LINGUISTIC CHAUVINISM
“Chauvinism” is a devotion for or against something, just based on what you feel (not necessarily what you may
know). So, Linguistic chauvinism is the idea that one’s language is superior to that of others. This happens generally
when the language is that of the ruling class.Linguistic chauvinism is the overt preference for one language over
others. Language is considered to be the cultural identity of a particular group of people who use it. Hence, imposing
some other language on the people hammers their emotions and is a step to annex their relationship with their
culture. The language of any country is the pride of that country. It not only defines the culture but also tells us about
the people, literature and history of of the country. Language for some people is just the medium of communication
but for others it is the question of life and death.‘The Last Lesson’ very prominently raises the question of linguistic
and cultural hegemony of the colonial and imperial powers and their lust for controlling the world and influencing their
cultures and identities.The Last Lesson raises the burning question very innocently through the words of little Franz
that “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons?” This raises the question of immorality of imposing
imperial languages and cultures on the colonies. The child questions that when even the birds and animals can’t be
forced to abandon their language and speak others then what forces the man to think that it would be prudent force
other human beings to forcibly accept any language other than theirs.The language of a country is not only a medium
of communication for the people but also the link for identity, once the native language is snatched away from the
people. It’s not only the loss of convenient communicating medium but also the loss of identity for people for what
they have been and what they might become. When a small child like Franz can think of the irrationality behind
snatching away the right of language and identity from people then why can’t the war lords and colonizers understand
the fact?
When a people are enslaved, as long as they hold fast to their language it is as if they have the keys to their prison.” What
could this mean? Ans. Language is an important aspect of the culture of any nation. Native language unites the
people of a particular area or nation. During colonization colonizers enforce political domination by exerting their rules
and regulation over the people of colonized nation and enforce cultural domination by imposing their own language
on them. In some cases, colonizers prohibit the teaching of the native language and try to deprive the people of their
identity. In such cases ,when people are attached to their native language, their identity would be kept intact. Their
language is the key to their prison as their language keeps them united against the invaders and urge them to fight
against the enslavement.
Q Franz thinks, “Will they make them sing in German, even the pigeons ?” What could this means? Ans. Alphonse
Daudet’s ‘The Last Lesson’ very prominently raises the question of linguistic and cultural hegemony of the colonial
and imperial powers and their lust for controlling the world and influencing their cultures and identities. Prussians
acquired the districts of Alsace and Lorraine in Franco-Prussian War , but they were not satisfied with mere political
domination ,they desired to enforce their own language on the people of the defeated nation. They released the order
that from now German would be taught in schools rather than French. Franz wondered whether they would make
even pigeons sing in German. It means that they had grown up using French as their language and now snatching
away their language from them would be unfair and unkind. The language was as natural to them as cooing is to the
pigeon. So, compulsion to speak another language is like dominating the force of nature and enslaving it. As it is next
to impossible to alter the way pigeons sing, in the same way it is difficult for people to accept a language which is
forcibly imposed on them. Adopting a new language causes pain and discomfort.
VALUE BASED QUESTIONS The Last Lesson Q. Franz’s feelings about M. Hamel and school changed gradually by
the end of the text, though he had a great disliking for both the beginning of the story. It is said that first impression is the
last impression. Is it true in context of “The Last Lesson”? Definitely not. Write a small paragraph of about 100 words
penning down your views on, ‘A person can be best judged in his first appearance only’. Ans: A well-known dictum
states that ’appearances are deceptive’. In fact, it is true that one cannot be judged in just one meeting. Actually, one
or more meetings are not enough to judge a person’s personality. Every person reacts differently on different
situations at different times. So it is not a matter of single appearances to form a judgment about a person. It might be
a prejudice. Now-a-days every person appears to be social and gentle. They want to be presentable in the society.
No matter what their background is. One’s clothes, gestures, habits, etc. do not define one’s personality in just one
appearance. Due time should be taken to form opinion about a person. Different situations reveal different aspects of
one’s personality. Sometimes a life remains short to know a person. But sometimes even a few seconds are enough
to know one’s real face. Hence, it is not a matter of first or last impression but the issue of time, needed to know one
in one’s right colours.
Q. While speaking his mouth choked and wrote, ‘Vive La France’ and finally by gesture he said: “School is dismissed –
you may go.” These lines show that M Hamel was greatly attached to his motherland, profession and mother tongue. In
other words, one should be attached to his own land, cultures and customs. But today’s Indians are drowned in the
western colours. It shows that there is need to spread awareness about the feeling of patriotism and other related factors.
Write a paragraph in about 100 words highlighting the issue. Ans. Patriotism-An Unmatched Spirit Patriotism is
defined as one’s love for one’s customs, culture, mother tongue, motherland and everything what is associated with
one’s motherland. One should be proud of what one’s country has given to him. In Indian context, people have
started adopting western culture. They are in the race of being ‘Mod’. This is really surprising as well as pathetic. As
an Indian, we own a rich and diversified culture which has attracted foreigners too. Many patriots have sacrificed their
lives in the name of their country which has attracted foreigners too. Many Patriots have a feeling that cannot be filled
in the hearts of Indians but it should be arisen and inculcated among the future generation of the country. The
students or the youth of the country need to be indianised. Adaption of different cultures is not bad. But forgetting our
own culture for sake of other ones is not done. The need of the hour is to inculcate the moral values, virtues, love for
humanity and motherland among the Indian youth. Patriotism is an undying and unmatched spirit that cannot be
sacrificed for anything.
Q. Read the following question and answer the question that follows: Then he turned to the blackboard, took a piece of
chalk and, bearing on with all his might, he wrote as large as he could – “vive la France!” Abraham Lincoln, a former
president of America said’ “I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his
place will be proud of him.” After reading the lesson and the above quote of Abraham Lincoln you being to reflect on the
lost spirit of patriotism amongst the youth in India due to which there is no respect for once countrymen and no
determination amongst the youth to lead the country to be a better future. Write an article in about 100 words for a
national magazine on the need for revival of patriotic spirit amongst the youth of India.
ANS: The Need for Revival of Patriotic Spirit amongst the Youth in India”
India has been the land of proud martyrs who embraced the gallows for their ideals, where every drop in freedom
fighter’s blood fought not for itself but for nation. Today, the same India stands famished and starved of the true
patriotic spirit. Our youth appears to be driven more by a crazy love for a superficial self-advancement than anything
else for our young boys and girls, country holds on better value than just a geographical identity. Undoubtedly,
‘patriotism’ needs to be redefined and revived in India. We probably find our patriotic spirit stirred up when there is an
Indo-pak cricket match or when terrorists bomb our trains. But we definitely forget it when we cast our vote in the
elections, when a hungry beggar asks for a rupee, when we shamelessly throw garbage on the roads and so on….
Patriotic emotions cannot be engendered in a windfall. They will have to be engraved on tender hearts that will
remain placid. Our education policies thus needed to be revalued and reformed. More national awareness and
respect should be embedded into the scholastic curriculum. This could be nothing more than a sincere devotion for
making a peaceful-loving, uncorrupt, crime-free, unpolluted and patriotic India. Small actions persuaded with a notion
of doing good to other countrymen is true patriotism. Today, our country wants awakened citizens to move forward
and it is in this sphere where we have to exercise our true patriotic spirit.
