Exploring Lexical Features of Indian English Newspapers for English Language Pedagogy

Abstract

Indian English newspapers represent a distinctive variety of English that reflects the sociolinguistic landscape of India. This research explores the lexical features present in Indian English newspapers and examines their pedagogical implications for English language teaching in Indian contexts. The study aims to identify characteristic lexical patterns, borrowings, code-mixing practices, and semantic variations that distinguish Indian English print media from other English varieties. Using corpus linguistic methodology, a systematic analysis of five major Indian English newspapers was conducted over a six-month period, collecting approximately 500,000 words. The research employed quantitative and qualitative analytical techniques to identify frequency patterns, collocation structures, and context-specific lexical choices. Results reveal significant presence of Indianisms, hybrid constructions, cultural borrowings, and localized semantic extensions. The findings demonstrate that Indian English newspapers employ a unique lexical repertoire that bridges formal Standard English with indigenous linguistic elements. These lexical features provide authentic, culturally relevant materials for English language pedagogy in India. The study concludes that incorporating newspaper-based lexical features into curriculum design can enhance learner engagement, cultural awareness, and communicative competence in context-appropriate English usage.