English easily takes on the color and taste of other languages - a bit like an avocado in a salad - bland on it's own and great with others.
On Tue, Nov 24, 2009 at 2:10 PM, Indrajit Gupta <[email protected]>wrote: > > --- 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. > > > > > > > > >
