Does anyone have any research or other information about use of the definite article "the" in spoken and written English in India?
I find that many English speakers in India drop "the" before certain nouns that usually require the article. The omission is much more prevalent than in either British or American English.
I'm looking for ways to describe the pattern of omission and to teach "standard" American and British usage to those who must speak and write for an American or British audience.
Any assistance will be much appreciated!
Thank you...
Omission of definite article in India
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Stephen Jones
- Posts: 1421
- Joined: Sun May 18, 2003 5:25 pm
Both the definite and indefinite article are commonly missed out by many Indian speakers of English, including those applying for jobs as English teachers.
The point is that "Indian English" is not a variety of English in the same way that Australian, British or American English are. There are speakers whose grammar is indistinguishable from that of an educated Southern English speaker and others whose English is nearer a piogin than a full blown language.
Teach them the standard which is the same for all native varieties of English.
The point is that "Indian English" is not a variety of English in the same way that Australian, British or American English are. There are speakers whose grammar is indistinguishable from that of an educated Southern English speaker and others whose English is nearer a piogin than a full blown language.
Teach them the standard which is the same for all native varieties of English.
Thanks, Stephen.
I'm referring to even the most literate of English speakers in India. In their casual speech, they'll drop articles left and right. This feature seems to characterize a certain type of English dialect spoken by urban professionals in India.
In their writing, the same individuals will put most of the articles back in. I note, too, that the English-language newspapers will observe mostly correct article usage, but certain nouns will invariably be missing an article that is required in the UK and elsewhere.
I'm referring to even the most literate of English speakers in India. In their casual speech, they'll drop articles left and right. This feature seems to characterize a certain type of English dialect spoken by urban professionals in India.
In their writing, the same individuals will put most of the articles back in. I note, too, that the English-language newspapers will observe mostly correct article usage, but certain nouns will invariably be missing an article that is required in the UK and elsewhere.
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Stephen Jones
- Posts: 1421
- Joined: Sun May 18, 2003 5:25 pm
North Indian languages don't have an article, so when articles are routinely missed out it is first language interference.
That said, as you point out, people who know where to put the articles and use them correctly in writing, often don't do so in spoken English. The reason iI suspect is conscious or unconscious mimicry of other Indian English speakers - a matter of register.
Indian English doesn't really fit into any of the normal linguistic categories since the language community consisits of people who use it as a second language, people using it as a pidgin, "native" speakers who are using a creole, and genuine native speakers who are speaking Indian English as a variant of their normal English dialect.
That said, as you point out, people who know where to put the articles and use them correctly in writing, often don't do so in spoken English. The reason iI suspect is conscious or unconscious mimicry of other Indian English speakers - a matter of register.
Indian English doesn't really fit into any of the normal linguistic categories since the language community consisits of people who use it as a second language, people using it as a pidgin, "native" speakers who are using a creole, and genuine native speakers who are speaking Indian English as a variant of their normal English dialect.
The "feeling"
Good morning all!
Steven points out the cause of the omision of the "the" in Indian English speakers, that is, L1 interference. Haven't any experience with Indians so will base my comments on my experience with Japanese Insurance Salesmen and Spanish speakers.
The Japanese also happily gloss over the "the" in speaking, for the same reason, they haven't a specific sound that represents "the" in their language to put into that "before the noun" slot and so don't immediately recognize the importance of putting that sound before nouns when speaking English. On the other hand, the Spanish speakers do have a "the" in their language, yet use it where English speakers would usually not: "The Life is difficult in war zones"; "He's at the work", again because of L1 interference. Despite the explanations given for the use of the "the" in English, this interference does not just go away, it must be consciously tackled.
In order to begin using the "the" students must develop a feeling for it. Until they recognize the difference in feeling between "I read the book" and "I read book", they will choose the latter because the "the" in the former does not have the same parallel reality in their own language. As I have mentioned with prepositions, once the meaning of the "the" is clear, it is then a matter of considering the "the" as a prefix to nouns in certain situations, that is, when the noun in question is one in particular. The other article, "a/an" is the prefix to a noun that could be any one. If that prefix is not there the native listener would not know if the speaker is talking about a particular thing or any thing. And the sentence would be missing a sylable which would make it sound unusual, would even remove the emphasis from the important words by breaking the natural rhythm of the sentence. Since the rhythm used in Japanese is different from that used in English, the student must learn the English rhythm and get a feeling for it in order to recognize that leaving out that "the" is not only a question of using their articles but also a question of speaking with fluidity, meaning, spitting out a sentence smoothly.
If the student does not get the "the" into his/her mouth it will certainly not be heard, we natives don't say "thaaaa" but rather often just block a neutral vowel sound by touching the tip of our tongue to the front teeth. It's not a complete word, it's a filler with capacity to modify the word that follows it. It is substitutable by a finite number of words, while the noun could be one of thousands. It needs to be there for meaning but it also needs to be there for rhythm and overall sentence/word emphasis.
My point of view (disclaimer 352-v)!
peace,
revel.
Steven points out the cause of the omision of the "the" in Indian English speakers, that is, L1 interference. Haven't any experience with Indians so will base my comments on my experience with Japanese Insurance Salesmen and Spanish speakers.
The Japanese also happily gloss over the "the" in speaking, for the same reason, they haven't a specific sound that represents "the" in their language to put into that "before the noun" slot and so don't immediately recognize the importance of putting that sound before nouns when speaking English. On the other hand, the Spanish speakers do have a "the" in their language, yet use it where English speakers would usually not: "The Life is difficult in war zones"; "He's at the work", again because of L1 interference. Despite the explanations given for the use of the "the" in English, this interference does not just go away, it must be consciously tackled.
In order to begin using the "the" students must develop a feeling for it. Until they recognize the difference in feeling between "I read the book" and "I read book", they will choose the latter because the "the" in the former does not have the same parallel reality in their own language. As I have mentioned with prepositions, once the meaning of the "the" is clear, it is then a matter of considering the "the" as a prefix to nouns in certain situations, that is, when the noun in question is one in particular. The other article, "a/an" is the prefix to a noun that could be any one. If that prefix is not there the native listener would not know if the speaker is talking about a particular thing or any thing. And the sentence would be missing a sylable which would make it sound unusual, would even remove the emphasis from the important words by breaking the natural rhythm of the sentence. Since the rhythm used in Japanese is different from that used in English, the student must learn the English rhythm and get a feeling for it in order to recognize that leaving out that "the" is not only a question of using their articles but also a question of speaking with fluidity, meaning, spitting out a sentence smoothly.
If the student does not get the "the" into his/her mouth it will certainly not be heard, we natives don't say "thaaaa" but rather often just block a neutral vowel sound by touching the tip of our tongue to the front teeth. It's not a complete word, it's a filler with capacity to modify the word that follows it. It is substitutable by a finite number of words, while the noun could be one of thousands. It needs to be there for meaning but it also needs to be there for rhythm and overall sentence/word emphasis.
My point of view (disclaimer 352-v)!
peace,
revel.