What question did this study set out to answer?

The study aims to explore how English functions as a marker of privilege influencing social stratification in India.

May 7, 2026Open Access

English as Linguistic Capital: A Critical Study of ELT, Social Stratification, and Digital Gatekeeping in India

Key Points

The study aims to explore how English functions as a marker of privilege influencing social stratification in India.
Analyzed the implications of English language teaching (ELT) on social class disparities.
Utilized Paulo Freire's critical pedagogy and Pierre Bourdieu's symbolic power theories for framework.
Conducted a critical assessment of ELT practices and their societal impacts.
Identified English as a marker of privilege that reinforces caste and class inequalities.
Highlighted the role of ELT in perpetuating social stratification in educational settings.
Proposed critical pedagogy as a means to address and challenge these inequalities.

Abstract

This paper examines English as linguistic capital in India, looking at how it serves as an indicator of social mobility, privilege and power marker. The paper makes the case that English language teaching (ELT) frequently perpetuates caste and class inequality by drawing on Paulo Freire's idea of critical pedagogy and Pierre Bourdieu's theory of symbolic power. Through the

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