October 2023 | VOL.1.1 | HYDERABAD |
Language is a dynamic and ever-evolving beast, like your grandma's ever-changing recipe for the perfect curry. In India's melting pot, a unique blend of linguistic flavours has given birth to what we affectionately call Indian English. With over a billion people and countless languages in the mix, Indian English is like the masala of languages – a little bit of this, a little bit of that!
Imagine your native language is the base ingredient for a linguistic curry, and English is the seasoning that gives it that international zing. That's the magic of Indian English.
Here's a taste of how our mother tongues add that special kick:
Retroflex Sounds: Indian English often retains retroflex sounds from languages like Hindi and Telugu. "Party" morphs into "pah-tee," making your tongue want to dance to a Bollywood tune.
Biscuit vs. Cookie: In India, "biscuit" refers to what Americans call a "cookie," while the British use "biscuit" for what Americans call a "cracker." It's like a linguistic game of cricket where everyone has their version.
Idiomatic Expressions: Indians season their English with idiomatic expressions from their mother tongues. "No worries" becomes "No problem," and "time pass" signifies chilling out aimlessly, akin to adding a dash of masala to an English conversation.
Now, let's focus on Indian English in the workplace, where it presents unique flavours:
Revert back vs Revert: In Indian English, you might hear "revert back" when referring to replying. In standard English, "revert" suffices, as in "I will revert to you on that matter."
Kindly do the needful vs. Please take care of this: Indian English often uses "kindly do the needful" for requests. A simple phrase like "Please take care of this" is common in standard English.
Circulate for your perusal vs Please review: When sharing documents or information, "circulate for your perusal" is typical in Indian English. Standard English prefers a more direct phrase like "please review."
Prepone vs. Reschedule to an earlier time:"Prepone" is an Indian English term, meaning to schedule something earlier. In standard English, saying, "Let's reschedule to an earlier time" is more precise.
Out of station vs. Out of the office or away:In Indian English, "out of station" means being away from the workplace. In standard English, you can say, "I'll be out of the office."
Do the necessary vs Take appropriate action:Indian English might use "Please do the necessary." In standard English, it's more straightforward to say, "Take appropriate action."
Raise a query vs. Ask a question or inquire:In Indian English, you might hear, "I'd like to raise a query." In standard English, it's more natural to say, "I have a question" or "I'd like to inquire."
Do one thing vs. Here's what to do:Indian English might use "do one thing" before giving instructions. In standard English, it's more precise to say, "Here's what to do."
These examples illustrate how certain Indian English expressions differ from their standard English counterparts. Adapting your communication style to a more universally recognised form of English can enhance clarity and effectiveness in a global workplace setting.
So, let's celebrate the masala of Indian English and enjoy the richness it brings to our global work environment. It's a linguistic buffet, and everyone's invited to the party!