Book Review: "Indian Englishes in the Twenty-First Century Unity and Diversity in Lexicon and Morphosyntax”
This thorough work investigates sociolinguistic profiles across different locations to investigate the variegated terrain of Indian Englishes in the twenty-first century. The content is divided into several dimensions:
Introduction:
Sets the stage for the study of Indian English dialects.
Sociolinguistic Profiles:
Examines the communication space inside India by providing thorough insights into the linguistic peculiarities of distinct regions—the North, North-East, Central, South, East, West, and Union Territories.
Methodology:
The technique is described in detail, using SAVE2020 and CORINNE corpora, with a summary and comparative analysis, as well as feature selection and analysis methodologies.
Lexis:
Delves into lexical elements such as spelling, multidimensional analysis, and word creation in Indian Englishes.
Morphosyntax:
Investigates morphosyntactic differences in South Asian IndE, including mass and count nouns, attention markers, verb + about pairings, and the rise of 'intrusive as'.
Conclusion:
The study's principal findings and consequences are summarized.
The book also includes sections on World Englishes, appendices, footnotes, and a comprehensive reference section, which enriches the examination of Indian English variants in a worldwide perspective.
The book "Indian Englishes in the Twenty-First Century Unity and Diversity in Lexicon and Morphosyntax” by Sven Leuckert, Claudia Lange, Tobias Bernaisch, and Asya Yurchenko, part of the "Elements in World Englishes" series, was published online by Cambridge University Press on November 27, 2023. The book is an outstanding addition to this discipline. It goes deeply into the complexities of Indian English, offering light on the language's complicated nature in the modern period.
Summary:
The summary explains how English plays an important role in modern India, both domestically and internationally. Given India's huge area, population, and linguistic diversity, it seems unlikely that Indian English (IndE) will evolve in a perfectly consistent manner. This paper examines key lexical and morphosyntactic characteristics that identify Indian English(es) in the twenty-first century using modern corpus-linguistic and statistical methodologies. The study implies the formation of'supralocalisation,' or the diffusion of linguistic traits outside their originating regions, which goes beyond the classic Indo-Aryan versus Dravidian linguistic divide.
The authors embark on a meticulous trip through India's linguistic landscape, utilizing advanced corpus-linguistic and statistical methodologies to explore the numerous elements of Indian English. This work offers essential insight into the unity and diversity inherent in Indian English, concentrating primarily on its lexicon and morphosyntax.
What distinguishes this work is its understanding of the impossibility of a consistent evolution of Indian English due to India's immense area, population, and linguistic variety. The concept of'supralocalisation' emerges as a key concept, signifying the spread of linguistic traits across areas, defying traditional linguistic borders such as the Indo-Aryan versus Dravidian dichotomy.
This Element's strength comes in its comprehensive examination of specific lexical and morphosyntactic elements that identify Indian English(es) in the modern day. By focusing on these factors, the writers provide essential insights into India's unique language tapestry and changing linguistic identity.
The book's comprehensive approach, founded on solid research procedures, makes it a must-read for researchers, linguists, and anyone interested in the intricate dynamics of language change across varied cultural contexts. It not only contributes considerably to the understanding of Indian English in the twenty-first century, but it also demonstrates the changing character of language in our globalized world.
This Element provides a comprehensive and illuminating guide for those seeking a deeper understanding of Indian English's evolution, from exploring the sociolinguistic profiles of regional Indian Englishes to delving into the nuances of spelling preferences, multidimensional analyses, lexical innovation, and morphosyntactic variations. It takes readers on a captivating trip through Indian English's changing linguistic standards, challenging perceptions and paving the path for future exploration and comprehension.
Within English linguistics, the field of morphosyntax digs into the intricate structures and variations of language, focusing on features such as mass and count nouns, markers such as 'only' and 'itself,' and distinctive verb combinations found in English variants. This area provides a rich terrain for investigating how language evolves, highlighting contrasts between native and non-native English variations, particularly in Indian English (IndE). The study of morphosyntax reveals the fascinating interplay between linguistic markers, regional variances, and the developing character of language within different English subcorpora, providing vital insights into the dynamic fabric of English around the world.
5 Morphosyntax
5.1 Mass and Count Nouns
This section digs into English morphosyntactic variety, focusing on mass and count nouns as well as markers such as 'only,' 'itself,' and combinations of verb + 'about.' The study's goal is to discover differences between different English variants, particularly IndE.
