Scope of English Language
English is an international language. English has been playing an important role in our
educational system as well as in our national life. English was supreme in the pre-independent India, because of British rule over India. English still occupies an important place and position in courts, trade, commerce, industry, educational system and national life of India. Let us see the
scope of English through the following points:

a. An Official Language:
English was the official language of administration during the British period. After theindependence of India, English has been declared as the Associate Official Language of the Union of India for an indefinite period by an Act of Parliament in 1963. As such it dominates the administrative business at the centre as well as in the states. All the administrative work is done in English throughout the country.

b. Language of Court:
English still continues to be the language of the courts. So far there is no other suitable
language for legal business. Cases are presented and judgments are given in English in Supreme, High and District courts of India.

c. Language of International Trade and Industry:
English dominates the fields of trade and industry in the country. Because all the work in these fields is carried on in English, such as; maintenance of accounts, audit and
correspondence.
d. A Link Language:
English is a national link language of India as well as an international link language of the
world. It is the only language which is understood in all states of India and all countries of the world. We can establish social, economic, cultural and political relations with other countries and other states of India only through English.

e. A Library Language:
English is the key to the storehouse of knowledge. Most of this knowledge is not yet
available in Indian languages. It is in this context that the role of English as a library
language becomes important in India.

f. Importance in Education:
English plays an important role in the field of education. It is taught as a compulsory subject in most of the states in the country. It is the medium of instruction in technical, medical, law, science, commerce and other institutions. A large number of English medium schools of SSC, CBSE, ICSE patterns are providing education through English as a medium of instruction.

g. Window to the Modern World:
Pandit Nehru had rightly said, "English is our major window on the modern world." English
is a window through which we can see the scientific, technological, agricultural and
commercial developments taking place in the world. English is the only language through
which we have distilled the essence of modern knowledge in all fields of human activity.

h. Importance in Social Life:
English plays an important role in the social life of the country. The highly educated and
sophisticated sections of our society find it more convenient to talk in English. Invitation
cards are mostly printed in English. People generally put their signatures in English. People use thousands of English words in their day to day language. Bills in almost all the shops are given in English.

i. Lingua Franca of India and World:
Lingua Franca means the language of communication used by people belonging to different languages. English is the Lingua Franca of not only India but throughout the world.

j. Language of Western Science and Arts:
English was the key which opened the gates of western sciences and arts to Indians. By
learning English, they not only got a peep into the western sciences and arts but some of
them also acquired mastery over them. For ex: scientists like Raman, philosophers like
Radhakrishnan, poet like Tagore, etc.

k. Language of Science and Technology:
English is the language of science and information & communication technology on which the management and administration of the entire world is dependent. Without English, we cannot learn modern science and information and communication technology.

l. Language of our Literary Development:
The credit of developing the Indian languages goes to English. By reading English books,
Indian writers developed their own language and literature. The development of modern
Indian novel, short stories, drama and literary criticism is entirely due to the impact of English on Indian languages.
Such are the reasons that helped English to become an important language in not only India but throughout the world.

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