no Passout !! It is "Graduate"

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menovive

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A year back I was talking to one of my friend that I "passed out" in 2005. Well it is a typical Indian english term for the word "Graduate"; I have been humiliated so much that I have never used it since then. But I come across this term everywhere we show a presence ;). For the rest of the world it means either your are "Dead" or you are insanely "Drunk". I could see few posts with same here as well. It is not to offend anyone, I truly apologize if somebody feels so, but just a notice. :)
 
I remember that thread!
Other than a bit in your post, we never did answer his question, haha.
 
I come across more profiles than most people here so there is nothing that can amuse me much but I still can't keep a straight face when I see an essay like this.
"I passed out of IIT in 2008. I bagged an award from the dept and I plan to write the Derivatives paper from Bombay Stock Exchange next month. I learn about your program from my seniors who do the course there. "
This sounds pretty reasonable to many Indian applicants but you can imagine how it sounds to the American admission committee. I plan to write an article in the future pointing out words that should never be used in the essay.
 
Andy Nguyen said:
"I passed out of IIT in 2008. I bagged an award from the dept and I plan to write the Derivatives paper from Bombay Stock Exchange next month. I learn about your program from my seniors who do the course there. "
This sounds pretty reasonable to many Indian applicants but you can imagine how it sounds to the American admission committee. I plan to write an article in the future pointing out words that should never be used in the essay.
Click to expand...

I see the lingering effects of British colonialism in phraseology like this. Nothing wrong with it but it sounds strange to an American ear perhaps.
 
"Bagging" a prize is used in America as well, but it is coloquial... not to be used in an admissions essay :)
 
after a year in scandinavia/west europe I am beginning to question if English still matters apart from writing journal articles and envying europeans for their language skill (seems everyone speaks at least 3 languages).
 
Andy Nguyen said:
I come across more profiles than most people here so there is nothing that can amuse me much but I still can't keep a straight face when I see an essay like this.
"I passed out of IIT in 2008. I bagged an award from the dept and I plan to write the Derivatives paper from Bombay Stock Exchange next month. I learn about your program from my seniors who do the course there. "
This sounds pretty reasonable to many Indian applicants but you can imagine how it sounds to the American admission committee. I plan to write an article in the future pointing out words that should never be used in the essay.
Click to expand...

- I think 'he plans to write an Exam on Derivatives conducted by BSE' and it is not about any paper presentation.

@alphaseeker: It doesn't matter if the listener/reader gets the right message. But It matters, especially in writing as It can pass a totally wrong message.
 
agreed. I am just sort of trying to downplay role of English here...6 years of my existence in US, I was always concerned/anxious when I talk/present to native speakers...nowadays...the moment I hear someone asking 'do you speak English?' I know that person is bound to be an American (most of the time...:-))!!! Dont only write about Indian English...there are ppl from many other countries who speak worse than us.
 
alphaseeker said:
Dont only write about Indian English...there are ppl from many other countries who speak worse than us.
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All these varieties of English -- Indian, American, Australian, British -- differ. I'm not sure it's a question of "worse." For example, in the US it's common to say, "I'll be visiting with him," whereas in British English we either say, "I'll be visiting him" or "I'll be meeting him."
 
bigbadwolf said:
All these varieties of English -- Indian, American, Australian, British -- differ. I'm not sure it's a question of "worse." For example, in the US it's common to say, "I'll be visiting with him," whereas in British English we either say, "I'll be visiting him" or "I'll be meeting him."
Click to expand...

I'm in the US and I always use "I'll be visiting him." Same with everyone I know. Did you flip the two?
 
bigbadwolf said:
All these varieties of English -- Indian, American, Australian, British -- differ. "
Click to expand...

One that I still have trouble with in the US is "He will be with you momentarily." I almost always want to reply with, "But I was hoping for a longer meeting!"

In the US the word "momentarily" is commonly use to mean "in a moment", whereas I have always used and understood it to mean "for a moment".
 
The first thime I heard "take a test" I believe my response was: "And do what with it??"

In Canada we write tests as well... Although the concepts of "passing a test", that you fail, still eludes me.

We also say "out" and "process" funny ;)
 

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