A very valid and nice post from Gold Finger ... we are not native English speakers and however good we think our English is - its surprising if we think openly that we do not speak as natives do..... I am referring to a new desi immigrant and not one born here .
Besides the fact that some English phrases and pronunciations are new here (which we must get adapted to ) , sometimes our being over confident of having studied in an English medium in India , acts as an impediment in our adapting to new communication skills .... Accept that what you speak / write may not be correct as per locals and then try to correct it ... over a couple of months and with this new constant learning , you can advance rapidly .
Not so much in the GTA for huge influx of new varying Immigrants , but if you go further in Canada , you d find native speakers trouble understanding you since they are not used to your communication style ..... 'Whats that ? ' was an oft repeated phrase I use to hear ..... I picked up wherever I would hear someone say that and correct it next time . Record , Inventory , harassed , coupon are just simple examples ....
Speak simply , slowly and correctly --- this can make comprehension easier for the other party ...... its more important to speak correct english than simulate an accent or put in heavy words .... language /communication improvement is an evolutionary process ... though and Institute or school can get you a head start , but its ultimately how much you read and hear everyday that you incorporate in your communication which makes the difference ............... Observation and assimilation are the mandatory steps ... mandatory ... another word which is pronounced differently here ... 
Having said that , I am sure that there are Govt aided programs for new Immigrants which help in communication skills and they should be free . Just google .
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Fido.
Accent matters in North America. This is true for work and for social life as well. I pefer speaking in a neutral acccent over a phoney Canadian accent, the former being easier to adapt to.
Our english is better understood by professors, upper management and the elites. Probably because its formal and they interact more with desis. .
Quote:
Originally posted by Fido
we are not native English speakers and however good we think our English is - its surprising if we think openly that we do not speak as natives do..... I am referring to a new desi immigrant and not one born here .
Besides the fact that some English phrases and pronunciations are new here (which we must get adapted to ) , sometimes our being over confident of having studied in an English medium in India , acts as an impediment in our adapting to new communication skills .... Accept that what you speak / write may not be correct as per locals and then try to correct it ...
That's exactly my point. Most words that we use in India are mis-represented or they don't even exist in the dictionary. Here are some examples
Prepone - It's not even a word and is predominately used by South Asians to represent advancing of date/time. This word got included in dictionary later due to extensive usage by South Asians
Updation - It's not even a word. "Updating" is the right word.
Tiffin - It represents lunch or mid-day meal. But we use it to represent breakfast.
Tiffin Carrier - It's not even a word. Lunch box is the right word. Surprisingly we use "Tiffin Carrier" to represent lunch box and "Tiffin" to represent breakfast.
Mixie - It's not even a word. Mixer or Blender is the right word.
Hotel - It represents an establishment that provides lodging and usually meals and other services for travelers and other paying guests. But we use it even to represent restaurants or any other establishment that only serves food.
Mobile Phone - It literally means a phone that moves. Cell Phone is the right word.
Mess – It’s a verb representing a group regularly taking their meals together or eating in company. But we use it as a noun representing an establishment that provides food service in hostels, military establishments and homes. Cafeteria is the right word.
Cooling Glass - It's not even a word. Sun Glass is the right word.
Goggles - It represents large spectacles equipped with special lenses, protective rims, etc., to prevent injury to the eyes from strong wind, flying objects, blinding light etc.. But we use it represent sun glasses.
Pleasure car - This is used by rurals in India to represent a car.
Colgate - This is used by rurals in India to represent any tooth paste.
Xerox - This is used by Indians to represent any photo-copy.
Cool drink/Cold drink - We use these to represent soda's. Soft drink is the right word.
Bike - It usually represents bicycle. We use this to represent Motor bike.
Football - We use this to represent soccer.
Encounter - It means to come upon or meet with someone. We use this to represent gunning down of terrorists or any other anti social elements. (ex. Rowdy killed in encounter - Which literally means that the rowdy got killed in a meeting
. Gun fight is the right word.Collector (District) - It means a person employed to collect taxes, duties, or other payments. District Mayor should be the right word.
Road - It represents a long, narrow stretch with a smoothed or paved surface usually with no lanes. We use this even to represent alley, street, highway, freeway etc.. or any other surface that's paved.
Ladies finger - We use this to represent Okra.
Peon - It represents any person of low social status, esp. one who does work regarded as menial or unskilled. Attendant or orderly could be used instead of this word.
Sepoy - It represents an Indian soldier, usually an infantryman, in the service of Europeans, esp. of the British. We use this to represent soldiers in Indian Army serving our country.
Bus stand - It's not even a word. Bus Station is the right word.
Stun Gun - It a gun used to immobilize a person or animal briefly and without injury. We use this to represent any automatic weapon.
Cold coffee - It literally means a coffee that’s cold. Iced coffee is the right word.
Chocolate - We use this even to represent candies that are not made out of Chocolate.
Hot – Some Indians use this to represent whisky or brandy.
Snow bowling - It's not even a word. We use this to represent bowling in bowling alley. BTW Snow balling, wherein a mass of soft, wet snow packed into a ball that can be thrown, as in play, is a valid word.
Lift - We use this to represent a drop-off or pick-up.
Surf - We use this to represent any laundry detergent.
Mineral water - We use this to represent bottled water though no minerals are used in it.
Color - This is used by rurals in India to represent any colored soft drink.
Book - It represents a written or printed work of fiction or nonfiction, usually on sheets of paper fastened or bound together within covers. We use this even to represent journals, magazines and comics.
Cycle - We use this to represent bicycle though cycle may represent a unicycle, motorcycle, tricycle etc...
There are many such misrepresented words in our country and we got so much used to all these words that we believe that our English is great, whereas its not.
Hence it’s very crucial for any Indian in a foreign country to correct such mistakes while communicating with the natives there.
Location: carl sagan's universe
Posted on: 18-12-08 22:35:06
football is used by 6 billion people to represent football - what is soccer?
natives????? which????
You call the citizens of Canada as natives?
Why do you have such a preconceived opinion about Indians ( I mean people form East India)?
This long list you have somehow managed to put together is something you should review yourself. I have in my three and half years in Canada have not come across any one you uses even 50 % of the words you have mentioned.
Quote:
Originally posted by GoldFinger
There are many such misrepresented words in our country and we got so much used to all these words that we believe that our English is great, whereas its not.
Hence it’s very crucial for any Indian in a foreign country to correct such mistakes while communicating with the natives there.
