--- On Wed, 25/11/09, Divya Sampath <[email protected]> wrote: > From: Divya Sampath <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [silk] Why is Indian English so floral? > To: [email protected] > Date: Wednesday, 25 November, 2009, 0:28 > Apologies for top posting. > > Here's what I think. Most Indians don't really think in > English. The flourishes that mark 'elegant language' in the > vernacular are subconsciously reflected in the English we > use, losing their impact along the way. It's a > phenomenon not unique to India- look at English usage in > Hong Kong or Kenya. > > Cheers > Divya > > Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device =========================================== Here had we now our country's honour roof'd, Were the graced person of our Banquo present, Who may I rather challenge for unkindness Than pity for mischance! ===========================================
thought you were lost to the pubs of Inglistan! > -----Original Message----- > From: Thaths <[email protected]> > Date: Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:25:14 > To: <[email protected]> > Subject: Re: [silk] Why is Indian English so floral? > > On Tue, Nov 24, 2009 at 10:04 AM, Deepa Mohan <[email protected]> > wrote: > > On Tue, Nov 24, 2009 at 11:28 PM, Thaths <[email protected]> > wrote: > >> So.... why is Indian English so hyper floral? > > Advertising copy is hyper floral anywhere! > > There is some truth in that. However, such gaudy prose is > not just > restricted to advertising copy. I have also seen many > be-jeweled > business documents and newsletters in my short professional > life in > India. And these were equally prevalent in small local > businesses and > large multi-national corporations. > > > But we love to dress up > > everything with jewellery...we have an inbuilt love > for intricate > > ornamentation. (now THAT was a good example.) > > I do love hyper loquaciousness (sp?) in principle (c.f., > Wodehouse, > P.G.). However, these particular ones are somehow archaic, > chintzy and > even awkward. > > > We feel that the kernel, with all that dressing, will > become a coconut.... > > Perhaps all this florid prose is just husk good for being > stuffed into > mattresses? > > > I have some friends who specificaly ask me to write > such flowery copy for > > their brochures. The last time I refused, some > copywriter produced such > > ludicrous gems, that I don't say no any more! > > Obviously the florid prose must bring in the "boanee". Why, > I wonder. > Is there something in the Indian consumer psyche that > equates florid > prose with quality? Or culture? > > Thaths > -- > Homer: Look at these low, low prices on famous brand-name > electronics! > Bart: Don't be a sap, Dad. These are just crappy > knockoffs. > Homer: Pfft. I know a genuine Panaphonics when I see it. > And look, there's > a Magnetbox and Sorny. > >
