by Yayaati Joshi
[box]Many Indians speak English that reeks of Tautology or the excessive usage of words to convey the same meaning, says Yayaati Joshi, elaborating more on this not-so-good trend. While this is something laugh at, it’s something to give some serious thought to, too. Read on.[/box]I often come across people who try hard to intensify the severity of their thoughts, or accentuate the importance of their ponderings. Such intentions, noble though they might be, are the fodder for my self-indulgent amusement. This allows me to have special moments of lambent wit by acting as if I sincerely concur with the thoughts of the other person. What I actually do is to try hard to control my laughter. Not everyone is as gullible, though. Some really “get it”. Not that it stops me from having some deliciously sinister fun.
Such obfuscated and redundant usage of words is called tautology. Indian English is full of tautology. Perhaps a study of the evolution of the language in India could tell us why. My guess is that tautology gives us a sense of being better speakers of the language. Another reason could be the blissful ignorance, in which we dwell so often.
Here are a few examples:
-It would be “more better” if you…the statement could end in many ways. For example, “It would be more better that you wear a pink shirt with lavender shoes”, or “It would be more better if I do not take a gibe at others through my blog.”
-Do not “repeat it again”…again, the statement could take various forms. For example, “You have made a mistake by trying to apply your non-existent creativity. Do not repeat the horrendous act again”. Another one, “Ram Gopal Verma tortured us with Aag. Hope he does not repeat it again with Phoonk”.
-My “future plan” is…this is usually the ambitious ramble of an upstart. I was under the impression that plans were meant for the past. Then someone made me realise my mistake, by adding a prefix.
-I slept at 4 a.m. in the morning…Not that I prefer to know the sleeping habits (or lack thereof) of insomniacs, but I usually often get to know the precise time at which someone hits the sack. And this is precision exemplified. What if the person meant 4 a.m. in the evening? Don’t we all know how easily interchangeable ante meridiem and post meridiem are?
-Completely filled…This is often used in the following ways-“The room was completely filled with litter…” or “Her plate was completely filled with prawns. My God! How much seafood can someone have?” I am completely filled with happiness for the easy availability of such humour!
-Lag behind…This one is the favourite of many teachers. “You will lag behind in studies if you don’t work hard”. Too bad I didn’t pay heed!
-Past experience…In the absence of time machines, one cannot travel to the future or the past. Some people apparently want me to be aware of this, which is why, when they describe their experiences (work related or other) they make it a point to ensure that I understand the experience they gained was a result of events in the past.
-Reply back…Being the lazy fellow I am, I often get chided at for being ill mannered enough not to “reply back” to emails or phone calls. Despicable me!
-Brief Summary…Maintaining the (boring) “Minutes of Meeting” is an awful job. How can Minutes of Meeting be described? It is a “brief summary” of what was discussed in the meeting (apart from the office rumours and gossips).
(Note: The list is not exhaustive)
***
The word tautology’s roots are easy to find.
Tauto is Greek for ‘same’. Logos refers to ‘explanation’. The excessive usage of words to indicate the same thing is tautology.
The spoken and written iteration makes English for us what it was meant to be — “Adopt and Adapt”. That it makes me laugh a lot, is a different matter altogether!
Yayaati Joshi is a man with simple tastes and intense beliefs. Contrary to the bling associated with the capital city, he prefers the company of close friends, an engaging book or an Alfred Hitchcock movie. His placid demeanour is often mistaken for reticence; Yayaati is a self- proclaimed loner, whose recent pursuits include his foray as a budding writer. Yayaati blogs at http://rantingsofadelusionalmind.wordpress.com
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