English in the
Jewel in the Crown
- Indian English -
                             Rochana Jayasinghe
                                                                 rochjayasinghe@gmail.com
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•Number of English speakers in the Indian subcontinent – 200 million to 333 million
•India is among the leading English-using nations in the world; 125 million
•The third largest English book printing country in the world after the UK and the US
•India publishes more books in English than in any other language

HOW? WHY?
Image result for british raj flag
BRITISH RAJ (1858-1947)
Jewel in the Crown

•One of the 22 official languages
•Widely used in administration, education, media, cross cultural communication
•Plays the most prominent role in the prestigious domains of education, science and technology
•The instrument that various poliical leaders utilized for national awakening and freedom struggles

Member countries | The Commonwealth



•What is your good name?
•Today morning, yesterday night
•Cousin sister, cousin brother
•Prepone
•Do the needful
•
•

•Auntie/uncle
•Timepass
•Don’t eat my head
•To pass out
•

•On/off the lights
•
•‘Only’
•
•Revert back
•
•Do one thing
•
•Himalayan Blunder

•I have a doubt
•
•Batch/batchmates
•
•Cut the call
•
•Current went/current came
•
•‘No’
•
•

Sri Lankan English
•Hi
•How have you been lately?
•What a shame
• Dont be silly
•No way!
•I accept that
•They're dating

•This is my son's girlfriend
•Everybody
•Everybody will be there
•Its crazy!
•Everything is alright
•Is that ok? Don't worry
•Late night partying
•This is ridiculous
•Dont make me repeat myself
•Unfortunately

•Can you turn the air conditioner on?
•Can you switch off the light?
•My arm hurts
•There you go
•There was so much traffic on the road today
•You must be so tired
•That's what I told you!
•Yes, that's right.
•I didn't know at all
•Bon Appetit!
•
•

•Sounds ridiculous?
•
•Is it wrong?
•

English is ‘nativized’
•When a language is transported to new cultures as in South Asia, it undergoes striking changes
•It is not a uniform variety




Speak English “Our” Way
•English is now one of “our” languages
•Has ceased to be the “property” of England
•Small price to pay for colonial destruction?
•What about what I speak?
•
•Long time, no see
•More the merrier
•No can do
•

“Englishes”