The Tutoring Book - California State University, Sacramento

order writing concerns will be very similar since education style plays a larger role in writing style than
mechanics.
It is important to note that English, sometimes called Indian English or South Asian English, may be the
first language, or the language of education for these students. South Asian English uses constructions
that would be considered incorrect in American or British English, but are correct in this dialect.
Dialectical differences are more ‘forgiven’ in spoken language but students who write in Indian English
may find the different rules and norms of Academic American English especially challenging –
particularly when it comes to self-editing a text. (Shackle 227)
Grammar and Mechanics
• Verb tenses: Indian languages, like English, uses similar past, present, and future tenses,
including simple, progressive, and perfect but learners tend to use the English tenses more
universally than allowed. “Verby” sentences, or atypical progressive endings (-ing) stand out.
Ex. ‘we are wanting,’ ‘he was understanding,’ ‘you will be knowing.’
• Modals: Writers may overuse could, should, would in an attempt to indicate kindness and reserve.
Could is sometimes mistakenly used to mark a past attainment, as in ‘we could go’ instead of ‘we
were able to go.’
• Adverbs: Writers may have trouble distinguishing the connotation of English adverbs, using ‘too’
incorrectly, as in ‘I like it too much’ rather than ‘I like it very much.’ In Indian languages,
adverbs can be repeated for emphasis as in ‘please speak slowly slowly’ for ‘please speak very
slowly.’
• Prepositions: Writers will likely struggle with the appropriate use of on, in, with, for, by, from, to,
and others because of the rather idiomatic English usages and because Hindi prefers
postpositions.
Learning and Writing Styles
South Asians have a great respect for written language and its place in education. Although teachers and
tutors can appreciate this respect, it can lead to writers using an elevated, or overly formal, writing style
(Shackle 241). Of course, this register may or may not be suited to a course or assignment, but the most
challenging aspect may be that students attempt more complicated structures in English, aiming to match
their native language styles, and therefore make mechanical and grammatical errors that hinder meaning.
Works Cited
Chang, Jung. Chinese Speakers. . Learner English. 2 nd Edition. Michael Swam and Bernard Smith, eds.
Cambridge University Press: 2001.
Shackle, Christopher. Speakers of South Asian Languages. . Learner English. 2 nd Edition. Michael Swam
and Bernard Smith, eds. Cambridge University Press: 2001.
Smith, Bernard. Arabic Speakers. Learner English. 2 nd Edition. Michael Swam and Bernard Smith, eds.
Cambridge University Press: 2001.
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