Saurabh Singh
Mumbai, India
Abstract
This study analyzes the impact and nature of multilingualism in the Indian Parliament, focusing on debates and discussion in parliament. Given India’s linguistic diversity, parliamentary debate is conducted in various languages, with a tendency to shape the accessibility of debates, policy-making, and public understanding. The study analyzes transcripts, debate records, and official proceedings over a decade to determine the impact of linguistic diversity on legislative communication. Quantitative analysis, including frequency distribution of languages, sentiment analysis, and speaker contribution, is complemented by qualitative content analysis of debates. The findings indicate that while English and Hindi dominate formal proceedings, regional languages provide localized perspectives that reflect local socio-political issues.
This study identifies the importance of multilingual inclusivity in affirming representative government, arguing that language choice influences legislative dynamics and democratic legitimacy. The paper explores policy recommendations towards improving translation systems, enhancing debate accessibility for non-native speakers, and ensuring the maintenance and strengthening of the multilingual nature of the Indian political environment.
Keywords
Multilingualism, Indian Parliament, Debates, Language Policy, Discourse Analysis
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