A YetiGuide® : How To Post In Proper English

Thad E Ginathom · 25th January 2008, 12:43

18th-century English was not the same as 21st-century English, so I guess we can't blame those clerks for that!

Unfortunately, the self-aggrandising and elitist motivation behind obscure language in official usage seems to have suited the Indian politicians and administrators that took over

Here's an English/Indian usage that still confuses me. "Even I..."

In English we would put, '...as well', or '...too'.

Take this conversation:

"I like cream cakes."

"Even I like cream cakes".

In India, this means, "I like cream cakes too". In England it means that someone who, perhaps, dislikes everything in the baker's shop, does like cream cakes.

I hate sport, but even I can enjoy watching snooker on the television.

This explanation may need a little polishing: Indian English has now got to my brain cells, and I find these explanations hard now!

ajitkommini · 25th January 2008, 13:15

We just love verbosity don't we? I just overheard someone in the lift use "until and unless" in a sentence where "unless" by itself would have been perfectly adequate.

anupmathur · 25th January 2008, 13:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

I hate sport, but even I can enjoy watching snooker on the television.

This explanation may need a little polishing: Indian English has now got to my brain cells, and I find these explanations hard now!

Here, let me try.
I hate sports, but even I can enjoy seeing snooker on television, because even I am like that only!

There, that was quite simple, was it not?

Thad E Ginathom · 25th January 2008, 14:17

My wife will say, "See the new bird that has come to our garden!"

In England we would say, "Look at that bird! I haven't seen one like that here before".

All such things I not only accept, but come to employ the same usage myself. Only I drew the line, he other day, when she mentioned upgradation!

akshat · 25th January 2008, 14:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajitkommini

We just love verbosity don't we? I just overheard someone in the lift use "until and unless" in a sentence where "unless" by itself would have been perfectly adequate.

What was the sentence for which "until and unless" was used ??

anupmathur · 25th January 2008, 16:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

All such things I not only accept, but come to employ the same usage myself. Only I drew the line, he other day, when she mentioned upgradation!

LOL, that's a very 'Indian' way of saying things! Replete with mistakes....

vivekiny2k · 25th January 2008, 20:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

"I like cream cakes."

"Even I like cream cakes".

In India, this means, "I like cream cakes too". In England it means that someone who, perhaps, dislikes everything in the baker's shop, does like cream cakes.

frankly, I have always heard and spoken it in correct sense as you mentioned. But it does make a difference whether the emphasis is given on 'I' or 'cream cakes'.

Do you agree?

supremeBaleno · 25th January 2008, 21:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

Only I drew the line, he other day, when she mentioned upgradation!

If she meant it in terms of upgrading to a newer/better car, why not humour her ?

But if she was talking about the kitchen, well, you never heard her.

Thad E Ginathom · 25th January 2008, 23:02

She accepted the upgradualizationing from old Indica to new Civic quite happily.

Kitchens! Our new kitchen, mostly specified by me, has turned into a huge headache!

As for my mistakes: I think I'll get a new keyboard!!!

salilpawar1 · 25th January 2008, 23:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by SohailPistawala

Ram , Samurai, and amitoj thank you very much guys... now... how does one pronounce it??

This will give you a rough idea -- "Ray-pawn-day sil woo play"

Thad E Ginathom · 26th January 2008, 07:29

voo rather than woo, I think. I've never been able to get to grips with French language at all, even at school --- but I don't think they do "funny" things with Vs and Ws. That's the Germans!

Thad E Ginathom · 26th January 2008, 07:33

[R.S.V.P. A.S.A.P]...

Quote:

Originally Posted by HappyWheels

a good one vnabhi! this should be the acronym of the year!

A.S.A.P can pass as an acronym, as some people turn it into a word like azap. RSVP has to be spelt out, so it is an abbreviation, not an acronym.

The two combined?

Hmmm....

anupmathur · 26th January 2008, 17:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thad E Ginathom

She accepted the upgradualizationing from old Indica to new Civic quite happily.

That 'u' changes the word under discussion!

Are we now talking about 'gradually' having brought about an upgrade?

anupmathur · 26th January 2008, 17:39

Here is a very confusing word which seems to mean different things to different people: fulsome.

eg. fulsome meal, fulsome sleep, fulsome praise.

Can someone throw light on this please?

Nikhilb2008 · 26th January 2008, 17:46

It can be used in a negative and positive sense.

In one way (fulsome praise for example), it means abundant praise. for example, my first post in this thread recieved fulsome praise.

Fulsome meal again means a very good meal which is very satisfying.

In the negative way, it could mean insincere. But somehow, I found the negative usage of this word very rare. Generally, it is used in the positive context.

25th January 2008, 12:43	#421
Thad E Ginathom Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 10,990 Thanked: 26,378 Times	18th-century English was not the same as 21st-century English, so I guess we can't blame those clerks for that! Unfortunately, the self-aggrandising and elitist motivation behind obscure language in official usage seems to have suited the Indian politicians and administrators that took over Here's an English/Indian usage that still confuses me. "Even I..." In English we would put, '...as well', or '...too'. Take this conversation: "I like cream cakes." "Even I like cream cakes". In India, this means, "I like cream cakes too". In England it means that someone who, perhaps, dislikes everything in the baker's shop, does like cream cakes. I hate sport, but even I can enjoy watching snooker on the television. This explanation may need a little polishing: Indian English has now got to my brain cells, and I find these explanations hard now!
	() Thanks

25th January 2008, 13:15	#422
ajitkommini BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 490 Thanked: 124 Times	We just love verbosity don't we? I just overheard someone in the lift use "until and unless" in a sentence where "unless" by itself would have been perfectly adequate.
	() Thanks

25th January 2008, 14:17	#424
Thad E Ginathom Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 10,990 Thanked: 26,378 Times	My wife will say, "See the new bird that has come to our garden!" In England we would say, "Look at that bird! I haven't seen one like that here before". All such things I not only accept, but come to employ the same usage myself. Only I drew the line, he other day, when she mentioned upgradation!
	() Thanks

25th January 2008, 23:02	#429
Thad E Ginathom Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 10,990 Thanked: 26,378 Times	She accepted the upgradualizationing from old Indica to new Civic quite happily. Kitchens! Our new kitchen, mostly specified by me, has turned into a huge headache! As for my mistakes: I think I'll get a new keyboard!!!
	() Thanks

26th January 2008, 07:29	#431
Thad E Ginathom Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 10,990 Thanked: 26,378 Times	voo rather than woo, I think. I've never been able to get to grips with French language at all, even at school --- but I don't think they do "funny" things with Vs and Ws. That's the Germans!
	() Thanks

26th January 2008, 17:39	#434
anupmathur Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Delhi Posts: 3,095 Thanked: 306 Times	Here is a very confusing word which seems to mean different things to different people: fulsome. eg. fulsome meal, fulsome sleep, fulsome praise. Can someone throw light on this please?
	() Thanks

26th January 2008, 17:46	#435
Nikhilb2008 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 5,196 Thanked: 10,136 Times	It can be used in a negative and positive sense. In one way (fulsome praise for example), it means abundant praise. for example, my first post in this thread recieved fulsome praise. Fulsome meal again means a very good meal which is very satisfying. In the negative way, it could mean insincere. But somehow, I found the negative usage of this word very rare. Generally, it is used in the positive context.
	() Thanks