DSE –4 Features of Indian English

 

Indian English is any of the forms of English characteristic of the Indian subcontinent. English has slowly become the lingua franca of India, and is the language of their cultural and political elites, offering significant economic, political and social advantage to fluent speakers. It is the Indianness of Enlish which differentiates Indian English from British or American English.

The English spoken on the Indian subcontinent has some distinctive characteristics that set it apart from other international varieties of English such as RP (Received Pronunciation) and GA (General American).These differences arose as a result of a long period during which English was in constant contact with languages spoken natively in India. As a result, the variety of English spoken on the subcontinent is frequently called Indian English. When it comes to words, English spoken in India has been under the dominant influences of the native languages of the subcontinent, which is reflected in its lexicon. Many words from Indian native languages have been introduced into the global English language spoken worldwide; some notable examples being jungle, bungalow, punch, shawl, and veranda. What is more, there are some words which are unique to speakers from India and instances of misunderstanding are not uncommon. Such words are air dash which is used for someone who is in a hurry, or badmash which denotes a hooligan.

Sometimes, speakers of English in India add a new level of meaning existing words. For instance, if a person wears a hi-tech outfit, it does not mean that they are equipped with the latest digital gadgets. Instead, a hi-tech outfit stands for fashionable and modern, following the latest trends. It often happens that a word from Hindi replaces an English word. If you hear ‘achchaa’ in the middle of conversation led in English, do not be surprised. It only means good.

The pronunciation in Indian English is different from other English. For instance, the speakers of English in India do not make any difference when it comes to the sound /v/, which is produced using one’s lower lips and top teeth; and sound /w/ in the production of which both lips are used. Also, the two sounds /θ/ and /ð/ are usually replaced by /d/ and /t/. The reason for this replacement is because these sounds do not exist in Indian languages and therefore, they are harder to master. Also, central vowels are /ə/ and /ʌ/ most commonly disregarded and replaced by the vowel /a/. Another characteristic of the sounds used by speakers of English in India is the replacement of two adjacent vowels by a single long vowel followed by /r/sound. So beer becomes /bir/ and pear is pronounced as /per/. Following all this, there is no doubt that the English language spoken on the subcontinent bears its own special traits. It is vibrant and follows its own rules of development.

Indian English comprises several dialects or varieties of English spoken primarily in India. Usually Indians mingle English with Indian languages. Stylistic influence of Indian local languages is a particular feature of Indian literature in English. Indian English speakers often mix Hindi and other languages with English. Idiomatic forms derived from Indian literary languages and vernaculars have been absorbed into Indian English. Nevertheless, there remains general homogeneity in phonetics, vocabulary, and phraseology between variants of the Indian English dialect.

Indians commonly use “you people” when they want to address more than one person. It is a simple translation of “aap log” or “tum log” but they do not realize that it carries with it racial connotation. Variations in the pronunciation of several phonemes are affected by the regional tongues. Several idiomatic forms crossing over from Indian literary and vernacular language also have made their way into the English used by the masses. Indian English has its unique grammatical use. The progressive tense in stative verbs: I am understanding it. She is knowing the answer; an influence of traditional Hindi grammar, it is more common in northern states.

In upper-class families, English is typically very close to Received Pronunciation, while still retaining hints of a uniquely Indian flavour. It must be stressed, however, that British English retains its hold on the majority of Indians, particularly those of the older generation and the younger generation in smaller cities and towns. The distinct evolution of regional variations in contemporary usage has led to terms such as Hinglish (Hindi + English), Tanglish (Tamil + English) and Minglish (Marathi + English).

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