Indian English – North Vs South!

India has already been officially declared as the world’s second largest English speaking country. However, being home land to more than a billion people with noticeable social, economic and linguistic diversity among themselves, there are a number of Englishes spoken throughout this country.

While the people living in the north claim to be comparatively better in pronunciation, those down south of the country boast of their upper hand in grammatical accuracy. Here I am posting a few non-English elements which I came to notice in the speaking habits of both south and north Indian speakers of English.

Many speakers of English in south use /s/ in place of /z/. So ‘Zen’ becomes /Sen/. ‘Jazz’ is pronounced as /jass/. Zigzag is distorted as /sigsag/. ‘Zeal’ is /seal/. Interestingly, many of them pronounce the following pairs of words in the same manner: [sip, zip], [sing, zing], [is, ease], [rice, rise], [C Tv, Z Tv] etc. The apparent reason is the lack of a corresponding sound to /z/ in many of the south Indian languages. So, they naturally tend to manage with its lookalike /s/!

Now, let’s move a little north. Many northerners find it difficult to pronounce the sound /z/. You may often hear ‘jen’ in place of ‘zen’; ‘jeero’ in place of ‘zero’ ‘joo’ for ‘zoo’ and ‘jigjag’ instead of ‘zigzag’! The reason is the same as that of the southern speakers – lack of an equivalent to /z/ in most of the north Indian tongues!

(to be contd…)

SHOULD or SHOULD HAVE TO is correct?

Many speakers of English in non-English speaking countries often use 'SHOULD HAVE TO' in speaking and writing. Among them, sentences like the following are very common.
1) “I SHOULD HAVE TO complete my assignment within three days”
2) “You SHOULD HAVE TO pass this test”

But, according to English grammar, this is a wrong use. Instead of using SHOULD HAVETO, you must use either SHOULD or HAVE TO. The reason is SHOULD is almost equal to HAVE TO although there is a slight difference in detailed grammatical analysis.

So, the previous wrong sentences can be rewritten as follows:
1) “I SHOULD complete my assignment within three days”
OR
“I HAVE TO complete my assignment within three days”

2) “You SHOULD pass this test”
OR
“You HAVE TO pass this test”

You can also express the same idea by using ‘WILL HAVE TO’ as in,
“I WILL HAVE TO complete my assignment within three days”, “I WILL HAVE TO pass this test” etc.

OUT OF STATION???????

'Out of station' is a phrase which is wrongly used even by highly educated Indian speakers of English, including English teachers. Only a few know that this usage (which is used only by Indians, Pakistanis and the Bangladeshis) gained currency in India in the days of the British Raj.

'Station' has so many meanings; one of these is 'a small base for the army or navy'. During the rule of the British in India, the officers in charge of a 'station' used to go away temporarily on duty. On such occasions, the subordinates used to say "The colonel is out of station". The 'station' in this sentence didn't use to mean 'A PLACE OF LIVING'.

Interestingly, with passage of time, this phrase infiltrated into Indian Spoken English, which, of course, sounds funny to a native speaker!! Still doubtful??? You may look it up in Oxford, Cambridge, Macmillan, Webster's or any such internationally accepted dictionary.

So, it is better to avoid this usage in spoken/written English, especially when talking/writing to a foreigner.

By the way, what could be the exact usage then? Well, the British and the American users of English usually say:

"Jane is out of town",
"Sorry, I couldn't attend the party as I was out of town" etc.




That's all for now.
See you tomorrow.... err... the day after tomorrow; let me take a day off, guys!!
Regards

 Jacob (Nova English Campus)

SCF 53; Top Floor;

Kabir park Market;

Opp G.N.D.U;

AMRITSAR

MOST COMMON ERRORS IN ENGLISH MADE BY INDIAN STUDENTS (Part 2)

Here are another twenty blunders in English that many non-native speakers often make:
Plese note that the sentences given in brackets are CORRECT)

He came back in India.
(He came back TO India.)

I'd like to study in abroad/overseas.
(I'd like to study abroad/overseas.)

He drives his bike so fast.
(He RIDES his bike so fast.)

I don't know to drive a car.)
(I don't know HOW TO drive a car.)

They entered into the hall.
(They entered the hall.)

I understood her the question.
(I MADE HER UNDERSTAND the question.)

He teches very well, isn't it?
(He teches very well, DOESN'T he?)

You are hiding something, isn't it?
(You are hiding something, AREN'T YOU?)

I would like to make a doctor.
(I would like to BE/BECOME a doctor.)

We had talked to him yesterday.
(We talked to him yesterday.)

We bought some furnitures.
(We bought some FURNITURE).

I cut my hair yesteday.
(I GOT MY HAIR CUT yesterday.)

If I am you, I will never do so.)
(If I WERE you, I WOULD never do so.)

I love listening music.
(I love LISTENING TO music.)

I missed my keys.
(I LOST my keys.)

Respected Sir, ................
(DEAR Sir, ................)

What's the time in your watch?
(What's the time BY your watch?)

Many foreign people visit my country.
(Many FOREIGNERS visit my country.)

Aamir Khan is my favourite hero.
(Aamir Khan is my favourite ACTOR/FILM STAR.)

My mom is a good cooker.
(My mom is a good COOK.)

Most Common English Errors of Indian students.......

Here's a list of some of the most common mistakes that many English speakers in India make. Of course the list is not complete. I will continue to add more in my oncoming blogs. If you remember some of such common blunders, please inform me through your comments as it may help a good number of Indian studnts who wish to hone their communication skills in English.

In each pair of the following sentences, the sentences given in brackets are the accepted standard English)

I like the peoples of my village.
(I like the PEOPLE of my village)

Their childrens are very naughty.
(Their CHILDREN are very naughty.)

She is my cousin-sister.
(She is my COUSIN.)

He is my cousin-brother.
(He is my COUSIN.)

What is your good name, please?
(What is your name, please?)

Mrs & Mr Khurana
(MR &MRS Khurana.)

My brother is reading in fourth class.
(My brother is STUDYING in fourth class.)
(My brother is in fourth class.)

I got many informations about....
(I got a lot of INFORMATION about....)

There are different types of equipments here.
(There are different types of EQUIPMENT here)

I want to buy a pant/pent.
(I want to buy A PAIR OF PANTS.)

It cost me only one rupees.
(It cost me only one RUPEE.)

200 kilometres are a ling distance.
(200 kilometres IS a long distance.)

Parents should aware their children about......
(Parents should MAKE THEIR CHILDREN AWARE ABOUT.....)

Anyways, hope to see you again.
(ANYWAY, hope to see you again.)

He oftenly comes here.
(He OFTEN comes here.)

My Mrs is not well today.
(My WIFE is not well today.)

I used to do exercise daily.
(I used to TAKE exercise daily.)

I am completely agree with you.
(I completely agree with you.)

He is belong to Delhi.
(He BELONGS to Delhi.)

Jack is one of my best friend.
(Jack is one of my best FRIENDS.)