I am from Boston only

[bhaisahab]

Some Trainers have pointed out to me that, over there, the usage of Itself as a reflexive pronoun is improper and you should avoid itself.

Yes, in modern English that is true, no one uses it anymore, but you don't have to be hampered by that necessarily, you may have to be careful if you are dealing internationally but there is nothing wrong with Indian English as such.

[anupumh]

Yes, in modern English that is true, no one uses it anymore, but you don't have to be hampered by that necessarily, you may have to be careful if you are dealing internationally but there is nothing wrong with Indian English as such.

Yes all my questions pertain to International English Usage

[Raymott]

I think that is ok anupumh, if we say "I am from Delhi itself" it means "I am from Delhi, I am not from Gurgaon", for example. I could say "I am from Kingston upon Thames itself, I am not from Norbiton or Surbiton (these are suburbs of Kingston apon Thames). This would probably not be used by BrE speakers these days, but would have been used in the 19th century and earlier. I have always loved the Indian use of English, it reflects, for me, an earlier,more authentic, more poetic form of English.

Perhaps you could help me then Bhai, since you've been in India.
When an Indian person says "I am from Delhi only", do they simply mean "I am from Delhi", or is there something additional that is being communicated.
Same for "I am from Delhi itself". Does it actually mean what you or I would mean if we used it, or does it simply mean "I am from Delhi"?
Are the three sentences semantically identical in Indian English?

[Tdol]

Could it any way be similar to the BrE use of only to express surprise, etc- The fool's only gone and said it. Some speakers could say He's only from London if this was a surprise or similar in a narrative. I'm not sure how widespread this is, but I've heard it used in the capital, Landan.

[Tdol]

Could it any way be similar to the BrE use of only to express surprise, etc- The fool's only gone and said it. Some speakers could say He's only from London if this was a surprise or similar in a narrative. I'm not sure how widespread this is, but I've heard it used in the capital.

[Ann1977]

There's obviously at least one intelligent and articulate person in Wisconsin, USA who says "I want mushrooms only ...". Here we see that a native English speaker uses "only" at the end of a clause. Such bravery is to be commended. Pin a medal on that man.


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thru the mushroom. That's just gross. I want mushrooms only if I have steak. Not in my peas. Not in my sauces. Not in my gravy. Make it a side thing. ...
minds.wisconsin.edu/bitstream/handle/1793/35395/MealPlan.pdf?... - Similar

"I want mushrooms only" - Google Search=

*I* use "only" at the end of a clause, but only because it is one of my pet peeves.

However, this person from Wisconsin didn't use "only" at the end of the clause.

He used it as part of "only if," not "mushrooms only."

He said, "I want mushrooms, but only if I have a steak."

He didn't say, "With my steak I want mushrooms only -- NO onions!"

If he did want to say that with his steak he wants mushrooms only, I have no doubt that he would have said, "I only want mushrooms with that steak please."

[bhaisahab]

Perhaps you could help me then Bhai, since you've been in India.
When an Indian person says "I am from Delhi only", do they simply mean "I am from Delhi", or is there something additional that is being communicated.
Same for "I am from Delhi itself". Does it actually mean what you or I would mean if we used it, or does it simply mean "I am from Delhi"?
Are the three sentences semantically identical in Indian English?

With "I am from Delhi itself" I see it as being emphatic, insisting that I am from Delhi and nowhere else, there is a strong sense of pride amongst Indians for their home city, the place where they were born and grew up, something which, I think, is much less noticeable in the west in modern times. For "I am from Delhi only", I think it carries a similar meaning but I am less sure about it. My friends in Rajasthan would say "I am from Udaipur itself" for example, but I haven't heard them use "only" in the same way.

[PROESL]

*I* use "only" at the end of a clause, but only because it is one of my pet peeves.

However, this person from Wisconsin didn't use "only" at the end of the clause.

He used it as part of "only if," not "mushrooms only."

He said, "I want mushrooms, but only if I have a steak."

He didn't say, "With my steak I want mushrooms only -- NO onions!"

If he did want to say that with his steak he wants mushrooms only, I have no doubt that he would have said, "I only want mushrooms with that steak please."

Thank you for pointing that out. I didn't notice. However, he could've said "I want mushrooms only", right? I mean it's possible. I would say so. Wouldn't you? Why not?

There's the latte sipper. I think he uses "only" at the end of a clause. Or did miss something in that one too?

I want espresso only. That's it and nothing else.

I want a tomatillo salsa only! That's it. If you don't have that, I'll get my tacos somewhere else.