Politeness and Indian English
A pilot study comparing students
with a Westernized background (49) with more traditional students (50)
(based on Sridhar (1991) Speach acts in an indiginised variety: sociocultural values and language variation. In Cheshire English around the World Cambridge)

Situation 1: You are visiting a friend's house. Your friend is busy inside. Her/His mother comes out and asks you to sit down. You are very thirsty and need a glass of water. How would you ask her for a glass of water?
 

	Question with modal	Statement/imperative
Westernized	86.1%	14.5%
Traditional	56.2%	43.7%

Situation 2: You are at the local Koshy's restaurant with some friends. You want to order some snacks. How would you ask the waiter for the menu?
 

	Question with modal	Statement/imperative
Westernized	83.7%	16.3%
Traditional	50.0%	28.0%

Situation 3: You are at the movie theater with some friends. You need 5 tickets. What will you say to the person in the ticket office?
 

	Question with modal	Statement/imperative
Westernized	51.0%	49.3%
Traditional	36.0%	50.0%

Situation 4: You are on Commercial street, buying clothes (sarees, shirts, etc.) for yourself. You want the shop-keeper to show you the latest designs. What will you say to the shop-keeper?
 

	Question with modal	Statement/imperative
Westernized	87.7%	0.0%
Traditional	54.0%	42.0%

Situation 5: You are on your way to college and you are a bit late. You realise you have left your watch at home. A young school boy wearing a watch passes by. You really want to know how late you are. What will you ask the school boy?
 

	Question with modal	Statement/imperative	What's the time?
Westernized	55.1%	2.0%	40.8%
Traditional	36.0%	14.0%	50.0%

Situation 6: You need a copy of your mark sheets (transcript) from the Registrar's office. What would you say to the person at the desk?
 

	Question with modal	Statement
Westernized	49.0%	28.5%
Traditional	34.0%	44.0%