Mass and Count Nouns:
The distinction between mass and count nouns in English is often blurred in certain instances. This difference is thought to be an important linguistic marker between native and non-native English variations, especially in IndE. While standard norms predominate in modern IndE, recent research indicates an increased willingness to accept non-standard mass/count noun uses.
Research Approach:
The study chose 28 uncountable words to investigate their countable usage across distinct English subcorpora. The analysis identified nearly twice as many instances of countable usages in CORINNE compared to SAVE2020, most likely due to the former's regional focus.
Regional Variations:
CORINNE sub-components demonstrated a variety of frequency patterns in countable mass noun usage. Higher frequencies were observed in regions such as the North-East and UT-AN, above the average for the entire CORINNE corpus. Notably, the countable mass noun 'agitation' appeared as the most common across all subcorpora.
Surprising Results:
Infrequent but noticeable occurrences of normally uncountable nouns such as 'currency,' 'applause,' and 'violence' occurring in a countable form were noticed, possibly indicating emergent linguistic variants within IndE.
Statistical significance:
While the difference in countable noun instances between CORINNE and SAVE2020 is not statistically significant, the vast variety of frequency results within CORINNE's sub-corpora illustrates IndEs' linguistic diversity.
For future research, the study proposes paying closer attention to the shifting nature of previously uncountable nouns in IndE.
5.2 Focus Markers Only and Itself
The study looks at morphosyntactic differences in IndE, delving into differences between mass and count nouns and investigating focus indicators like "only" and "itself." The emphasis on these factors in the corpora CORINNE and SAVE2020 reveals significant subtleties within IndE.
The study investigates how mass and count nouns blur boundaries in IndE, acting as a linguistic marker between native and non-native English variants. It's intriguing to see how IndE counts formerly uncountable nouns, demonstrating the changing nature of language within regional variances.
The investigation of the focus markers "only" and "itself" reveals their roles in IndE. "Only" serves a presentational purpose, stressing exclusivity or restrictiveness, whereas "itself" serves a similar role, implying a prospective grammatical shift. The study investigates their prevalence in CORINNE and SAVE2020, finding variances between written and spoken IndE as well as regional sub-component variations.
The corpus analysis reveals not just changes in the employment of these markers, but also possible grammatical shifts in the language. It's fascinating to watch how IndE evolves, forming its linguistic environment and exhibiting varied linguistic traits across locations.
5.3 Verb + about
Innovative Verb Usage:
Examines the creative use of verbs combined with particles in Indian English (IndE).
Analyses Unique Combinations:
Investigates unusual verb + particle combinations not typical in standard English, like "discuss about" or "stress on."
Quantitative Comparison:
Conducts a quantitative analysis of twelve selected verb + about combinations in CORINNE and SAVE2020 corpora.
Frequency Differences:
Discusses how these combinations occur more frequently in CORINNE, suggesting potential regional linguistic variations.
Preferred Usage:
Explores how verb + about combinations aren't generally preferred but show differences between the two corpora.
5.4 'Intrusive As':
Emergence of Construction:
Explores the rise and creative use of 'intrusive as' in South Asian IndE, which marks object complements in certain verb constructions.
Comparison Across Corpora:
Compares frequencies of 'intrusive as' in verbs like TERM, DEEM, and DUB between CORINNE and SAVE2020, noting higher occurrence in CORINNE.
Regional Variation:
Considers regional distributions of 'intrusive as' in CORINNE, suggesting higher frequencies in Southern states compared to Northern states.
Factors Influencing Usage:
Discusses how linguistic characteristics such as syntactic distance and possible language contact influence the occurrence of'intrusive as'.
These points emphasize the comprehensive investigation of verb + about pairings, as well as the introduction of 'invasive as' in South Asian IndE, highlighting variances between corpora and likely regional impacts. The book dives deeply into quantitative comparisons as well as linguistic variables influencing these language advancements.
Conclusion:
Finally, the book is a ground-breaking work that unravels the nuances of Indian English, painting a nuanced picture of its changing nature and inviting scholars and the Indian English speech community to join in defining and understanding its growing linguistic norms.
Reference:
Leuckert, S., Lange, C., Bernaisch, T., & Yurchenko, A. (2023). Indian Englishes in the Twenty-First Century: Unity and Diversity in Lexicon and Morphosyntax (Elements in World Englishes). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/9781009323796
