[Grammar] Indianisms

[anupumh]

What is an ‘-ism’? The dictionary meaning most appropriate to what we are learning is: “Characteristic behavior or quality”. In India, we use certain phraseology, which ‘characterizes’ our speech, making the ‘quality’ Indian. To what should we pay attention?

1. Certain tense confusions – especially the Present Continuous
'I am having a headache.'
'She is knowing the answer.'
(Þ The verb ‘to be’ is used with verbs that imply physical action)

2. Incorrect Preposition usage:
'Pay attention on, Discuss about, Off/On the lights, Got angry on, ‘I told to him’, ‘I said him’, Take your food on the table etc.

3. Incorrect Tag questions:
'You're going, isn't it?' 'He's here, no?' ‘Coming or what?’ ‘Going or not?’

4. Word order: 'Who you have come for?' 'They're late always.' 'My friends all are waiting.' ‘When you will be paying the money?’ ‘Can you tell me when will you be coming to my house?’ ‘Myself is…(name)’

5. Certain phraseology:
Cousin-brother/sister (male/female cousin)
I can surely do it for you
Can you tell me when can you (pay…send…come…etc)
Thank you for that
I apologize for that
Dollars 600/- instead of 600 dollars
Cent percent (100 percent)
Xerox instead of photocopy
I’m going FOR shopping instead of ‘I’m going shopping’
Words that end in – able
Words that end in –age (message, advantage etc.)
Words that end in ‘a’ (as in India) pronounced as ‘ah’
Words that begin with the ‘a’ sound but are said as ‘eh’ or ‘UH’
Words that end in –ore or have –oor said as –ohr instead of -awr
Incorrect stresses –con, com, re, de, ex etc
Using complex words when simple words will do.
Using redundant words
Isolated words: DEVelup, oPPORtunity, probAbly, cUNsider, Ehgree, cUMputer, cUNtinue, bargAIN, AYreeAH, cUNversation, YOURself, MYself, ALthough, Ehjust, Ehgree, comfortABLE, EEvint, EMerGENcy, Girl/BoyfrInd etc.

[Raymott]

Yes, all of those things are a good start if you want your speech to be less noticeably Indian.

[konungursvia]

A few are not really Indianisms:

Thank you for that. Acceptable in Australia.
I apologize for that. Acceptable in North America.
Xerox instead of photocopy. Acceptable among people over 40.

[anupumh]

Originally Posted by konungursvia

A few are not really Indianisms:

Thank you for that. Acceptable in Australia.
I apologize for that. Acceptable in North America.
Xerox instead of photocopy. Acceptable among people over 40.

Thats new for me...
Thanks for vital piece of information