Indian English – amalfabian

How Indian is your English? part 2

Indian English phrases. Two women sitting at a restaurant.

This is my second article on Indian English. The first one introduces the topic. Here, we’ll look at some more examples.

Imagine this. This is your first trip outside India. You’re in London, at a restaurant. You glance at the menu and then ask your colleague a serious question. “Are you veg?” She may not understand what you have just said. She may even think that you are asking her if she is made of veg. (Do you understand?) The expression is Indian English. The international English version is: “Are you a vegeterian?”

In India, the opposite of veg. is well, non-veg. If there is a carnivore inside you, and you happen to be abroad, I advise you not to say: “I am non-veg.” Instead, say, “I eat meat.”

Let’s leave the topic of food. Now, this is super-duper important. What you’re going to read is said often at the workplace. Tell me whether this sentence is okay or not. “According to me, we should sponsor the women’s cricket team.”

Is that sentence alright, in terms of vocabulary? And the answer is no. When we use the phrase according to… it normally refers to a third person or a thing. For example: According to the consultant, we should strengthen our retail network. Or: According to the UN report, this country has a lot of potential.

Now, if you want to talk about your opinions, then say: In my opinion… So, if you are at a meeting, you could say: In my opinion, we should sponsor the women’s cricket team.

If you want to be more informal, then: I think... or I believe… are good phrases to use when introducing one’s opinion.

So, the next time at work or on zoom, when you want to express yourself during a meeting or an important discussion, monitor your language. In your mind, if you are making a sentence starting with “According to me…” Stop. Change tracks. And confidently say: Excuse me, I’d like to say something. In my opinion…

Need more on Indian English? Read this Guardian newspaper article.

Here is my book on common errors that covers Indian English among other things.

How Indian is your English?

Indian English in India is well, all around us. It is embedded in the language that our colleagues, customers, and managers speak. Indian English, as a term, is a wide tent. It covers typical grammatical errors, vocabulary specific to Indians, and a range of regional accents. Here we will focus on vocabulary.

When it comes to the use of Indian English vocabulary, it is not necessarily incorrect. Language is all about communication. And if the other person understands the thought/idea/emotion you wish to convey, then we have communication. So, don’t feel that there is anything wrong when Indian English is used.

Having said that, if you are communicating with international clients and colleagues, it would be better to use international English expressions. This will reduce the chance of miscommunication.

So, what are examples of Indian English? Read these three quotes and decide which ones contain Indian English in them.

“We will revert to you tomorrow by 3 pm.”
“Hi! What is your good name?”
“I’ll meet you at the backside of the building.”

So, of these three examples, which contain Indian English? Yes, all of them! Revert is classic Indian English. It may have been used in England, but that would have been ages ago. Now, you could say: “I’ll get back to you.” Doesn’t that sound less official? Friendlier?

Good name. Most probably, you would have identified this as Indian English. It is a direct translation from Hindi. Aapka shubh naam kya hai? In Hindi that means: What is your good (or auspicious) name. Perfectly polite in that language. But, the sentence does not translate well into English. Go with: What is your name? If you need to be more polite, ask: Could you tell me your name, please?

Backside of the building. This has generated a few giggles from visitors to our country. ‘Backside’ usually refers to the backside of a person. If you haven’t got it, contact me. I’ll be more explicit. Instead of backside, you could say: I’ll meet you at the back of the building.

There are many ways to express an idea or thought. For example, in India for the word warehouse, we, at times, use the word godown. Be aware of both variations, and use the right one at the right time and place.

There are many more Indian English expressions out there. If you would like to know more, you can check out my book.

Here is part two of How Indian is your English.