What's in the accent?

 I once taught English to Korean students in Guwahati, and they asked, 'What kind of English do Indians speak? It doesn't sound American or British.' 

I jokingly replied, 'We speak "Hin-lish" in India, a mix of Hindi and English with our regional languages.' As a Naga, I added that I speak "Nag-lish," influenced by my Naga-Lotha dialect.

I asked them what they thought was the universal standard of English. Is it American or British? It is neither. Communication is about expressing ourselves clearly, not about perfect accents. Many students struggle with confidence due to fears of not sounding 'right.' There is no 'right' way to speak English – clarity and basic grammar are what matter.

Using complex vocabulary like Shashi Tharoor's might impress some, but if your audience doesn't understand, communication fails.

Effective communication is about being understood, not really about how good the accent is or to showcase your vocabulary.

Keep it simple, and use formal language only when necessary. 



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