Which of the following combinations correctly defines the phonological system of Indian English in relation to Standard English?

(a) Absence of aspirated consonants
(b) Simplified vowel system
(c) Similar international pattern
(d) Presence of voiced aspirated consonants

Choose the correct option:

Correct option is B

Explanation:

The correct answer is (b) and (d), which refers to the phonological system of Indian English in relation to Standard English.

Simplified vowel system: Indian English has a simplified vowel system compared to Standard English. While Standard English has several vowel sounds, Indian English often uses fewer vowel distinctions, and the pronunciation tends to be more uniform across different regional accents in India.

Presence of voiced aspirated consonants: In Indian English, voiced aspirated consonants such as /bʱ/, /dʱ/, /ɡʱ/ (sounds like 'bh', 'dh', 'gh') are a prominent feature. These sounds are present in Indian languages like Hindi and are transferred into Indian English pronunciations, unlike Standard English, which does not use these aspirated consonants as prominently.

Thus, Indian English is characterized by a simplified vowel system (fewer vowel distinctions) and the presence of voiced aspirated consonants, which are not part of Standard English phonology. Therefore, Option 2 is the correct answer.

Information Booster:

Phonological features of Indian English:

Indian English has several distinct phonological features when compared to Standard English.

One of the key differences is its vowel system. Indian English uses a simplified vowel system, often reducing the number of vowel distinctions that are typically heard in British or American English.

Vowel sounds are typically more consistent and uniform across the different regions of India.

Simplified Vowel System:

Indian English often does not differentiate between certain vowels that Standard English would.

For example, the difference between short and long vowels (such as /æ/ and /ɑː/ in words like "bat" and "father") might not be as distinct in Indian English.

This is often due to influence from the phonetics of Indian languages, where vowels are generally more limited and the distinction between them is less significant.

Voiced Aspirated Consonants:

One of the most noticeable features of Indian English pronunciation is the use of aspirated consonants.

These consonants include sounds such as /bʱ/ (like 'bh'), /dʱ/ (like 'dh'), and /ɡʱ/ (like 'gh'), which are found in many Indian languages, including Hindi and Bengali.

These aspirated consonants are pronounced with a burst of air, which is absent in many varieties of Standard English. For example, the English word "bag" in Indian English is often pronounced with a softer "b" sound followed by a breathy "h" sound, which differentiates it from the unaspirated "b" sound in Standard English.