The Indian variant of English language has been long ridiculed. However, Americanisms are supposed to be "cool". It is just a psychological factor. Indian English is defined by its culture and there is nothing wrong about it. Grammar, idioms, accents, and the "rights" & "wrongs" of a language evolve. It is high time we stop pretending to be more English than Her Majesty Herself!
Re: No stiff upper lip please!
by Renju Dharan on Nov 15, 2014 08:49 AM
How would you feel about some body 'destroying' one of our languages, say Hindi? Woudlnt you want him to speak the language properly. The right thing for us would be to adopt what is correct and be an example even for the British. (who are forgetting their language these days). And by the way, American English seems to be the original accent, and not British, it was news for me, but hey that's what the research says. Looks like British English went through several changes over the years. However America, mostly being non urban maintained the same accent over several 100 years as per the theory.
Re: Re: No stiff upper lip please!
by abin sebastian on Nov 19, 2014 06:54 AM
I wish they add a 'Like' button here. Appreciate your comments. One of the most sensible here.
By 2020, India is going to have world's largest english speaking population, then on the Indian english will become more and more popular, instead of correcting us, the world will start to understand, and even speak like Indians
Re: World will speak like India
by Renju Dharan on Nov 15, 2014 08:51 AM
I doubt it. :) This statement is like : in 20 years time, Indians will speak Hindi like an American.
If we could not speak better or proper English, we shall switch to some another language. i have viewed Kangana's interview in Hindi. She can speak pure Hindi without uttering any English word. anyone can get impressed. Hindi is best language i feel.
Re: better we should switch to some other language
by Renju Dharan on Nov 15, 2014 08:57 AM
India has many states and regions, and it comes in with its own indigenous languages. Sure everybody should understand Hindi, doesnt mean we Kill the only advantage we have in the global stage. That IS the only link which connects India to the global stage. As of today India doesnt have anything to claim for herself, to make globals come to her, may be tomorrow is a different day.
Since India has adopted English as one of its language, it has the right to say it with its cultural background in place. After all even the English dictionary has borrowed words from India. Do we have to prove our strength of English in the English way? No, we do not have to. This is a thoughtless and unnecessary article which has been repeated by rediff and something they can do without.
If Americans have American English and Australians have their own English why not us have our own English which is understood by all of us ?. We learned English not to speak with the British, Australians or Americans. We learned it to communicate with our own people. We are enriching it in our own way. Language is constantly evolving and is influenced by various factors. If it is understood by majority of people it has done its job.
Nothing is wrong with any of these "Indianisms" if you consider them in the Indian context!
Indianism: 1. She has done her graduation from... Meaning: She is degree not a diploma holder.
Indianism: 2. I am in service... Meaning: I am in service of my employer not self employed
Indianism: 3. I want to remove money from the ATM Meaning: I want to extract my money from a bank that holds my money like it is its own.
Indianism: 4. I've put my phone for charge Meaning: I am juicing up my phone not letting it lie around like a lazy pet.
Indianism: 5. My school got a cent per cent result this year Meaning: My school managed to ensure every student was counted as American currency to the fullest thereby improving the prospects of these students finding employment in America.
Indianism: 6. I am taking lunch Meaning: Better than saying I am eating lunch which can include eating vessels used to carry the lunch!
Indianism: 7. I love my native place Meaning: There is absolutely nothing wrong in saying native place especially since Indian people consider more than one place their home town or village through the course of their lives!
Some people learn languages for academic reason and others learn it for communication.In any case trying to improve ones knowledge is always a good idea. When we speak a foreign (any language other than your own) language, it is better to speak as correctly as possible. Would you like some one else to massacre your mother tongue? So learning to improve is always a good idea but then again it is upto each individual how to express himself to others.
