The very word ‘Englishes’ is a pointer to the fluid state of the evolution of languages. With English becoming the lingua franca of the world, it had to reconcile itself to the fact that English of the Germanic origin was appropriated by other countries which used it with local flavour and fervour. Currently, there are approximately 75 territories where English is spoken either as a first language (L1) or as an unofficial or institutionalized second language (L2) in fields such as government, law, and education. This explains the term, ‘Englishes of the World’ which is distinct from World English.
This brings me to some of the Indian usages that we dismiss derogatorily as ‘Indian English’. When terms like cousin brother and cousin sister pop up in conversations, we assign a lower status of proficiency in language to the speaker who uses these terms because of our condescension that it is an Indian usage. The same fate awaits terms such as co-sister and co-brother. Interestingly, ‘prepone’ which gets labelled as Indian Usage exists in Oxford English Dictionary (OED), aka, “the definitive record of the English language.” According to the dictionary, the word is mostly attributed to Indian English, but it was first used in the 16th century, long before English spread in India. At that point, it meant “to place in front of.” It comes from the Latin praeponere. The first person to use it in print, according to the OED, as Robert Crowley, a Puritan social reformer who wrote in 1549: “I do prepone and set the Lord alwaye before myne eyes.”
Irrespective of their origin, words which lead to easier comprehension of an idea should become part of an ever-evolving structure of a language.
From Cashmere and pyjamas to bangles, shampoo, and jungle, around 900 words have been contributed to the English language for over 400 years by India, and they feature in the OED.
Probably our cousin brothers and cousin sisters as well as co-brothers and co-sisters will find
their way to the OED. I wonder whether we can prepone their advent!
Caveat…
Let’s discuss about it tomorrow. ☹️
Let’s discuss it tomorrow/Let’s have a discussion about it tomorrow????
2 comments
A nice insight into the fusion of languages by Dr. Malini.
As you rightly mentioned India has contributed a plethora of words to the English Language for global use. India uses its own distinctive ‘Hinglish’.(Hindi plus English). Interestingly we also have ‘Konglish’ (English with Konkani, ‘Kanlish’ (Kannada plus English) and one can keep adding to the list.
Globally too native languages have converged wherever English flowed, transcending class and status. eg. Singlish, Chinglish and so on.
As the world comes together through invasions, colonization as well more positively globalization, languages merge, enrich and sometimes create their own identities. Kudos on the reflections….
Pertinent observations… You have added so much to the concept taken up in the write up Dr Zita… Earnest thanks ????