Indian English

India English Vs. USA

1. Indian EnglishIndian English
• Introduction – Introduction – during Colonial periodduring Colonial period
• Lord Macaulay's Lord Macaulay's Minute Minute (Feb. 2, 1835). "a (Feb. 2, 1835). "a
class of persons, Indian in blood and color, class of persons, Indian in blood and color,
but English in taste, in opinions, in morals and but English in taste, in opinions, in morals and
intellect." – the mission of the British Raj.intellect." – the mission of the British Raj.
• More than one and a half centuries later More than one and a half centuries later
English has overcome its status as merely the English has overcome its status as merely the
language of the colonial power and has language of the colonial power and has
become an integral part of the Indian linguistic become an integral part of the Indian linguistic
mosaic mosaic

2. English Language in IndiaEnglish Language in India
Became one of the official languages of the nation and Became one of the official languages of the nation and
thus continues to enjoy the patronage of the Indian elite.thus continues to enjoy the patronage of the Indian elite.
Used extensively in education, law, government, media, Used extensively in education, law, government, media,
science, and technology science, and technology
Has undergone significant changes locally to carry much Has undergone significant changes locally to carry much
of the communicative burden of Indian society of the communicative burden of Indian society
Indian expression makes Indian English different from Indian expression makes Indian English different from
either American or British English either American or British English
They are “innovations” enriching English in terms of They are “innovations” enriching English in terms of
creating its global appeal. creating its global appeal.

3. Indian attitude towards Indian EnglishIndian attitude towards Indian English
Very positive Very positive
They consider their English as the “correct” English best They consider their English as the “correct” English best
suited to the Indian setting suited to the Indian setting
Indians prefer to use and learn Indian English.Indians prefer to use and learn Indian English.
They consider their English as “good” and “proper.” They consider their English as “good” and “proper.”
empirical evidence shows that in North America, Indian empirical evidence shows that in North America, Indian
English is more readily understood than even the BBC or English is more readily understood than even the BBC or
British varieties. British varieties.

4. Features of Indian EnglishFeatures of Indian English
1.1.Mother Tongue InfluenceMother Tongue Influence
Certain sounds, pronunciation and syllable stress Certain sounds, pronunciation and syllable stress
patterns which are dominant in the vernacular patterns which are dominant in the vernacular
languages continue to exist when Indians speak in languages continue to exist when Indians speak in
English. E.g. harsh consonant sounds like pa, ba and English. E.g. harsh consonant sounds like pa, ba and
da, vowel sound generalizations like e and a da, vowel sound generalizations like e and a
(message, communication, continue)(message, communication, continue)

5. 2. Regional Influence-2. Regional Influence-
Certain phrases, statements and pattern of Certain phrases, statements and pattern of
constructing sentences which are regionally accepted constructing sentences which are regionally accepted
are converted and translated into English.  For are converted and translated into English.  For
example, taxi wala, auto wala, sirji. etc have become example, taxi wala, auto wala, sirji. etc have become
part of the Indian Englishpart of the Indian English

6. 3. Phraseology3. Phraseology
Indian English has come up with its own phrases and Indian English has come up with its own phrases and
popular sentences that are widely accepted and popular sentences that are widely accepted and
understood in the Indian context. For example, BA understood in the Indian context. For example, BA
failed used in matrimonial ads to describe someone failed used in matrimonial ads to describe someone
who was admitted to the course but did not pass the who was admitted to the course but did not pass the
examination.examination.

7. 4. Phonetic and Phonological 4. Phonetic and Phonological
Features of Indian EnglishFeatures of Indian English
Lack of aspiration in the word-initial position: Words such as Lack of aspiration in the word-initial position: Words such as pin pin and and
Kanpur Kanpur (name of city) are pronounced as (name of city) are pronounced as pin pin and and kanpurkanpur; not as ; not as
phin phin and and khanpurkhanpur, respectively , respectively
Retroflexion. Alveolar consonants: Retroflexion. Alveolar consonants: tt, and , and d d are replaced by their are replaced by their
corresponding Retroflex consonants (T, D). Therefore, alveolar corresponding Retroflex consonants (T, D). Therefore, alveolar t t
and and d d in the name of the months such as Ocin the name of the months such as Octtober, Sepober, Septtember and ember and
DDecember are pronounced as Ocecember are pronounced as OcTTober, Sepober, SepTTember, and ember, and
DDecember; ecember;
Lack of Interdentals: Words such as Lack of Interdentals: Words such as ththanks and anks and ththat are at are
pronounced with corresponding unvoiced and voiced alveolar stops, pronounced with corresponding unvoiced and voiced alveolar stops,
respectively; respectively;

8. 5. Pronunciation5. Pronunciation
 Indian English pronunciation is a relatively close Indian English pronunciation is a relatively close
approximation to the written form. approximation to the written form.
 Generalizations  in terms of schwa sound and Generalizations  in terms of schwa sound and
clipping of the vowel sounds and non distinction clipping of the vowel sounds and non distinction
between long and short vowel sounds are prominent between long and short vowel sounds are prominent
in Indian English in Indian English
 Non articulation of vowel sounds is another feature of Non articulation of vowel sounds is another feature of
Indian EnglishIndian English

9. 6. Stress and Intonation System of Indian 6. Stress and Intonation System of Indian
EnglishEnglish
Different from British or American English Different from British or American English
The rhythm of Indian English is based on long and short The rhythm of Indian English is based on long and short
syllables rather than on stressed syllables syllables rather than on stressed syllables
Indian English is a ‘Syllable-timed’ language with ‘sing-Indian English is a ‘Syllable-timed’ language with ‘sing-
song’ characteristics. song’ characteristics.

10. 7. Grammatical Features of Indian English7. Grammatical Features of Indian English
Reduplication: a small small favorReduplication: a small small favor
Countability of Non-Counts: words such as Countability of Non-Counts: words such as furniture furniture and and
luggage luggage become become furnitures furnitures and and luggagesluggages, respectively , respectively
Addition of Prepositions/particles: observe the addition of Addition of Prepositions/particles: observe the addition of
the particle the particle off off in: ‘Everyone is dismissing off my in: ‘Everyone is dismissing off my
proposal proposal

11. Indian Way of Speaking EnglishIndian Way of Speaking English
Directness in presenting the pointDirectness in presenting the point
Very little stylistic ornamentation Very little stylistic ornamentation
Emphasis on the information contentEmphasis on the information content
Code-mix with Indian languages (e.g. Hindi) very Code-mix with Indian languages (e.g. Hindi) very
frequently. frequently.
Indian accents vary greatly Indian accents vary greatly
English is a English is a stress-timed languagestress-timed language, but Indians make it , but Indians make it
syllable-timed.syllable-timed.

12. What is my Target?What is my Target?
India is undoubtedly an emerging economic giant in the India is undoubtedly an emerging economic giant in the
21st century. Therefore, it is not surprising that Indian 21st century. Therefore, it is not surprising that Indian
English is asserting itself in the area of global English is asserting itself in the area of global
communication. communication.
Hence comes the slogan “Survival of the Fittest” in the Hence comes the slogan “Survival of the Fittest” in the
present fast changing & fast progressing world. present fast changing & fast progressing world.
Develop excellent competency in English communication Develop excellent competency in English communication
to survive successfully.to survive successfully.