-------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Add your name to the CLEAN GOA INITIATIVE | | | | by visiting this link and following the instructions therein | | | | http://shire.symonds.net/pipermail/goanet/2005-October/033926.html | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- [This is a little offtopic. Since the role of English in (primary) education in Goa has come up for debate (the language almost wholly controls middle-school, secondary and college education here), there's this interesting entry from, of course, Wikipedia. Maybe the role of the English-language in Goa (where one is quickly beaten by the stick of being "denationalised" these days) needs to be adequately evaluated.
Of course, some might see a conspiracy to extend the hegemony of the English language globally. To me it seems to be just an attempt to extend opportunity, specially for a small community. Undeniably, English offers more opportunity these days. --FN] * * * * * Indian English http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_English Indian English is a catch-all phrase for the dialects or varieties of English spoken widely in India (by about 11% of the population as a first language. While the true number of Indians who speak English is much higher maybe somewhere between 30-40%.) and the Indian subcontinent in general, but also by Desis. The dialect is also known as South Asian English. Due to British colonialism that saw an English-speaking presence in India for over two hundred years, a distinctly South Asian brand of English was born. Variations in the pronunciation of several phonemes are affected by the regional tongues (see Languages of India) across the subcontinent, the greatest distinction being that between South India and Sri Lanka on the one hand and the north of the subcontinent (including Pakistan, North India and Bangladesh) on the other. Several idiomatic forms crossing over from Indian literary and vernacular language also have made their way into the English of the masses. In spite of India's diversity, however, there is indeed a general homogeneity in syntax and vocabulary that can be found among speakers across South Asia. It will be found that excellent English bearing fewer regional grammatical peculiarities is spoken in upper-class families (commonly referred to, in India, as 'Westernised'), though even among them hints of a uniquely Indian flavour (particularly in a so-called 'Indianised' British accent) are typically retained. Contents * 1Influences: British and American * 1.1Indian English literature * 2"An Indian English Grammar" * 2.1Grammar, idiom and usage in Indian English * 2.1.1Grammar tweaks * 2.1.2Idioms * 2.1.3Titles (of respect; formal) * 2.1.4Interjections & casual references * 2.1.5Anomalous Usage * 2.1.6Commonly Misspelled Words * 2.2Words unique to or originating in Indian English * 3See also * 4External links Influences: British and American The form of English that Indians (and other subcontinentals) are taught in schools is essentially British English, especially Scottish English, which influenced Indian dialects with rhoticity and trilled r. The Indian government though, accepts both forms of spellings as 'correct' English and makes no distinction. However, for most, it is desirable to emulate the brand of English that is linguistically known as Received Pronunciation or, more commonly, BBC English. In particular, Indian spellings follow British conventions to the point at which American English variations are considered untenable. However, even during the time of British imperialism (before the creation of a separate Pakistan and Bangladesh), Indian English had established itself as an audibly distinct dialect with its own quirks and specific phrases. Following the departure of the British from India in 1947, Indian English took on a divergent evolution and many phrases that the British may consider antiquated are still popular in India. Official letters continue to include phrases like "please do the needful" and "you will be intimated shortly". This difference in style, though, is not as marked a difference as between British and American English (and unlike Canadian or Australian English there is no variation in spelling whatsoever.) Older British writers who made creative (and comical) use of now obsolete forms of colloquial English, like P. G. Wodehouse, and others who were en vogue fifty years ago, like Thomas Hardy, are immensely popular in India. British writer, journalist and wit Malcolm Muggeridge once joked that the last Englishman would be an Indian. American English, due to the burgeoning influence of American pop culture on the rest of the world, has begun challenging traditional British English as the premier brand of English spoken in the Indian subcontinent, though this is largely limited to the youth in the last decade or two. The proliferation of "MTV culture," especially through pop and hip hop, and the increasing desire of Indians to attend US, as opposed to British, collegiate institutions for higher education, is leading to the spread of more emulation of American English among Indian youth. Also, the economic and political puissance of the U.S. often leads to heated debates as to whether or not British English or American English is the more practical accent for emigré Indians to adopt. It must be stressed, however, that British English retains its hold on the majority of Indians, particularly those of the older generation. American English spellings are also widely prevalent in scientific and technical publications while British English spellings are used in other media. American spellings such as fiber, meter, skillful, and program are considered to be acceptable in the science streams. The -ize and the -ise verb forms are both popular. In a survey ( [1]), it was found that "the majority of the informants (70%) felt that RP (Received Pronunciation: BBC English; Standard English in Britain) would serve as the best model for Indian English, 10% thought General American English (ed. standard American English) would be better, and 17% preferred the Indian variety of English." Plenty of Indians with Received Pronunciation accent still have rhoticity. Indian English literature Spoken Indian English is often the butt of jokes by "educated" British, American and Indian English-speakers alike as is evidenced by such characters as Peter Sellers' Indian party-goer in the movie The Party and the Simpsons' convenience-store owner Apu Nahasapeemapetilon; there is also no dearth of jokes among Indians 'riffing' the pronunciation and idiomatic inconsistencies of Indian English (see External Links at bottom). However, in spite of banter regarding colloquial English, India has a consistent and long record of pre- and post-Independence thinkers and writers whose writings and speeches are attestations to many Indians' mastery of the language. Among others, Swami Vivekananda, Rabindranath Tagore, C Rajagopalachari,Shri Aurobindo Ghosh, Jawaharlal Nehru, the world-famous novelist R K Narayan, and Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan come to mind as prominent figures whose English, often though not always written, was of the highest quality in any country. Many more contemporary Indians, such as Vikram Seth and Salman Rushdie, are acknowledged masters of English literary style. Indian English writers and English writers of Indian origin – notably Booker Prize winners Salman Rushdie and Arundhati Roy and Pultizer Prize Winner Jhumpa Lahiri – have in addition made creative use of more stereotypical Indian English through the mouths of characters in their works.....