Indian English can be endearing, personal and natural…to Indians. For the rest of the world, many of the phrases we use can seem confusing, funny or even misleading. They may fail to convey the intended meaning or emotion.
At MBA Crystal Ball, every year we hear from excited candidates who say something on the lines of…
I’m willing to do an MBA from Harvard and then join McKinsey.
We understand what’s on their mind. But US admission officers and recruiters may not.
The candidate incorrectly assumes it’s an expression of their interest and ambition. But someone who isn’t familiar with the Indian style of communication may end up scratching their heads.
A single word can change the tone and direction of the MBA essay. In this example, the word is ‘willing’, which in the Indian applicant’s mind conveys enthusiasm and eagerness.
However, an American reader may interpret it as follows:
Since you’ve been so insistent and persistent, I’m ready to put my exciting life on hold and reluctantly accept your offer to join Harvard. If my aforementioned willingness remains unaltered after 2 years at HBS and I have nothing better to do, I may even agree to join McKinsey.
Contrary to what the applicant was thinking, the wording makes it sound like they’re doing Harvard a favor by hesitatingly agreeing to their red carpet invite. ‘Willing’ in the sentence above conveys entitlement, not desire. And the casually thrown in ‘do an MBA’ doesn’t help the cause either. ‘Pursue an MBA’ sounds more serious and professional.
Speaking of casual, we’re not just referring to the language. Adcoms and hiring manages may get that feeling from other references in the application as well, if there’s no background or justification to it.
For instance, McKinsey is a great company to work for, no doubt. But several applicants just toss such names into the mix for effect, without building up the context for it.
Management consulting is a highly popular post-MBA career, but it doesn’t work for everyone. Think about what you’ve done earlier, the traits you bring to the table and the additional skills you’ll pick up from the MBA that’ll make consulting the right fit for you.
Why is Indian English an issue in global MBA and job applications?
In regular conversations, it may not be such a big deal. In case of confusion, the listener can always check back with the speaker. The problem gets exacerbated when it’s a one-way street (e.g. MBA essays or cover letter for a job) and not a dialogue.
MBA essays are all about conveying the right message, often within stringent word limits. Adcoms expect every sentence, and in fact every word, to add clarity. International business schools competing for global talent look for candidates who explicitly highlight ‘fit’ with their program.
Editing tools may point out missing articles (‘an’, ‘the’) in your draft, but they may not help you with misplaced intent.
What can you say instead of ‘willing’? There are plenty of options – ‘deeply interested’, ‘highly motivated’, ‘honored’ – depending on the tone you’ve used in the rest of the essay.
Some experienced admission officers who are familiar with non-native phrasing may get it, but then most may not. So why take a chance?
Indian applicants typically tend to be more polite and understated in their formal communication. That’s better than being arrogant. On the flipside, when the messaging isn’t direct and clear, it makes it tougher for adcoms and hiring managers to read between the lines.
Examples of Indian English phrases and words
Here’s a snapshot of how we have flexibly altered and customized the English language.
Direct translations from Indian languages
‘Do one thing’ (Ek kaam karo), ‘I only told you’ (Maine hi aap ko bataya), ‘What’s your good name?’ (Aapka shubh naam kya hai?), ‘Boss is sitting on my head from morning’ (Boss subah se sar par baitha hai)
Incorrect use of tenses
‘I am knowing him since school’, ‘Every time she came to visit, she will bring gifts’
Overuse of some words
Only, basically, actually, kindly
Unusual sentence structuring
‘You went there yesterday only, no?’
Using redundant words
‘Please revert back at the earliest’
Word repetition
‘This pillow is so soft soft’, ‘Yes yes, I know that’
Words that have no/different meanings outside India
Prepone, pass out, batchmate, that too, lakh, crore, package
There are many more phrases and words we use in India that may be the source of confusion and mirth for the world. We covered some of them in a tongue-in-cheek manner in an article published over a decade back. Read it here: MBA in USA – Mind your language
Alright, we’ve bashed ‘willing’ too much, so let’s give it some affection before we end the article. It can still have a place in our vocabulary, as long as we use it right.
For instance, “I am willing to work 70-hour weeks” is fine syntactically and intent-wise, indicating your reluctant acceptance of a toxic deal.
Someone who’s a little more desperate might say, “I am willing to compromise for the right break…in terms of location and compensation, just to be clear.” Creepy, but still aligned with the intent.
Just don’t say “The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak” in a party when what you really mean is “The alcohol is ready, but the chicken needs some more grilling.”
With written communication, there’s still plenty that can be done before hitting ‘Send’ or ‘Submit’ to ensure the tone is right and the messaging is impactful. With verbal communication, there’s a whole new layer of complexity, with accents, speed and pronunciation added to the mix. We’ll save that discussion for another day.
MBA Crystal Ball admission consultants go way beyond language reviews to ensure you present your case to business schools without ambiguity and in the most impactful manner. If you’d like your MBA essays to be grilled before they get served to adcoms, here’s our email ID info@mbacrystalball.com
Kindly do the needful!
Image: Mayank Shastri (Unsplash)
