Topic started by Ledzius (@ 202.88.171.87) on Sat Mar 27 13:51:17 EST 2004.
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

I have been in India for some time after having been in the US for about 10 years. I find some English words/expressions peculiar, if not gramatically wrong.

For example, people in India often say "lets order for a pizza". The correct expression is "lets order a pizza".

People here use the word "prepone" when it just doesn't exist in English.

Same with the term "French beard". There is no such thing and people in other countries would have no idea what a French beard is.

Simlarly the use of the word "upto". There is no word "upto" in English. It is "up to".

These are a few, but there are many more. Other hubbers can pitch in.

Responses:

• Old responses
  
• From: Cygnus (erstwhile pg) (@ pool-68-163-54-66.phil.east.verizon.net) on: Sat May 15 12:09:50 EDT 2004
  
  Neetu,
  
  I made all of two posts here and I am blamed for being "condescending"?? I even made fun of my ownself in the second post about the "iron box" refernce, c'mon, I was born and raised in India speaking English with our "flavour" not flavor. Speaking for myelf, I was ONLY pointing out certain quirkiness which has come to define how we speak the language not slighting anything or anyone. When this thread was opened I was surprised that nobody else was posting and sure enough, as is the case with every other mistaken communication on this forum, it is noticed a while later and misunderstood.
  
  
• From: :) (@ d150-47-143.home.cgocable.net) on: Sat May 15 17:29:57 EDT 2004
  
  ""American/Canadian English" is the Best in the World!! "
  
  Oh yes, that is true, isn't that why Americans say bi-partisan when they actually mean non-partisan :)))
  
  
  
• From: Neetu (@ user-v8lcr41.dialup.mindspring.com) on: Mon May 17 17:44:44 EDT 2004
  
  Cygnus,did not mean to offend you!my fault if i misunderstood you.
  i guess i got a bit too defensive.
  
  
  
• From: robspooner (@ p00.ohwy.com) on: Thu Jul 1 20:46:30
  
  I'm sorry is I missed this thread when it was active, but maybe this will reactivate it. As an American working with Indians to create Internet content in English, I have some strong views. There is no single "correct" form of English, but there is an international standard for grammar and usage. If you want to know what it is, watch CNN. What you hear on CNN will be as close to an accepted worldwide form as you are likely to find.
  
  Many of the "funny" usages that people have described are simply local conversational variants. It is pointless to debate whether Americanisms are better than Briticisms or Indianisms. However, it's important to know when local usages are inconsistent and look for standard ways of saying the same thing.
  
  Early in the thread, somebody mentioned the Indian word "upto." We are adopting "up to" even though all Indians seems to write it as one word. We're assuming that Indians will recognize that other English speakers write two words, but almost everyone outside India would regard "upto" as a typo.
  
  
• From: meera (@ 203.101.24.163) on: Thu Jul 8 15:49:00 EDT 2004
  
  pl read it
  
  
• From: indianBOB (@ adsl-66-138-145-143.dsl.stlsmo.swbell.net) on: Mon Aug 23 12:03:07
  
  Being and American - Indian (East Indian), doing a bit of research.
  
  I'd say the worst thing about certain Indian words is 'kum.' meaning like with (I think) but sounding like something else not to be said in public. I can't think of a sentence to use it with.
  
  These are common (also seen in movies) ...
  
  An Indian Professor .. Does anyone have a "Rubber?" .. it's earaser
  
  Many Indians cannot pronounce the letter "V" When they say it they make is sound as Weeeee but it's just V.
  
  H is hech ... it's H
  
  ;)
  
  
• From: nirosha (@ j8.stw21.jaring.my) on: Tue Aug 24 03:03:15 EDT 2004
  
  Rubber is commonly accepted in the Commonwealth. Since erasers are made from rubber and nothing else, (to my knowledge), it's only natural to use "rubber" to mean eraser! It's actually the Brits who introduced the word and still use it.
  
  As an English teacher, I do agree with the other view on mispronunciation of words with the letter "w" with a "vee" sound! I actually use a hand-held mirror to teach my young students to pucker the lips to come up with the correct sound!
  
  
• From: jeril james (@ ppp17-155.dsl-pun.eth.net) on: Tue Aug 31 07:04:54 EDT 2004
  
  It is wrong for anyone to think that his usage of a great language is correct.English is a universal language and it assumes different styles of usage according to the place where it is spoken.
  
  
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• From: kishore (@ 210.212.89.4) on: Fri Oct 29 01:34:54 EDT 2004
  
  English is a foreign language for indians,so it is not unusal for indians to pronounce wrong.indans are better than other asian countries.Renduzuous,spinach, moustache,tomato,photographer,imbroglio are often prounced with different sound or without missing sounds.everyone wants to speak correctly if he knows it.
  
  
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