Why Do People in India Prefer English Over Their Native Languages on Smartphones?

From my personal experience, it is a result of growing up more familiar with English than any other language. Many parents today prefer enrolling their children in English medium schools, reinforcing the idea that English is the primary language for education and communication. This familiarity with English extends to the digital world, where too, people are more comfortable using smartphones and other digital devices with English content and functions.

Education and Comfort Level

Much of the education in India is conducted in English, especially in cities and urban areas. Children who start their education in English tend to become more proficient in English, often at the expense of other languages. Even parents like my father, who received education in Odia, have set English as their preferred language on their smartphones. This is because, despite being equally comfortable with other languages, they find English faster and more convenient for daily use.

There is a significant shift in the way technology is presented in India. Many smartphones now offer support for regional languages, such as Marathi, Tamil, Bengali, and Hindi, but the adoption is slow. Only a few languages are supported natively on smartphones, and the quality of translations is often poor. As a result, people who are more comfortable in English continue to use it as the default language for their smartphones.

Regional Language Support and Adoption

Despite the increasing number of Indian languages being added to smartphones, the availability and quality of regional language support remain limited. For instance, Odia is still not an option on Google's default settings. This limitation is further compounded by the lack of good keyboard support for these languages, making it harder for users to type and use these languages on their smartphones.

However, there are some exceptions. My friends from Iraq and Afghanistan often use their native languages as their default on their smartphones. This is a clear indication that if the technology and support are in place, people are willing to use their native languages. Unfortunately, this is not the case for many Indian languages, which have limited options on smartphones.

The integration of regional languages on smartphones is crucial for enhancing the digital literacy of native language speakers. It would not only improve the user experience but also foster a stronger connection between users and their native languages. As the technology advances, we can hope to see more Indian languages becoming standard options on smartphones, alongside better translation and keyboard support.

Future Prospects and Improvement

It is essential to continue improving the support for regional languages on smartphones. The absence of native-language support not only limits the productivity of users but also hinders the adoption of smartphones as a primary device for daily communication and daily tasks.

Given the growing emphasis on digital literacy and inclusivity, it is crucial for smartphone manufacturers and technology providers to ensure that users have the option to use their native languages on their devices. By introducing more regional languages, improving translation accuracy, and enhancing keyboard functionality, we can significantly improve the digital experience for a diverse range of users.