Linguistic Features of Indian English
UGC NET English Visual Guide
📌 Indian English at a Glance
| Aspect | Features | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Second language variety (not foreign nor native) | Used in education, administration, media |
| Influences | Substrate influence from Indian languages | Hindi, Tamil, Bengali phonological features |
| Variation | Continuum from basilect to acrolect | RP-like pronunciation to heavy L1 influence |
| Standardization | No official standard but educated variety norms | Newspaper English, All India Radio |
🔠 Phonological Features
Vowel System
- Reduced vowel inventory: Typically 11 vowels instead of RP's 20
- Lack of distinction: /æ/ vs /ɑː/ (cat-cart merger)
- Schwa replacement: Often pronounced as full vowel
- Diphthong simplification: /eɪ/ → [e], /əʊ/ → [o]
Examples:
"party" pronounced as "paarti" (with retroflex /t/)
"face" pronounced as [feːs] rather than [feɪs]
Consonant Features
- Retroflex consonants: /t/, /d/, /n/ pronounced with tongue curled back
- No dental fricatives: /θ/ and /ð/ often replaced by /t̪/ and /d̪/
- No voiced sibilants: /z/ → [s], /ʒ/ → [ʃ]
- Final consonant devoicing: "bed" pronounced as [bet]
- Aspiration contrast: Maintained from Indian languages
| RP Phoneme | Indian English Realization | Example |
|---|---|---|
| /θ/ (thin) | [t̪ʰ] (dental) | "thing" → [t̪ʰɪŋ] |
| /v/ (vine) | [ʋ] (labiodental approximant) | "very" → [ʋeri] |
| /w/ (wine) | [ʋ] (no /w/-/v/ distinction) | "west" and "vest" may sound similar |
Prosodic Features
- Syllable-timed rhythm: Rather than stress-timed
- Reduced vowel reduction: Less schwa in unstressed syllables
- Different stress patterns: Often on penultimate syllable
- Intonation: Narrower pitch range than RP
Examples:
"development" instead of "development"
"research" instead of "research"
📝 Syntactic Features
💡 Core Concept: Indian English Syntax
Distinctive grammatical patterns influenced by Indian languages:
| Feature | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Article usage | Omission or overuse of articles | "He is going to temple" (missing 'the') |
| Progressive aspect | Extended use with stative verbs | "I am having two brothers" |
| Question formation | No subject-aux inversion | "What you would like to eat?" |
| Preposition variation | Different collocations | "discuss about politics" |
| Tag questions | Universal "isn't it?" | "You're coming, isn't it?" |
📖 Lexical Features
Vocabulary Characteristics
| Type | Description | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Loanwords | Borrowings from Indian languages | lathi, swadeshi, dharna, guru |
| Hybrid compounds | English + Indian language elements | lathi-charge, policewala, timepass |
| Semantic shifts | New meanings for English words | "cousin brother", "hotel"=restaurant |
| Calques | Literal translations | "eating my head" (from Hindi "dimag khana") |
| Archaisms | Retention of older British terms | "stepney" (spare tire), "good name" (first name) |
💬 Discourse Features
Conversational Patterns
- Code-mixing/switching: Frequent mixing with Indian languages
- Response particles: Use of "haan", "achcha", "theek hai"
- Greetings: "What's your good name?" instead of "What's your name?"
- Indirectness: "Kindly adjust" instead of direct requests
- Repetition: For emphasis ("small small things")
Code-mixing Example:
"Yesterday I went to the market aur bought sabzi, phir I came home jaldi se."
🎯 UGC NET Exam Tips
| Question Type | How to Approach | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Identification | Recognize features from examples | "What feature is shown in 'I am knowing this'?" (stative progressive) |
| Theoretical | Link to Kachru's Three Circles model | "Where does Indian English fit in World Englishes?" |
| Comparative | Contrast with British/American English | "How does Indian English pronunciation differ from RP?" |
📌 Kachru's Three Circles Model
Indian English as a classic example of Outer Circle variety:
| Circle | Characteristics | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Inner Circle | Native varieties | UK, USA, Australia |
| Outer Circle | Second language varieties, institutionalized | India, Nigeria, Singapore |
| Expanding Circle | Foreign language contexts | China, Japan, Russia |
Significance: Indian English has developed its own norms and standards
🔗 Connecting Themes for UGC NET
This topic links to:
- World Englishes - Kachru's model, variety recognition
- Postcolonial Literature - Indian English creative writing
- Language Contact - Code-mixing, borrowing
- Standardization - Norms and prestige varieties
