school competition that fosters business and management understanding in young minds. This annual event comprises three competitions - Economics Symposium, Wisdom Wands and Fintoons - all of which act as a platform for engaging in discussions and providing solutions for relevant fiscal issues like e-commerce, banking, capital gains, Intellectual Property Rights etc. Besides, the ideas are mentored and judged by industry experts, where the young minds get an opportunity to become business prodigies while they are at school. The programme has become a stepping stone for many budding entrepreneurs who present ideas for business start-ups especially directed towards social causes like helping local artisans or reducing carbon footprint etc. In the last 24 years, Ecom Forum has not only helped Amitians, but also hundreds of students from other schools as well.
It’s Time to Say, Hip, Hip, Hurray!
AIS Vas 6 has been awarded the Best Scouting School trophy in Ghaziabad for its outstanding performance in the Bharat Scouts & Guides programme. The master trainer of the school was also felicitated with Guide Captain trophy.
Plating heritage
While enjoying my morning cup of tea, my attention was drawn to the vast spreads of newspaper ads that featured mouth-watering Navratri thalis. Yes, the Navratri celebrations are in full swing and this nine-day festival - of abstaining from certain foods and purifying the body, mind, and soul - has undergone a huge culinary transformation since my own childhood. I remember surviving on fruits alone as getting Navratri food from outside was unimaginable. But now, from small restaurants to five-stars, all are catering to those who are fasting. With celebrities like Madhuri Dixit sharing their own favourite Navratri dishes on social media, millet-based saatvik food has found resonance with even the younger generation. Sabudana, amaranth, jowar, bajra and many more millets have evolved as a healthy eating alternative, and Navratri food reflects that many of these can be used to make sumptuous dishes not only during the festival but throughout the year.
In fact, at Amity, schools have also taken up the cause of empowering millets during Youth Power. At G-20, international dignitaries were served millet dishes, and this news became part of international reportage! Millets improve gut health and doctors endorse a millet diet for curing diseases like anaemia, micronutrient deficiency, thyroid, and diabetes. As we celebrate Navratri, let’s remember that millets are an intrinsic part of our heritage and that our ancestors knew their power much before the world woke up to a gluten-free diet. So, embrace the old as you usher in the new with Navratri.
Dear Editor,
This is in reference to the article ‘Ghastly ghostwriting’ published on page 6 of the GT edition dated April 8, 2024. After reading the article written, I couldn’t help but ponder over how our perception of a celebrity’s work shifts once we discover it to be ghostwritten. Although we still trust their expertise in areas like cosmetics and fashion, it is undeniably an intriguing topic that alters our views when it comes to literature. I felt that the piece truly shed light on this hidden aspect of writing. The article does an excellent job of demystifying ghostwriting, which is often misunderstood and underappreciated. Despite often being unknown and uncelebrated, the contribution of ghostwriters plays an essential role in shaping books and bringing stories to life. Reading this article has altered the collective consciousness on the issue, and it’s awe-inspiring to believe that there could be multiple unknown hands at work putting together masterpieces that we hold dear yet remain oblivious about their true creators. Ishi Pandey
AIS VYC Lucknow, XI B