Indian English

Many people in India speak English. It is a very common way to talk. It helps people from different lands speak together.

English is used by the government. It is also used in courts. This helps the law work well.

Many children go to English schools. This helps them learn new things. It can also help them get good jobs.

This way of speaking is special. It uses local words and numbers. People use it for work and stories.

It is a big part of life in India. It brings many people together.

English is a major way to talk in India. It is a special way of speaking. People call it Indian English. It helps people from different parts of India talk to each other. This is called a lingua franca.

English is used in many important ways. It is an official language for the government. It is also the main language for the courts. Many businesses use English to do work. In schools, more children are learning in English every year.

Indian English has its own unique style. It uses the Indian way of counting numbers. For example, people use words like lakh and crore. It also uses words from local Indian languages. This makes the speech feel like home.

Learning English can help people in India. It is often linked to new jobs and growth. Some studies show that fluent speakers can earn more money. Even though it started a long time ago, it is now a big part of life. It helps India connect with the rest of the world.

Indian English is a special way of speaking English in India. It is used by many people across the country and around the world. This language helps people from different parts of India talk to one another. This job is called being a lingua franca. It is a very important part of life in the Republic of India. English is one of the two main languages used by the Indian government.

English works in many important places in India. It is the official language used by the Supreme Court and high courts. In some states like Bihar or Rajasthan, people can also use Hindi in court. Many businesses use English for their documents and work. In schools, the number of students learning in English has grown a lot. Between 2008 and 2014, the number of students in English-medium schools rose from 15 million to 29 million.

This way of speaking has a long and changing history. It began when the East India Company arrived in the 1600s. They set up trading ports in cities like Surat, Mumbai, and Kolkata. Later, in 1835, English became the official language for the Company. A man named Lord Macaulay helped bring English into schools. By the time India became independent in 1947, English was the main way people communicated.

There are many interesting facts about how English is used today. In the 2011 Census, about 129 million Indians spoke English. For most people, it is a second or third language. Only about 259,678 people say it is their very first language. India ranks 6th out of 24 Asian countries on a list for English skill. Some people even call it "Macaulay's English" because of its history.

Indian English has its own unique sounds and words. It often uses the Indian way of counting large numbers. People use words like "lakh" and "crore" instead of Western numbers. It also uses words from local Indian languages, like "raksha." Some people even use funny new names for the language, like "Indlish." These special words help the language feel like a part of Indian culture.

Indian English, often called IndE or en-IN, is a distinct group of English dialects. These dialects are spoken throughout the Republic of India and by the Indian diaspora globally. English serves as a vital lingua franca, which is a common language used between people who speak different native tongues. In a country with many regional languages, English allows people from different states to communicate. It is one of the two languages used by the Government of India. It is also enshrined, or firmly established, in the Constitution of India.

The role of English in Indian institutions is very specific. It is the sole official language of the Judiciary of India. This means the Supreme Court and all high courts use English for their work. However, there are exceptions allowed by the Constitution. In states like Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, Hindi is used in courts with special presidential approval. The Madras High Court has also taken steps to use Tamil alongside English. In the business world, English is incredibly common. Many enterprises find it unusual to use documents that are not written in English.

Indian English has several unique linguistic features that set it apart. One major feature is the use of the Indian numbering system. While Westerners use millions or billions, Indians often use terms like lakh and crore for large numbers. These terms are also used to describe large population sizes. The language also absorbs words from local Indian literary languages and vernaculars, which are regional spoken languages. For example, words like "mundus" or "raksha" might be used. Some speakers also use English spellings for Indian words. There is also a general homogeneity, or similarity, in how the different dialects sound and use vocabulary.

The history of the language is tied to the history of British rule. The East India Company received a charter from Queen Elizabeth I in 1600. This led to the creation of trading ports in cities like Surat, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata. In 1835, English replaced Persian as the official language of the Company. A man named Lord Macaulay helped introduce English into the education system. He believed English should be the medium of instruction in all schools. By the mid-1800s, universities modeled after the University of London were established in Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras. By the time India gained independence in 1947, English was the dominant form of communication in government and commerce.

After India became independent, the status of English changed. Modern Standard Hindi was named the first official language. However, many non-Hindi speaking states, such as Tamil Nadu, protested this change. Because of these protests, English was kept as an associate language. It remains a reliable way for the central government to talk to non-Hindi states. Today, the view of English has shifted from being a symbol of colonialism to a symbol of economic progress. Statistics show that Indian men who speak fluent English can earn 34% higher hourly salaries than those who do not.

Recent data shows how many people use the language. According to the 2011 Census, 129 million Indians spoke English. This accounted for about 10.6% of the population. Interestingly, only 259,678 people, or about 0.02%, reported English as their first language. For most, it is a second or third language. The 2001 Census showed 86 million people used it as a second language and 39 million as a third. Enrollment in English-medium schools has also grown rapidly. Between the 2008–09 and 2013–14 school years, enrollment increased by 50%. The number of students in these schools rose from 15 million to 29 million.

People have used many different names for this way of speaking over time. The term "Indian English" first appeared in 1696. During the colonial era, terms like "Anglo-Indian English" or "Indo-Anglian" were common. In modern times, people have created many colorful portmanteau words, which are words made by joining two others. These include "Indlish," recorded in 1962, and "Indiglish," from 1974. Some even call it "Macaulay's English" after the man who helped introduce it to schools. Today, India ranks 6th out of 24 Asian countries in the EF English Proficiency Index. This index gives India a score of 496, which indicates moderate proficiency.