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I desire learning a distinct Indian English dialect. How can I go about it? When I was learning English, I did not have much exposure to Indian English, but I feel like it has many features that are interesting. I would like to try using it in private writings (sometimes shared with others) because I think it would allow me to write and communicate more expressively. It also seems like an interesting group of dialects to learn about.

There are many resources for learning British and American English, but I don't know where you would start for Indian English.

It seems that Indian English normally arises when speakers of Indian languages start learning English, or when English is learned around other Indian English speakers. While I speak standard English, I have no knowledge of any Indian language and do not have the ability to live extensively in India.

I imagine simply consuming a lot of Indian English media, and interacting frequently with Indian English speakers would (eventually) work. However, I am hoping for a more systematic and accelerated method.

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    Unlike other English varieties, there is no standard form of Indian English, and it is regarded as a variety of British English.
    – FumbleFingers
    Sep 26 at 3:23
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    Why the downvote? I am trying to learn, so if something is wrong, then teach. Do not downvote.
    – gomennathan
    Sep 26 at 3:41
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    It's my downvote, because as my comment indicates, you can't "learn Indian English" as a specific variety. That's a bit like saying you want to learn all British dialects as if they were a single unified language. Besides which, I suspect most actual speakers of Indian English would much prefer to be able to speak flawless mainstream English (with retention of a few useful features, such as the ability to use words like lakh and prepone unselfconsciously! :) But it's a request for resources, so the question belongs on ELL Meta
    – FumbleFingers
    Sep 26 at 3:48
  • @FumbleFingers - I've down- and close-voted. I cannot help thinking that this remark: It seems that Indian English normally arises when speakers of Indian languages start learning English is so colossally indicative of ignorance (history) that it may indicate that the purpose of the question is to create mischief.
    – Michael Harvey
    Sep 26 at 12:03
  • @MichaelHarvey: Well, there are at least hundreds of thousands (not hundreds of millions) of "native Anglophones" in India whose mother tongue is English. But you can bet your boots practically every single one of them knows not to say things like I am loving eating this McDonalds burger except facetiously. And that "misuse" of the continuous verb form (which only arises because it reflects the syntax of Hindi and other native Indian languages) is a stereotypical marker for "Indian English" when that term is a reference to a particular kind of "flawed" English.
    – FumbleFingers
    Sep 26 at 12:16
  • There are some "interesting" aspects to Indian English, though. Some years ago now, I myself asked a couple of question about it here: Omission of definite article in Indian English and I have "a doubt" about whether this phrase is acceptable English.
    – FumbleFingers
    Sep 26 at 12:21
  • It would definitely help if you explained why you wanted to do this and what particular dialect or register you are after. Are you interested in cultivating an accent, or writing it? If someone said they "want to learn US English, but not the standard version in books", I would ask the same question. There are academic texts on Indian English, and dictionaries, and you could start with the Wikipedia page and follow the references, but I definitely recommend you work out what you actually want to learn and why before you start.
    – Stuart F
    Sep 26 at 15:43
  • @StuartF While the phonology is interesting, I think I am more interested in vocab and grammar variations. I edited the question to state this. Although I am surprised by people demanding to know my "reason". A lot of people learn languages out of personal interest and for fun. If you say you want to learn a language or dialect, people do not normally ask "why", but assume you must have some good reason.
    – gomennathan
    Sep 26 at 17:47
  • @MichaelHarvey Um, what? In the same sentence you accuse me of ignorance, and also declare that you are shutting down my attempts to learn more, by downvoting and trying to close the question (!!!). What sort of insanity is this? Since when is wanting to learn a dialect is a bad thing? Do you also want to fire all the linguists studying BE because they are "creating mischief"? I'm shocked at such a bizarre, anti-learning comment on a site for language learners.
    – gomennathan
    Sep 26 at 17:50
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    Watch Indian movies and series on streaming services. I doubt you will find a method.
    – Lambie
    Sep 26 at 19:31
  • @Lambie - where I am, you just have to wait for the phone to ring.
    – Michael Harvey
    Sep 27 at 7:55
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    For anyone bemused or confused by Michael Harvey's previous and covert comment, Harvey is referring to call centres in the UK that are "manned" by Indian employees who are recognised as Indian English speakers more by their accent than by their competency. It's worth reminding everyone here that there are Indian English speakers on EL&U (not so many on ELL) whose idiomatic English is totally flawless, in grammar and style.
    – Mari-Lou A
    Sep 27 at 9:08
  • The OP might find this source to be helpful timesofindia.indiatimes.com
    – Mari-Lou A
    Sep 27 at 9:11
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    @Lambie I specifically said that accents were a different kettle of fish.
    – Mari-Lou A
    Sep 27 at 18:31
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    Precisely my point, you may identify FF dialect as being British but no one identify his region if they haven't heard his accent.
    – Mari-Lou A
    Sep 27 at 20:45

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