Indian English

group of English dialects spoken primarily in the Indian subcontinent

Indian English or South Asian English is several dialects or varieties of English. It is spoken mainly in India, and by first-generation members of the Indian diaspora.[1]

The dialect evolved during and after the British colonial rule of India.[2] English is the co-official language of India, with about 90 million speakers, but with fewer than quarter of a million calling it a first language.[source?]

In 19th century India, Britain first faced the need to teach English to a body of people who were important to Britain. There were a number of schools which taught and used English in India. They were mostly run by missionaries. Many taught European and Eurasian children and orphans. The products of these schools provided the first generation of teachers.[source?]

References change

  1. Kachru, Braj B. 1983. The Indianisation of English: the English language in India. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-561353-8
  2. Whitworth, George Clifford 1885. An Anglo-Indian dictionary: a glossary of Indian terms used in English, and of such English or other non-Indian terms as have obtained special meanings in India. London: K. Paul, Trench.