Often I have noticed, when a non-native English speaker (who is not an Indian) communicates in an improper english and vernacular accent, our typical reactions vary from finding those people cute to being patient with them during an interaction. However, when faced with the same situation with our fellow Indian colleagues, we tend to judge them by either looking down upon them or making fun of them. Why?
Somehow, the “Privileged English” Indians (here by privileged implies to those people who got the opportunity to learn, read, write and speak this language in a manner that is grammatically at par and is universally accepted) feel that their proficiency in English Language is a reflection of their level of intellectual functioning. Well, wake up- It is NOT! English proficiency in no way is the reflection of an individual’s potential. It is our own insecurities and biases that lead us to think this, but that does not make it a fact. The “Privileged English” Indians forget that if they go to any other native English speaking country, they may receive the same discriminatory treatment that they give to their fellow Indians here.
We must not forget that this language has not been a dominant language for us. When individuals converse in English which may not be very proper, people tend to think that such people are less qualified. Have often heard leaders in companies say that let us avoid putting such people in client-facing profiles. I have questions for leaders who think like this – ” What is the benchmark? Who decides what a standard accent is? How do you know that the clients whom these people will be interacting with, will have a problem with this? What if clients have an improper accent since those individuals may be largely Indians too?”
Let us understand that we all have accents and it is part of our identities. We need to learn how to listen and understand one another rather than demeaning others. The least we can do is embrace each other and not fall prey to the English Language Bias.