Chutnefying English

[Sunitha]

"Chutnefying English" heard of this term ever? This is a term coined by none other than the famous writer Salman Rushdie, and refers to Hinglish(Hindi+English) which has almost become the lingua franca these days. Two writers Rita Kothari and Rupert Snell, have collated the proceeds of a conference held in Mumbai on this theme and released it as a book by the name "Chuntnefying English". This book deals with the phenomenon called Hinglish. Linguists, writers, scholars, film makers, ad-film makers and the Gen-Next have expressed their thoughts on Hinglish here. Here is an excellent review of this book.

So what is your opinion on Hinglish? Is it an inevitable "next step" for English Language in India? Or is it that this is the natural path a language takes in a foriegn land? Everything said and done, in India, English IS a foriegn language. Or do you think English is best savoured in its original form?

[Sreelekha]

To be honest Sunitha, I think 'Hinglish' has come to stay whether the purists like it or not.
It is creating havoc for students who they have chosen English as their medium of study. At an impressionable age when they can pick up language with ease, they are exposed to English interspersed with not only Hindi, but also Bengali, Tamil, Gujarati and so on, soon we are going have many versions of English.

Today, it is becoming difficult to converse in English non-stop for half an hour (without interspersing it with Hindi or bits of the regional language). Simply, because the other person does not comprehend what you are saying, one has to translate or use most of the local dialect.

Granted that English is not our mother tongue, but having adopted it I think one ought to do justice to it ! And I think that is true of all languages, try to be fair and not disfigure the language?
I, for one enjoy reading and writing English in its original form.

[satish]

What chutneyfying or kechupisation - more appropriate word would perhaps be khichdification. Because, while chutney and ketchup are mere taste enhancers,khichdi is a wholesome food.
The review of the book Chutneyfying English hints at a possible domination of Hindi in readily embracing English to give birth to Hinglish. In any case, the non-Hindi speaking states are not threatened by its popularisation. They have their own brands to offer - Benglish (Bengali+ English), Tamlish (Tamil+ English), and Teluglish (Telugu + English) etc.
So when a person is speaking in Benglish, he or she while leaving would say ' I am coming' when in fact the opposite is meant. Similiarly, it would not raise any eyebrows if someone says 'I do not eat tea' because it is the word by word translation of Bengali to Benglish. I am sure, each state and region in India has similar interesting versions of khichdified English.
Long live khichdification of English!

[Sunitha]

Sreelekha: Very true! Hinglish is indeed here to stay! and yes...The very essence and beauty of a language(not just english) comes to fore only when it is spoke\written in its original form!

Satish: There we have coined another word "Khichdification" which does seem more appropriat. the examples you have given are hilarious too.

[anisha_astrologer]

it is the next step of english language in india as well as an essential step of progress for a language in a foreign land. look at the creole english. every land adopts and adapts a foreign language as per their cultural heritage while also retaining some of the essential details.

[jayashree]

I think its better they speak proper plain english than chutneyfying it.they can rather speak their local language instead.Why spoil the beauty of this one.

[Jency]

The Benglish examples given by Satish hold good for Tanglish too (here we don't say Tamlish). But I think, one can take it easy in conversations, but ensure that the kichdification doesn't enter the formal written word.

[anisha_astrologer]

The Benglish examples given by Satish hold good for Tanglish too (here we don't say Tamlish). But I think, one can take it easy in conversations, but ensure that the kichdification doesn't enter the formal written word.

agree with you. formal language should be kept out of the ambit of chutnification.