6. Mind your language
For successful conversation, in the US , it is advisable that you speak slowly and pronounce properly. Well, the first part you really need to practice otherwise what you will hear from the person opposite is "pardon me", "come again", "I am sorry", "I didn't get you". e.g. The changes in pronunciation are like 'schedule' pronounced as 'skedule', 'route' pronounced 'raut' etc. Also some words are totally substituted like 'petrol' by 'gas'. Here is a table from Gary Nobel of HP SanDiego, which he created when he traveled in India . Thanks to him. The dictionary is very remarkable. English and Indian English. This dictionary should be useful for the newcomer to either the U.S. or India . The words are in no particular order. INDIAN ENGLISH AMERICAN ENGLISH Food Related Coriander Cilantro Cold drink Soda pop Curd Yogurt Cafe ("kayf") Cafe ("kaf-ay'") Nes-coffee Instant coffee Filter coffee Brewed coffee Milk powder Cream French beans Snow peas Hotel Restaurant Jelly Gelatin Garam masalla Curry Lady fingers Okra Small pastries Lady fingers Toffee Hard candy Brinjal Eggplant Biscuit Cookies/ Wafers Bun Biscuit (Potato) Wafers (Potato) chips Finger chips French fries Groundnuts Peanuts INDIAN ENGLISH AMERICAN ENGLISH Education Related Public school Private school (tuition charged) Private school Public school (free) School High school College School University School High school School/Junior High Take a class Teach a class Be a student Take a class 2nd standard 2nd grade High marks Good grades Invigilator Proctor Canteen Cafeteria Clothes Windcheater Windbreaker Vest Undershirt Waistcoat Vest Half-pant Shorts Purse Wallet Swim trunks Swim suit Swim costume Swim suit Transportation Related Traffic signal Traffic light Boot, dikky Trunk of a car Bonnet Hood of a car Petrol pump Gas station Petrol Gas Diesel Fuel Pavement Sidewalk Footpath Sidewalk Zebra Crossing Crosswalk Take a lift Get a ride Motorcycle Motorbike Cycle Bike Other Football Soccer American football (rugby?) Football Solid Substantial Ltd. Inc. Transistor Radio Two-in-One Boom box Goggles Sunglasses Cooling glass Sunglasses Toilet Restroom Guest house Motel Current Electricity $20 Note $20 Bill Cell Battery Torch Flashlight Rubber Eraser Snap Picture Photograph Picture Mixee (?sp) Mixer Dustbin Trash can Beggar Panhandler IBM-Compatible IBM-Clone Inflammable Flammable Mess Dorm cafeteria Hotel Restaurant Restaurant bill Restaurant check Picture Movie Talkies Movies Lift Elevator To fix To install To repair To fix Pram Stroller Idioms To post (a letter) To mail (a letter) To submit To turn in To be out of station To be out of town A place to park Driveway A place to drive Parkway Straight-away Right away Anticlockwise Counterclockwise Bunk school Skip class Passed out Graduated Fainted Passed out Ring up (someone) Call up (someone) The line is engaged It's busy / I got a busy tone Push the accelerator Step on the gas Give the car some race Speed up the car Get down (from a bus) Get off (of a bus) Let's push off Let's go Let's make a move Let's go Convince someone Talk someone into Black money Tax free, undeclared income Standing from a constituency Running for an election Issue a book (from the library) Checkout a book (from the library) How are you? How are you doing? How is everything? How is it going? Intimate Inform (Very Close Relations) (Intimate Relations) Too good Cool
The following is a simple dictionary for translating between American
9 Comments:
very helpful
By
Anonymous, at 9:50 AM
Oh my gawd!
Great info.
Thanks mate
By
Anonymous, at 9:02 PM
very nice indeed. I wish i would have read this when I came to USA couple of years ago. I learnt everything with experience, but indeed it is really good information for new people.
By
Anonymous, at 8:16 PM
The world is certainly changing. The column headed "Indian English" might at one time have been headed "British English"!
By
Alan Carter, at 12:51 PM
man,this is great work... thanx. well,brit english surely means indian english wit ofcourse a lil differences... n ya, now i get the joke wen cousins laughed wen i said i ll pass out from XYZ school....lol thanks a lot
By
Anonymous, at 2:26 AM
This comment has been removed by the author.
By
Anjali, at 2:28 AM
tips from an american:
swim trunks, motorcycle, and beggar are actually the same in american english., and "photograph," "repair," and "submit" would all be fine and understood.
and be careful to say "eraser" - in american english, a "rubber" means a condom...you don't want to ask for one in class!
By
remy, at 4:58 PM
^^^ lol...well may be , we can..if needed
By
Unknown, at 10:55 AM
Just something to point out:
Football=Soccer
American Football= Football
Rugby is a completely different sport with a different set of rules and regulations. It was developed in New Zealand and Australia and is the predecessor to American Football.
By
Anonymous, at 6:19 PM
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