With 129 million speakers, as per the 2011 Indian census, about 10% of the Indian population can speak English. However, only 0.02% of India claim English as their first language.
The disparity between the two numbers is hardly surprising in India. The country is home to well over a hundred local languages, with English being a foreign language that, despite its popularity, few start learning before entering a formal education system.
As these numbers indicate, it is common for most Indians to speak English with a mother tongue influence (MTI). The phenomenon refers to how one’s first language can affect how one speaks or structures one’s speech in another language.
MTI can range from the position of certain propositions in a sentence to the pronunciations of different words. Those speaking with MTI might not always follow the grammatical rules strictly, but it does not often detract from their ability to express their ideas clearly.
Unfortunately, MTI has long negatively impacted employees in the Indian business community. From being rejected for qualified positions to not being given chances for growth, those speaking Engish influenced by their mother tongue often face obstacles in their career, no matter their qualifications.
How MTI affects the way we speak
Each language has a distinct grammar structure and phonological structure. While the languages that develop in the same area, like Tamil and Telugu, may have some similarities, English is a language separated by miles from India’s local languages.
As a result, those who speak English with an MTI often find themselves reverting to grammar structures they are familiar with and phonetics that they have grown up with. Some of the most common ways that MTI affects English include:
- Literal Pronounciations: The English language is notorious for not writing the words as they are spoken. Even a common use word like Wednesday is not written as it is spoken, leading to confusion for many who have not grown up with English as their first language.
- Rolling the T, D, and Rs: Most Indian languages tend to pronounce the sounds connected with the letters T, D, and R by rolling their tongues backward. Given that English tends to go softer on these very letters, it can highlight MTI significantly. Words like “told” and “water” are some of the many examples in which the difference is evident.
- Pronouncing the Silent: The English language is littered with words that contain silent letters in text. For most Indian languages, words are written in the same way they are pronounced. This disconnect means that most Indians tend to sound the letters that are contained in the written format. Words like almond and debris are some of the most distinct examples of this mismatch.
- Adding Prepositions and Postpositions: “Lets’s discuss about this” might sound like a common phrase for most India employees but is a great example of how MTI can influence the way in which we speak. The addition of the word “about” is a reflection of how most Indian languages structure their sentence. Most Indian English speakers tend to structure their sentences based on how sentences are framed in their mother tongue, leading to the presence of unnecessary prepositions and postpositions.
- Societal Expectations: Most Indians, no matter their fluency in English, still find themselves using words and phrases not used in English but are accurate to the linguistic politeness of their language and society. “What is your good name?” is often used by Indians in exchange for the phrase “shubh naam.” For a native English speaker, though, the term “good name” would be something completely new and confusing.
Tackling the MTI bias in the workplace
In a study by Niklas Schulte, Johannes M. Basch, Hannah-Sophie Hay, and Klaus G. Melchers, it was found that “applicants who are speaking non-standard language are perceived as less competent and less hirable than applicants who are speaking standard language.” The study even claimed that South-Asian and Indian accents are perceived more negatively across the globe.
Even within India, those with a pronounced regional accent often struggle to find a position within a global enterprise or a role with prominent communication responsibilities. This can occur despite the clarity in sentence structure and intended message.
The false equivalency between one’s speech patterns and one’s intelligence is detrimental to the development of the Indian workplace as a whole. Language is not a metric to measure someone’s intelligence or competence, and yet that is the perception that remains in the minds of many.
With India growing as a power in more ways than one, it is high time that we embrace MTI rather than perceive it as a negative trait. The diversity in which we speak English is symbolic of the difference in our cultures and lives.
In a country where most speak English as a second or even third language, we should prioritise:
- Create an Inclusive Work Environment: Make sure that your workplace is inclusive in its approach to all its employees. Encourage your team members to not judge others based on linguistic differences and be open about asking clarification and providing necessary tools to everyone.
- Provide Necessary Tools: Provide necessary tools to your employees that can allow them to communicate effectively with each other despite linguistic barriers. With proper strategies and technology, you can ensure that team members can understand each other completely, no matter their background.
- Clarity of Message: The primary purpose of any language is to communicate effectively. When talking to someone, focus on whether or not they can convey their ideas well instead of how they pronounce or structure their English.
- Thought over Words: Look behind the words and try to understand the idea that is being conveyed. “Lost in translation” is an idiom common to English, as the intended meaning of the words often gets lost when translating from one language to another. Do not let the brightness of your employees dim due to the use of non-standard English.