My new Bombay stringer writes in "Indian English," which is a dialect, as American English is a dialect. I use the word dialect in its philological sense, not as a pejorative.
His copy — like most writers' copy — has spelling and typographical errors, e. g., ollywood where Bollywood is meant. I try to correct those.
However, he is also using Indian English grammar, and idioms, with which I — and non-Indian readers — are not familiar. I have to take care not to adjust the copy so far as to turn it into American English dialect. That could rob it of nuance and shades of meaning, as well as color, which Indian English may do a better job of conveying.
His copy — like most writers' copy — has spelling and typographical errors, e. g., ollywood where Bollywood is meant. I try to correct those.
However, he is also using Indian English grammar, and idioms, with which I — and non-Indian readers — are not familiar. I have to take care not to adjust the copy so far as to turn it into American English dialect. That could rob it of nuance and shades of meaning, as well as color, which Indian English may do a better job of conveying.
Comments