Characteristics of Indian English

by Jovana Čenejac

Ever since the early seventeenth century, when the British East India Company established trading posts in the East Indies and throughout Southern Asia, English has been used widely throughout the region in a number of countries that would rise from the ashes of former Imperial colonies.

So it should come as no surprise that over the intervening centuries, the language has quickly gained importance in the fields of economy, industry, education, as well as in India’s political and social life – particularly among more well-to-do families.

Consequently, the English language became one of 22 official languages of India. 1India’s linguistic diversity is tremendous, and with the world’s second largest population – a population that may surpass China’s as soon as mid-century – individual regions tend to speak wildly different languages – sometimes differing along entire families. Some of the largest official languages in India include Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Bengali, Gujarati, and Kannada.

At least 400 total languages and hundreds more dialects are spoken throughout the subcontinent.

This infographic, generously provided by Day Translations, offers a more detailed look at some of the languages other than Indian English spoken in India:

In the midst of such linguistic variety, as it often does elsewhere on Earth, English serves as a medium to unite people who do not share the same regional mother tongue. As mentioned above, the English language plays a pivotal role in administration, international communication and its usage enables a much higher degree of technological and scientific progress.

What is Indian 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) – better known as British and American English.

These differences arose as a result of a long period during which English was in constant contact with languages spoken natively in India. That period is ongoing. As a result, the variety of English spoken on the subcontinent is frequently called Indian English.

 

Differences in vocabulary

When it comes to words, English spoken in India has been under the very strong 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.

And just as is true with American and British English, there are some words which are unique to speakers from India and instances of misunderstanding are not uncommon. Two examples of Indian English words that non-Indian English speakers probably never encounter include “airdash” which is used for someone who is in a hurry, and “badmash”, another word for a hooligan.

Sometimes, speakers of English in India add a new level of meaning to 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 and that follows the latest trends. In other cases, words from the local dialects and languages make their way into Indian English – words that would be unintelligible to no-speakers. Sometimes these words replace the English entirely.

If you hear “achchaain” the middle of a conversation led in English, do not be surprised. It only means good.

 

Differences in pronunciation

Differences in vocabulary are not the only characteristics that make common communication more difficult between speakers of Indian English and speakers of other forms of English, certain differences in pronunciation further set these styles apart.

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”th” sounds /θ/ and /ð/ are usually replaced by /d/ and /t/.

/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/.

Conclusion

Wherever in the world English goes, it is influenced by the local languages. It borrows from other tongues, absorbing and using certain vocabulary. Meaning changes, grammar changes – everything changes.

Indian English spoken throughout the Subcontinent is vibrant, varies from region to region, and follows its own rules of development. The various dialects of English spoken even within the country underscore the unique languages and cultures of the people who speak them.

You can read a much more thorough explanation of the Indian take on the English language and a ton of fun Indian slang and Bollywood-talk with these titles:

Indian English: Language and Culture (Lonelyplanet).
An English Made in India: How a Foreign Language Became Local

Image by AkshayaPatra Foundation from Pixabay