Speaking of the responsibility that comes with the English heritage, she says: "Noblesse oblige. I bet you have not heard of that—it's English."
Getting your French mixed up with English is understandable for Britons—the French-speaking Normans after all ruled the Anglo-Saxons for more than 150 years. But the English language has been enriched by so many foreign influences that you can have a conversation in pukka English peppered with words borrowed from Hindi, Malayalam or Tamil. There are whole lexicons dedicated to Indian English terms—from Hobson Jobson published in 1886 to Hanklyn-Janklin of 1992.
These things come to mind a week after the news that the lone Kannada-medium student in a Mysuru engineering college has dropped out because he was the only one in his class and there was a shortage of course material. His family and friends advised him to switch to an English-medium course.
The English have gained a lot from India. It's said "loot" was one of the earliest terms the Company-era Brits borrowed from India because that's what they were busy with. But if we are honest enough to separate colonial tyranny from the coincidental benefits of the Industrial Revolution and modern science, English makes a lot of sense.
This story is from the December 14, 2024 edition of The New Indian Express Kochi.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 14, 2024 edition of The New Indian Express Kochi.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
SHOPPERS SET CASH REGISTERS RINGING FOR BIZ
LOOSENING PURSE STRINGS
Cochin Carnival Adds Razzmatazz to Xmas Festivities
HIGH-OCTANE STUFF
'ARTISTS ARE MEANT TO FACE THE SUFFERING OF THE WORLD'
BRITISH-American actor Andrew Garfield recently wrapped production on Ben Gregor's The Magic Faraway Tree and Luca Guadagnino's thriller After the Hunt, in which he stars alongside Julia Roberts, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Ayo Edebiri.
Jaideep Ahlawat's Paatal Lok season two gets premiere date
SEASON two of Paatal Lok is set to premiere on Prime Video on January 17, the makers announced on Monday, along with the release of a new poster.
Rahul Riji Nair's next film titled Flask
SAIJU Kurup, Suresh Krishna and Sidharth Bharathan will headline Flask, the next feature from National Award-winning filmmaker Rahul Riji Nair.
Dhyan Sreenivasan's upcoming film Detective Ujjwalan completes shooting
THE makers of Dhyan Sreenivasan's upcoming film Detective Ujjwalan announced on Monday via social media that the shooting has been completed.
Rustic charm meets Indian spice
A blend of rustic charm and Indian warmth, create kitchens that feel like home; cosy, functional, and full of stories
One for serial plant killers
The ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) is a dream come true for those who struggle to keep plants alive. Hardy, low-maintenance, and nearly indestructible, it thrives with minimal care, making it perfect for beginners and busy plant owners.
IN FULL BLOOM
Almost 2,000 calla lilies in shades of white, purple, and pink, are among the highlights.
Noha Homes Global
Best Quality at Reasonable Rates