Communication in India: It is Different!

This article is part of the "India survival Kit", a collection of articles written by an American expat living in India.

India is the most linguistically diverse country in the world. Its 28 states, demarcated primarily on a linguistic basis, speak 22 different languages in over 1500 dialects. Contrary to the general notion of lay outsiders, there is no language called ‘Indian’. The most widely spoken language is Hindi, although some southern states reject it as the primary official language. As a result, English has become the primary medium of communication across the country especially between Hindi and non-Hindi speakers, though it is used in many unique ways. Some versions of English used might even render a first time visitor literally speechless!

In local shops and tourist hotspots vendors, taxi drivers, and middlemen speak an ungrammatical version of English – often a word-for-word translation from their native tongue – in an accent that varies according to their mother tongue. Here you may hear sentences like “You from which place” or “I show you full city round for 500 rupees.” On the other hand, the English used in official documents is very polite, ornate, and verbose – a straggling remnant of India’s British history. Then there are the well-educated Indians who speak good, fluent, internationally accepted English.

Indians are very curious by nature. Don’t be surprised if a complete stranger throws a barrage of questions at you, from what you are doing in India to what your wife’s parents do for a living. At the same time, most of them also offer too much information where little will suffice. There is a good chance that you will also learn exactly what your friend’s in-laws do for a living and all about his household problems.

Indian mannerisms are very different from those in the west. One motion that is hard to decipher is the movement of the head to denote ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Some Indians shake their head from side to side when they mean ‘yes’ while some others move it up and down to say ‘yes’ and sideways to say ‘no’. And then there is a third head movement that is hard to describe. It is between a nod and a shake, and involves moving the head in a kind of a semi-circular motion. It means ‘yes’ too but can baffle someone who is not aware of its existence. Another sometimes perplexing practice is plain silence, which could be used to mean either ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Often keen observation of the body language is necessary to throw light on a person’s true reactions.

There are other gestures unique to India that reflect their reverential culture. A way of showing respect to the elderly is by bowing down and touching their feet. A common way to greet people, especially women, is by folding your palms together and saying the word ‘Namaste’ softly. This is not to say that the handshake is not used. It is in fact a common mode of greeting between men, and also women in professional circles.

Here is a key cultural tip – the right hand is valued more in India than the left. It is considered inauspicious to accept anything with the left hand, especially cash and important documents. Most Indians eat food with the fingers of their right hand. Using a spoon is relatively common if you are eating off a plate, but if you are eating off a plantain leaf, like in some traditional households or at weddings, make sure you use only your right and never your left hand.

The equivalent of Mr. and Mrs. in India is Sri and Srimathi respectively. It is common to be addressed as Sri John or Srimathi Emily, although ‘Mr. and Mrs.’ is also universally used. Hospitality is an integral part of the Indian culture. And Indians value family relationships highly and often live and socialize with relatives, near and distant. So don’t be surprised if you soon find yourself being invited to the weddings of your friends’ extended families – that of people you may not even know personally. But whether you receive a wedding invitation or not, you will definitely be invited to the homes of friends and even acquaintances. In turn, they will also expect to be invited to your home. An important convention to follow while visiting other homes is to take your shoes off before entering the house.

Indians are generally very accepting people. If you show a genuine interest in them, most Indians will welcome you into their fold without any reservations. They are also extremely hospitable and will forgive most gaffes.

Hope you are ready to decipher the Indian way of communication!

Editor: Nisha Giri

The India survival Kit is divided into four sections:

I) Cultural tips for newcomers to India

II) Doing business in India

III) An American's diary

IV) Street English in India: Indian English and the Indian way of communication

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