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Hinglish (n): A combination of Hindi (and other Indian languages) and English generally spoken by people who live in urban India. Interestingly, although there are very few self-proclaimed Hinglish speakers, it is a language that is evolving faster than more widely recognized dialects. Observers of this evolution are frequently amused, irritated or upset by the resultant expressions. We, part of a fast-dwindling minority of Indian, first-language English speakers, share our reflections here.

Thursday 8 March 2012

H is for 'Horn OK Please'

You will never be able to drive on a high-way in India without passing a lorry that has the words 'HORN OK PLEASE' painted artistically on its rear bumper. This is not a challenge - it is a guarantee. One can only assume that this is a method for the drivers of these lorries to politely ask faster vehicles behind them to communicate audibly before overtaking.

Nobody will be able to identify the author of the most prevalent phrase (written in English, mind you) on the rear end of these motorway monsters - nor will anyone be able to make sense of it as a sentence. Nevertheless, we shall all continue to horn ok please.
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