Deborah PickettJun 6
English speakers: what’s your opinion on the word “thrice”?
Great word, I use it unironically
38%
Silly word, I use it in jest
27.2%
A bit archaic, users get side-eye
28.1%
Linguistic trash can, just say “three times”
4.4%
I’m not familiar with this word
2.3%
Poll ended at .
Show threadDeborah Pickett

This came up because I was dragged into a lighthearted argument between two work colleagues, where the person who’d learned Indian English used the word, and was met with surprise by the person who’d learned Australian English. I was called in to adjudicate, and sided with the former, to her great vindication.

I have a pretty large English vocabulary, and the only work colleague I knew who had a larger one was someone who learned English in India before migrating here. His downfall was that he didn’t know what words his coworkers didn’t know, naturally, and sometimes one would occasionally slip out. I found observing these occurrences and the subsequent reactions to be fascinating (and sometimes cringeworthy).

Indian English is the world’s most spoken English, and I think we could all stand to learn a bit of it and not make jokes about reverting and doing the necessary.

Jun 7 at 12:20amWeb
Show threadSnoopJJun 7
@futzle "doing the necessary" is a new one on me, I've always heard it as "doing the needful"
Show threadDeborah PickettJun 7
@SnoopJ It would not surprise me in the slightest to discover that there are regional variations. Even a tiny English like Australia can’t agree on some words.
Show threadJoe ❌👑Jun 7
@SnoopJ @futzle Both variants are commonly used in India.
Show threadDaniel CarosoneJun 7
@futzle I agree, with the nerd-based complaint that "reverting" means something rather more like "undoing" than "replying" to me, so I disagree with the business-idiot usage
Show threadDeborah PickettJun 7
@uep Plenty of words have a plain language meaning and a jargon meaning. My firm and unwavering advice to people who get culture shock at “revert” is to expand their horizons.
Show threadDaniel CarosoneJun 7
@futzle indeed
Show threadBecJun 7
@futzle In the company I work for, I have a bunch of Indian colleagues and omg, the English they speak is one of my favourite Englishes. What's not to love? They use UK spelling for the most part, they have some delightful turns of phrases and although some of the words or syntax are not what I would use, I always understand them. In a world where homogeneity of language is pervasive, Indian English is a wonderful, creative, beautiful alternative.
Show threadJoe ❌👑Jun 7
@futzle I am a white Californian who has worked with Indian colleagues for decades and have been to India five times. I am a big fan of Indian English. My favorite word is "prepone". It is the opposite of "postpone". On one of my trips to our Bangalore office, it was my first day, the jet lag was not great and I was obviously fading. The manager I was visiting kindly asked if he could prepone my cab, that is, ask the driver to come for me earlier than originally scheduled. We all need that word.
Show threadDeborah PickettJun 7
@not2b That is a damn fine word and I will do my best to bring it into my vocabulary.
Show threadSarah dreams of beansJun 7
@not2b @futzle Prepone is great. I also like "next to next week" for "week after next"
Show threadSean MurthyJun 7

@futzle we should do the necessary and revert.

jk. I agree with you.

Show threadMidtown Masochist 🐻 (RB-050) 🐷Jun 7
@futzle I still recall with great delight the first time I heard the phrase "do the needful". I understood immediately what was meant by it. I thought it was a very clever phrase. The colloquial US English variant of this that I grew up is clunky and ineloquent. (do what needs to be done)