The language of urban India is supposed to be English ... but hold on, do we really speak the language as it should be spoken.
Its not just the pronunciations and intonations (accent), we invent words and phrases, we change the order of words and ruin English grammar.
We also make sentences that have words from at least two if not more languages.
In the first part of this blog, I have put together, a list of words that are used in Indian English and are strongly believed to be a part of ‘Correct’ English language. I’ll keep updating these.
Even the media uses these words !!!
preponed - to bring an activity ahead
time-pass - to waste time
jungli - uncouth
stepney - spare tyre
dicky - boot of a car
bonnet - hood of car
chalta hai - its okay
brinjal - Aubergine or Eggplant
lady’s finger - okra
lathicharge - an attack by policemen using long bamboo sticks
Her foot is heavy - She is pregnant
His nose was cut - he was insulted
I ‘to’ told him – I did tell him
Too good – Very good
What is going of your father – How does it matter to you?
backbencher – a student who generally occupies the last rows in a class
chargesheet - formal charges filed in a court