7. Spoken English & Fluency

By Hemanta Kumar

 


For Your "Spoken English & Fluency" Category

Title: Speak with Global Confidence: 5 Common 'Indianisms' and Their Polished Alternatives

Welcome to Enrich Your English (EYE)! As Indians, we are multilingual superheroes. Speaking multiple languages is our strength, and it gives our English a unique, wonderful flavour. However, sometimes the rules of our mother tongue can spill over into our English, leading to small errors that can be confusing in a global or professional context.

This post isn’t about "correcting mistakes." It's about polishing your already excellent skills to ensure your communication is crystal clear, no matter who you're speaking to. Let’s look at five common "Indianisms" and their globally understood alternatives.


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1. The Introduction: "Myself, I am..."

  • What we often say: "Myself, I am Priya." or "Myself Priya."
  • Why we say it: This is often a direct translation from Hindi ("Main Priya hoon") or other regional languages where this structure is perfectly natural.
  • The Polished Alternative: In English, "myself" is a reflexive or intensive pronoun, used when "I" is already in the sentence. The simplest and most professional way to introduce yourself is directly.
    • "My name is Priya."
    • "I am Priya."
    • (In a casual setting): "Hi, I'm Priya."

In context:

  • Instead of: "Hello everyone, myself I am here to present the quarterly report."
  • Try: "Hello everyone, my name is Priya, and I'm here to present the quarterly report."

2. The Graduation: "Passing out of college"

  • What we often say: "I passed out of college in 2023."
  • Why we say it: This is a very common phrase in Indian English. However, in American or British English, "to pass out" means to faint or lose consciousness!
  • The Polished Alternative: The correct term for completing your studies is "to graduate."
    • "I graduated from college in 2023."
    • "I finished my degree last year."

In context:

  • Instead of: "My sister will be passing out from Delhi University next month."
  • Try: "My sister will be graduating from Delhi University next month."
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3. The Redundancy: "Revert back" & "Discuss about"

  • What we often say: "Please revert back to me." or "Let's discuss about this issue."
  • Why we say it: We often add extra words to be more polite or emphatic.
  • The Polished Alternative: The words "revert" and "discuss" already contain the meaning of "back" and "about." Adding the extra word is redundant.
    • Revert means "to reply" or "go back to."
    • Discuss means "to talk about."
    • "Please revert by 5 PM."
    • "Let's discuss this issue."

In context:

  • Instead of: "We need to discuss about the budget."
  • Try: "We need to discuss the budget."


4. The Non-Existent Word: "Preponing"

  • What we often say: "Can we prepone the meeting from 3 PM to 1 PM?"
  • Why we say it: It’s a brilliant and logical invention! If you can "postpone" (move later), why can't you "prepone" (move earlier)? While it makes perfect sense, "prepone" is not a standard word in global English.
  • The Polished Alternative: You need to use a phrase instead of a single word.
    • "Can we move the meeting forward to 1 PM?"
    • "Can we bring the meeting forward?"
    • "Could we meet earlier, at 1 PM instead?"

In context:

  • Instead of: "I have another appointment, so I would like to prepone our call."
  • Try: "I have another appointment, so I would like to move our call forward."

5. The Request: "What is your good name?"

  • What we often say: "What is your good name, Sir?"
  • Why we say it: This is a very polite and respectful phrase, a direct translation from phrases like "aapka shubh naam kya hai?" It is meant to be warm and courteous.
  • The Polished Alternative: In English, a name isn't considered "good" or "bad." The politeness is conveyed by your tone and using words like "please."
    • "What is your name, please?"
    • "May I have your name?"
    • (Casually): "And you are?"

In context:

  • Instead of: "Before we begin, what is your good name?"
  • Try: "Before we begin, may I have your name, please?"

Remember, language is about clear communication. By polishing these small habits, you ensure your brilliant ideas are understood perfectly by anyone, anywhere. Keep enriching your English!

Also share with me the topics you are interested in enriching. Improve your vision of Language with EYE, Enrich Your English. 

Take a sneak peek into the Mystery Thriller Read the complete Prologue Free

If you are Interested in Suspense Thriller stories read my book The Crimson Alibi, The Novel of Twisted Justice

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Grammar & Usage

11.Unlocking the Power of Storytelling: Enhancing Your English Through Narrative

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Unlocking the Power of Storytelling

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1: Grammar & Usage

By Hemanta Kumar
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