The Indian Accent (Indian English) ✔

Summary

This video explores the history and development of Indian English, tracing its origins back to the early 1600s. It highlights the coexistence of English with various Indian languages and how English became intertwined with India's culture through colonialism, Christianity, and government. The video humorously examines the unique characteristics of Indian English, including the influence of native language syntax, distinctive vocabulary (like 'tiffin,' 'lakh,' and 'crore'), and the Indian accent, marked by retroflex trilled 'r' and the 'V-W' merger. The video offers a lighthearted look at how Indian English evolved and became a unique form of expression.

Takeaways

• 😀 English arrived in India in the early 1600s, coexisting with numerous regional languages.
• 😀 Indian English evolved alongside other languages like Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, and more.
• 😀 English became a language of government, social elites, and national press in India.
• 😀 The 'Indian Accent' developed due to the influence of native Indian languages.
• 😀 Some common features of the Indian accent include a retroflex trilled 'r' and 'V-W' sound merging.
• 😀 Indian English grammar is influenced by native languages, leading to unique sentence structures like 'I am believing you'.
• 😀 Vocabulary in Indian English includes unique coinages such as 'tiffin', 'lakh', and 'crore'.
• 😀 Some Indian English terms, like 'Eve-teasing' and 'non-vegetarian', have made their way into global English usage.
• 😀 The progressive tense is commonly used in Indian English, even in situations where it isn't standard in other varieties.
• 😀 Indian English pronunciation includes humorous alterations like 'Garbage' pronounced as 'GaRbage' or 'EngineeRing'.

Q & A

When did English arrive in India?

English arrived in India in the early 1600s.

What are some of the major languages spoken in India alongside English?

Some of the major languages spoken in India alongside English include Hindi, Tamil, Bengali, Assamese, Gujarati, Punjabi, Marathi, Kannada, and many more.

How did English spread throughout India?

English spread through India via Christianity, and it was accepted as the language of government, the social elite, and the national press.

What is a significant feature of English spoken in India?

A significant feature of English spoken in India is the distinct 'Indian Accent,' which has been influenced by native Indian languages.

What is the impact of Indian languages on English grammar?

Indian languages have heavily influenced English grammar, particularly in terms of syntax and tense usage. For example, progressive tenses are commonly used in Indian English.

Can you give an example of how progressive tenses are used differently in Indian English?

In Indian English, speakers may say 'I am believing you' instead of 'I believe you,' and 'She is liking the music' instead of 'She likes music.'

What are some examples of unique vocabulary in Indian English?

Examples of unique vocabulary in Indian English include 'tiffin' (snack), 'lakh' (100,000), 'crore' (10 million), and 'timepass' (entertainment).

What is one Indian English term that has been accepted in general English?

'Black money' is one example of an Indian English term that has been adopted in general English.

How does the Indian accent influence pronunciation in English?

The Indian accent is characterized by retroflex trilled 'r' sounds and the merging of 'v' and 'w' sounds. For instance, 'engineering' becomes 'engineeRing' and 'housewife' becomes 'housevife.'

What is an example of the 'V-W' merging in Indian English?

An example of the 'V-W' merging in Indian English is the question 'Who is this?' which sounds like 'Vhu is this?'