ABSTRACT
English continues to be used in India as a second language — as the associate official language of the Union, as the language of administration and higher education, and as a link language among educated people when they do not share a common Indian language or when they find English more suitable for their purpose. It has thus developed its own linguistic patterns as a result of the influence of the various Indian languages and the socio-cultural background in the country. The deviations from native English are much greater in respect of phonological and phonetic patterns, though differences in lexis and grammar also exist.
