INDIAN ENGLISH: LOANWORDS FROM INDIAN LANGUAGES AND ETHNOCULTURAL VOCABULARY

10.52773/tsuull.conf.2026.23.05/GUYV4923

Abstract

This article examines in detail the role of loanwords from Indian languages
and ethnocultural words in the lexical system of Indian English, within the framework of both
lingocultural and sociolinguistic approaches. The functionalization of English in the Indian
subcontinent as a result of long-term historical contacts has led to this language variant emerging
not only as a communication system but also as a product of multi-layered cultural interaction.
Indian English is a dynamic system that incorporates the linguistic reflections of different ethnic
groups, religious traditions, and social structures. Lexical units that have passed into English from
Hindi, Urdu, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, and other regional languages express concepts related to
daily life, religious practices, social relations, governance systems, food culture, and traditional
lifestyles. Examples of these words, such as “guru,” “karma,” “curry,” “bazaar,” “pundit,”
“pajamas,” and “yoga,” are important linguistic units that both reflect local culture and have
been integrated into international English. Such words are often transferred through direct transliteration due to the lack of exact equivalents in the target language, or they undergo
processes of semantic expansion and cultural adaptation over time. This research reveals that
ethnocultural loanwords in Indian English are not limited to naming functions but also play a
significant role in the construction of social identity, the preservation of cultural belonging, and
the transmission of collective memory. In this context, Indian English is considered a hybrid
language system that developed at the intersection of different cultures. Lexical elements from
Indian languages enhance both the structural and semantic richness of Indian English, while also
giving this language variant a unique and culturally significant position within global English