Speaking of English

Coming to english-each of the English speaking country speaks in its own way.But only in India the protogonists of english language fuss over the accent and criticise.The Indian Engllish is well known. In one of the books (lonely planet-guide to the country, people their customs and habits) the author says Indian English is for communicating among different language nspeaking Indians-which purpose it serves well. In Amerca there are people from many many countries speaking in different accent and people here understand. Americans talk slow and swallow some words and prolong syllables. If you watch carefully it is not difficult. Likewise they also have cues to understand different accent from different countries.Trying to imitate their way of talking will only be perceived by them as yet another accent or slang from that country.It is also difficult to simulate.for eg the champions in India call the children book as Enid Blighton but this proper noun here is pronounced as 'Eenid'. Sometimes the puritanism may land you in trouble.If you go to a hotel in a resort in India asking for a "sweet" you will end up in the freezing cold with some candy in hand(sweet) as the bellboy knows only "suite"(soot") he goes by the spelling. So also you will have to compromise your english if you are particular to get the delicious steak -pronounce it as per spelling and not "stake".when I was sick with "Gullain Barre" syndrome I told a doctor friend who came to see me "Gian Barre" as it is pronounced to which he said "some peculiar disease"& got the diagnosis when I pronounced it "Gullan barre". Having said this much a word of caution. grammar is important. Otherwise there will be problems. sometime back I received a leave letter from an employee like this."grant me leave 2 days to go to my village to dispose off my house there along with my wife. The other day on our way to airport we saw a name board of a lady doctor "name degrees etc-next line SPECIALIST IN WOMEN AND OTHER DISEASES"

From US many toll free numbers go to India replied by Indians sporting American names and the unavoidable "American accent" taught to them by call centre instructors.I dont know whether guys here mind it but Indians should encourage it as this means American dollar to INDIA & most sought after jobs in India. All big economics. You should know our American returned economist on a tour of I ndian villages. In one village he saw a shepherd with a herd of sheep. he wanted to take one small sheep but unwiiling to pay. so told the shepherd if I tell you the number in this herd without counting will you give one free. the other agrre. He used his comp made calcullations & correctly told him the number. the shephed asked him to take one of his choice. our man took one. then shepherd asked if I tell you correctly your profession will you give it back-to which economist agreed. shepherd asked him are you an economist. Astonished he asked how he made out. to which shepherd said you wanted one of my young sheep but you have taken my dog. that is how I made out you must be an economist full of theories.