Improving Your English Speaking Skills With Viva Books

Reviews:

Life and English will never be the same again, after these 388 pages.
—The Week

Enraged polemic though this book may be, it is also constructive, collected and funny. Where it is angry, it is righteous anger because the evils it condemns - if left unchecked - are likely to kill English as a truly expressive medium for journalistic and business writing in India. . . . This book may be the last hope for reform.
—Martin Cutts, Research Director, Plain Language Commission, UK Author of the Oxford Guide to Plain English

Sanyal is a crusader for plain English. . . He gives tips, aided by quotations from some of the world"s greatest journalists, on how to write better, more engaging English. . . Comical and caustic by turn, the collection is always constructive and should be handed out to every trainee (and the odd senior) reporter hl the country, or simply to anyone who wants to write clear, focused English or who wants to understand the peculiarities that permeate "Indlish".
—Lilly Peel, The Statesman

. . . relief from language that obscures.
—The Financial Express

Every word I write, every sentence I compose, and every redundant word I dare to think of now goes through the lens of "Indlish". I wonder if that last sentence was too long? Jokes aside, Indlish is, perhaps the best book on Indian English.

—Saurabh Saklani, Moneycontrol.com

. . . a valuable primer for those wanting to take up writing as a profession.
—India Today

. . . if you read. . . the examples given in the book, it will not be necessary to refer to Macmillan or other books to improve your English.
—Siddharth Khandekar, Maharashtra Times

Divided into short, crisp chapters, the book takes the reader through a quick and often amusing journey through the different problem areas in Indian English. A brief sneak-peak into why we speak the way we do, what writers need to keep in mind ,and how spoken English should not be borrowed from our own mother tongues - these are some of the main topics that Sanyal has focused on.
—Deccan Chronicle

People who make a big deal about how much English they know. . . will find many things to learn from this book. . . It is definitely a must read for people interested in writing better English. The book is enlivened with Sarbajit Sen"s many illustrations.
—Ishwar Daitota, Samyukta Karnataka

In lively language, with a light touch, and through a fun-loaded method, Jyoti Sanyal has sought to speed towards modern, concise English those of us who know little English, and yet sound pompous.
—Indranil Ghosh, Saptaahik Bartaman

Sanyal shows the common mistakes that Indians make while speaking English, and also talks about ways of overcoming them. . . this book is not just for journalists or for mass communication professionals: it"s a book meant for every English-speaking Indian.
—Anant, Deshonnati

. . . It is the best book for journalists, ... and for those who wish to use English language flawlessly.
—Sakal

. . . deep study of prevalent un-English usages and common defects. . . gives with illustrations the correct, modern and plain style of English language.
—Daily Excelsior

What makes the author"s elaborate analysis. . . interesting are the numerous examples (news reports, editorials and features) he quotes from Indian media. . .
—The Hindu

Indian English, or rather Indlish, desperately needs. . . reform. Sanyal has taken the first step.
—Imteeaz Kacho, The Kashmir Times

Undoubtedly, Indlish: The Book for Every English-Speaking Indian is a useful and practical guide for all Indians simultaneously blessed and cursed by Macaulay"s gift of the English language. . . it is a recommended handbook to all journalists in particular, as also to academics, and corporate communicators.
—Education Wodd

In the battle against the corruptors of English, Sanyal"s arrows first strike the journalists. But all Indian "circumlocutors" of English are in the strike range. Sanyal"s Indlish reminds that writers" reading must include books about language.
—Jose Panachipuram, Bhashaposhini

Description:

Do Indians equate "impressive" English with incomprehensible English? Many unfortunately do. The clumsy Victorian English hangs like a dead albatross around each educated Indian's neck. Our feudal culture frowns on directness of expression. Indian English is often no more than an Indian language in disguise. With this funny, quirky book Jyoti Sanyal launches an all-out war against bad English and offers modern-day antidotes to archaic Indlish.

Target Audience:

For general public who want to improve their English.