India English Vs. USA

1. Indian EnglishIndian English
• Introduction –Introduction – during Colonial periodduring Colonial period
• Lord Macaulay'sLord Macaulay's MinuteMinute (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 andbut 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 laterMore than one and a half centuries later
English has overcome its status as merely theEnglish has overcome its status as merely the
language of the colonial power and haslanguage of the colonial power and has
become an integral part of the Indian linguisticbecome an integral part of the Indian linguistic
mosaicmosaic

2. English Language in IndiaEnglish Language in India
 Became one of the official languages of the nation andBecame 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 technologyscience, and technology
 Has undergone significant changes locally to carry muchHas undergone significant changes locally to carry much
of the communicative burden of Indian societyof the communicative burden of Indian society
 Indian expression makes Indian English different fromIndian expression makes Indian English different from
either American or British Englisheither American or British English
 They are “innovations” enriching English in terms ofThey 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 positiveVery positive
 They consider their English as the “correct” English bestThey consider their English as the “correct” English best
suited to the Indian settingsuited 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, Indianempirical evidence shows that in North America, Indian
English is more readily understood than even the BBC orEnglish 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 stressCertain sounds, pronunciation and syllable stress
patterns which are dominant in the vernacularpatterns which are dominant in the vernacular
languages continue to exist when Indians speak inlanguages continue to exist when Indians speak in
English. E.g. harsh consonant sounds like pa, ba andEnglish. E.g. harsh consonant sounds like pa, ba and
da, vowel sound generalizations like e and ada, 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 ofCertain phrases, statements and pattern of
constructing sentences which are regionally acceptedconstructing sentences which are regionally accepted
are converted and translated into English. Forare converted and translated into English. For
example, taxi wala, auto wala, sirji. etc have becomeexample, 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 andIndian English has come up with its own phrases and
popular sentences that are widely accepted andpopular sentences that are widely accepted and
understood in the Indian context. For example, BAunderstood in the Indian context. For example, BA
failed used in matrimonial ads to describe someonefailed used in matrimonial ads to describe someone
who was admitted to the course but did not pass thewho was admitted to the course but did not pass the
examination.examination.

7. 4. Phonetic and Phonological4. Phonetic and Phonological
Features of Indian EnglishFeatures of Indian English
 Lack of aspiration in the word-initial position: Words such asLack of aspiration in the word-initial position: Words such as pinpin andand
KanpurKanpur (name of city) are pronounced as(name of city) are pronounced as pinpin andand kanpurkanpur; not as; not as
phinphin andand khanpurkhanpur, respectively, respectively
 Retroflexion. Alveolar consonants:Retroflexion. Alveolar consonants: tt, and, and dd are replaced by theirare replaced by their
corresponding Retroflex consonants (T, D). Therefore, alveolarcorresponding Retroflex consonants (T, D). Therefore, alveolar tt
andand dd in the name of the months such as Ocin the name of the months such as Octtober, Sepober, Septtember andember and
DDecember are pronounced as Ocecember are pronounced as OcTTober, Sepober, SepTTember, andember, and
DDecember;ecember;
 Lack of Interdentals: Words such asLack of Interdentals: Words such as ththanks andanks and ththat areat 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 closeIndian English pronunciation is a relatively close
approximation to the written form.approximation to the written form.
 Generalizations in terms of schwa sound andGeneralizations in terms of schwa sound and
clipping of the vowel sounds and non distinctionclipping of the vowel sounds and non distinction
between long and short vowel sounds are prominentbetween long and short vowel sounds are prominent
in Indian Englishin Indian English
 Non articulation of vowel sounds is another feature ofNon articulation of vowel sounds is another feature of
Indian EnglishIndian English

9. 6. Stress and Intonation System of Indian6. Stress and Intonation System of Indian
EnglishEnglish
 Different from British or American EnglishDifferent from British or American English
 The rhythm of Indian English is based on long and shortThe rhythm of Indian English is based on long and short
syllables rather than on stressed syllablessyllables 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 asCountability of Non-Counts: words such as furniturefurniture andand
luggageluggage becomebecome furnituresfurnitures andand luggagesluggages, respectively, respectively
 Addition of Prepositions/particles: observe the addition ofAddition of Prepositions/particles: observe the addition of
the particlethe particle offoff in: ‘Everyone is dismissing off myin: ‘Everyone is dismissing off my
proposalproposal

11. Indian Way of Speaking EnglishIndian Way of Speaking English
 Directness in presenting the pointDirectness in presenting the point
 Very little stylistic ornamentationVery little stylistic ornamentation
 Emphasis on the information contentEmphasis on the information content
 Code-mix with Indian languages (e.g. Hindi) veryCode-mix with Indian languages (e.g. Hindi) very
frequently.frequently.
 Indian accents vary greatlyIndian 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 theIndia is undoubtedly an emerging economic giant in the
21st century. Therefore, it is not surprising that Indian21st century. Therefore, it is not surprising that Indian
English is asserting itself in the area of globalEnglish is asserting itself in the area of global
communication.communication.
 Hence comes the slogan “Survival of the Fittest” in theHence 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 communicationDevelop excellent competency in English communication
to survive successfully.to survive successfully.