The Accent Olympics: Why Indians Obsess Over English Pronunciation Sheila was just 10 years old when she decided never to use the American accent she had picked up from watching television. Though she struggled to focus in class, her after-school TV hours were a different story.
Immersing herself in American shows, Sheila developed a mix of Indian and American English accents. It felt natural to her, as English was a foreign language she learned from her surroundings.
But when a friend asked if she was mimicking a new classmate who had returned from the US, Sheila felt self-conscious. From then on, she forced herself to sound "neutral," often struggling to express even basic thoughts.
In India, English accents are judged with an almost obsessive scrutiny. If your English reflects your regional language, critics claim it’s “bad.” If it carries a foreign influence, it’s dismissed as “fake.” Ironically, this judgment is reserved solely for English.
A Malayali speaking Tamil fluently or an Indian mastering French is celebrated, but speaking English like a native speaker is often frowned upon. This double standard reflects deeper societal attitudes.
Journalist Stanly Johny shared an incident where someone advised him to tone down his “heavy Mallu accent” after moderating a session in Chennai. Stanly pointed out that German panelists spoke English with German accents, unapologetically.
He defended his own accent, saying he speaks English as an Indian and a Malayalee, which is perfectly acceptable.
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