Class 11 English NCERT Book Woven Words Poetry Lesson 6 Mother Tongue Questions and Answers.
Understanding the poem
1. The quill is the central element in the poem-what does it symbolise?
2. You notice a sense of urgency in the poet’s request-what is the reason for this?
3. How has the poet brought out her emotional attachment to her mother tongue?
4. Personification is a figure of speech that attributes human qualites to inanimate things and abstract ideas. How has it been used in this poem?
Answer:
Understanding the poem “Mother Tongue” by Padma Sachdev:
1. The quill is the central element in the poem—what does it symbolize?
The quill symbolizes the act of writing and expressing thoughts in the mother tongue, Dogri. It represents the poet’s tool to communicate, preserve, and continue the tradition of her language. The quill signifies the poet’s connection to her linguistic heritage, as well as the responsibility and pride in nurturing her mother tongue through writing.
2. You notice a sense of urgency in the poet’s request—what is the reason for this?
The urgency in the poet’s request for the quill arises from her dedication to her mother tongue. She feels a deep responsibility toward serving her language, Dogri, and is anxious to continue expressing herself through it. The poet feels that Dogri (personified as Shahni) is waiting for her, emphasizing the importance of maintaining an active and continuous relationship with her language.
3. How has the poet brought out her emotional attachment to her mother tongue?
The poet expresses her emotional attachment by personifying Dogri as a noble and kind woman (Shahni), showing respect and reverence for her language. The poet positions herself as a servant who eagerly works for her mother tongue, which reflects a sense of pride and loyalty. The urgency in her request for the quill, her devotion to writing in Dogri, and the way she speaks about it in loving terms demonstrate the depth of her emotional connection to her native language.
4. Personification is a figure of speech that attributes human qualities to inanimate things and abstract ideas. How has it been used in this poem?
In this poem, Dogri, the poet’s mother tongue, is personified as a noblewoman (Shahni), someone who is kind, wealthy, and has many servants. The poet describes herself as one of those servants, ready to work for her language. The reed is also personified as a servant of Dogri, who reluctantly but dutifully provides the quill to the poet. This use of personification emphasizes the importance of the mother tongue and makes it a living entity that commands respect, devotion, and service.
Try this out
1. Talk to five people from different spheres of society around you and ask them the number of language they know and use for various purposes. Try to gather information about their attitude to the different languages they know and use.
2. Dogri is a language spoken in parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. Its earliest mention is in Amir Khusro’s list of Indian languages. It does not have a script of its own. It is written in either the Devangari or the Persian script Find out about other Indian languages that are spoken but do not have a script of their own.
Answer:
1. Gathering information about languages used by people from different spheres of society:
To do this, you can engage in short conversations with five individuals from various walks of life, such as:
- A shopkeeper or vendor
- A school teacher
- A driver or rickshaw puller
- A professional or office worker
- A student
Ask them the following questions:
- How many languages do you know and use in daily life?
- For which purpose do you use these languages (work, home, education, etc.)?
- What is your attitude towards the different languages you speak? Do you feel any language holds more importance in certain situations?
Based on their responses, you will observe how different languages serve various functions, from formal communication to casual conversation, and the personal feelings or pride individuals may associate with their mother tongue or regional language.
2. Other Indian languages without a script of their own:
Just like Dogri, several Indian languages do not have a script of their own and are written using the scripts of other languages. Here are a few examples:
- Bhojpuri: Spoken in parts of Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand, Bhojpuri is often written in the Devanagari script but does not have a unique script of its own.
- Maithili: Earlier written in the Tirhuta script, today it is mostly written in Devanagari.
- Haryanvi: Spoken in Haryana, it is written in Devanagari, as it does not have a separate script.
- Konkani: Spoken in Goa and coastal Maharashtra, Konkani is written in Devanagari in Goa, Roman script in parts of Goa and Karnataka, and Kannada script in Karnataka.
- Tulu: Spoken in parts of Karnataka and Kerala, Tulu traditionally does not have a script of its own. It is written in the Kannada script.
You could further research and explore other regional languages that share this characteristic. The absence of a specific script often reflects the influence of cultural and historical factors in the regions where these languages are spoken.