Research in the supporting sciences

TL;DR: The study finds that Indian university students have a positive attitude towards English and prefer it over Hindi as a link language. They also favour a twolanguage formula over the current three-language formula.

Abstract: This article presents the findings of a sociolinguistic study of Indian university students' attitudes and perceptions towards English and of their use of English. The study was undertaken to provide feedback from learners for the purpose of language policy and planning. The major findings of the study are that students have a favourable attitude towards English, recognise its prestige and are instrumental!) motivated to study it. Furthermore, they prefer English to Hindi as a link language, and do not want Hindi to be taught in educational institutions. It also shows that they favour a twolanguage formula to the present three-language formula. A brief description of present and past language policy in India is presented in order to provide the historical context for the present study.