Introduction
Apparently, the ancient legacy of the building of Babel is finally overcome: the English language has reached a spread all over the world unprecedented in history. People coming from such diverse backgrounds as Europe, America or Africa are now linked by one language: English. When following statistical numbers that estimate the total number of English speakers to exceed 1bn, it is not surprising that English is now agreed to be the lingua franca (cf. McArthur 2001: 1). On the surface, this achievement might be regarded as the fulfilment of a long aspired goal: the dream of universal intelligibility. Yet it brings with it certain conflicts and complications: English, now having reached cultures totally different from those that belong to the up to now accepted standards of English, was thus challenged to become an appropriate means for speakers to communicate within contexts the English language never was used in before. As a result, speakers from countries such as India, Kenya or Nigeria have moulded the English language and have adapted it to their own individual context - a development that might be a hindrance to the vision of English as a ‘link language’ worldwide. Unfortunately, it is not long ago that many of these New Englishes were considered to be provincial, backward and incorrect (cf. Görlach 1995: 11). Such judgemental views of the issue neither pay attention to the concept of interference the speakers’ first language has on English in these countries nor to the deviations motivated by acculturation. In the course of this paper the concepts of interference and acculturation as well as the issue of a universal understandable English are to be investigated in terms of one particular variety: Indian English. The study is structured as follows: Firstly, light will be shed on the different backgrounds an English speaker might come from. In order to introduce into the variety of Indian English as a next step, it will give an overview of how English gained roots in India. In addition to that, some of the most productive processes of adapting the English language to India will be illustrated. Finally, a discussion of some of the most important ideas of an ‘International English’ intends to touch on the problem of worldwide intelligibility in connection with the many Englishes. For reasons such as the colonial past of India comparisons of Indian English to any standard variety of English will be reduced to the British standard...
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. ENL, ESL and EFL varieties of English- a terminology
2.1 ENL
2.2 ESL
2.3 EFL
III. Development of the non-native variety 'Indian English'
IV. The Indianization of the English language in India
4.1 Acculturation and interference
4.2 Deviations on the lexical level
4.2.1 Research
4.3 Types of lexical innovations
4.3.1 Single item transfer
4.3.2 Hybridised items
4.3.3 Translations
4.3.4 Shifts
4.3.5 Indian English collocations
V. The ‘Indianess’ of IE – a natural outcome of acculturation
VI. A common core as a world standard?
VII. Conclusion
Research Objective and Scope
This academic paper investigates the linguistic evolution of Indian English as a distinct variety, specifically focusing on how the processes of acculturation and first-language interference contribute to lexical innovations that reflect India's unique sociocultural context.
- Theoretical distinction between ENL, ESL, and EFL language varieties.
- Historical development and socio-political roots of English in India.
- Analysis of lexical innovations including hybridised items, transfers, and collocations.
- Examination of the "Indianess" of IE as a legitimate outcome of cultural adaptation.
- Critical discussion of "International English" and the viability of a universal "common core" for intelligibility.
Excerpt from the Book
4.3.1 Single item transfer
By single item innovation it is meant that an Indian lexical item is transferred into Indian English. According to Kachru, these items belong to the group of restricted items as the context for their usage is entirely Indian and restricted to registers such as law, politics and society (cf. Kachru 1976: 82).
A brief quote from the Hindustan Times exemplifies how these Indian items occur frequently within English texts:
This is clear from the results of the panchayat elections announced yesterday. The elections were held on Sunday and some 170,000 villagers cast their votes to elect 180 pradhans and 1500 odd members of gaon sabhas. Pradhans and members of 15 gaon sabhas were elected unopposed (Hinduistan times, cited from: Kachru 1975: 86).
The italicised items belong to the register of administration and politics. Apparently, these transferred items have no exact equivalents in English or even no equivalents exist all.
Summary of Chapters
I. Introduction: Presents the global spread of English and establishes Indian English as the primary case study for examining the concepts of linguistic interference and acculturation.
II. ENL, ESL and EFL varieties of English- a terminology: Defines the three-way distinction between native, second, and foreign language varieties to provide a foundation for categorizing Indian English.
III. Development of the non-native variety 'Indian English': Outlines the historical phases of English in India, from missionary influence to the formal educational policies of the 19th century.
IV. The Indianization of the English language in India: Provides a detailed analysis of lexical innovations, including single item transfers, hybridised forms, translations, shifts, and collocations.
V. The ‘Indianess’ of IE – a natural outcome of acculturation: Argues against judgemental views of Indian English and validates its unique features as necessary adaptations to the Indian cultural environment.
VI. A common core as a world standard?: Evaluates the feasibility of an international English standard that accounts for both the individuality of ESL varieties and the requirement for mutual intelligibility.
VII. Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings and reinforces the necessity of accepting the distinctiveness of Indian English within an evolving international standard.
Keywords
Indian English, ESL variety, Acculturation, Linguistic interference, Lexical innovation, Hybridised items, Single item transfer, Indianisms, Common core, Intelligibility, Sociolinguistics, British English, Colonial history, Language policy, World Englishes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper examines how Indian English has evolved as a unique variety of English, specifically analyzing how cultural adaptation and native-language interference shape its lexical structure.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
Key areas include the historical roots of English in India, technical classifications of lexical innovations, the sociolinguistic validity of "Indianisms," and the challenges of establishing a universally intelligible international English.
What is the main research question or goal?
The goal is to analyze the "Indianization" of English to argue that such deviations are not errors but logical adaptations to the Indian sociocultural and political context.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The author uses a descriptive sociolinguistic approach, analyzing existing literature, historical documents, and specific linguistic case studies (lexical data) to illustrate patterns of language change.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body elaborates on the historical development, the categorization of lexical innovations (like hybrid collocations and shifts), and the relationship between Indian English and international standards.
How would you characterize the defining keywords of this work?
The work is defined by terms such as acculturation, interference, Indian English, lexical innovation, and international intelligibility.
How does the author define a "hybridised item"?
A hybridised item is defined as a lexical formation consisting of two or more items, where at least one element originates from an Indian language and at least one from English.
Why does the paper advocate for the recognition of Indian English?
The author argues that judging Indian English against a static British standard is problematic because Indian English must express cultural concepts (like caste or specific religious taboos) that simply do not exist in the British cultural context.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Stefanie Bock (Autor:in), 2003, Indian English as an ESL-variety: common core and interference, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/51407
