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I have a question for any of you Indian CPians. Why is it very common for Indian English-speakers to use the word "doubts" instead of "questions" (i.e. After explaining something, say "Let me know if you have any doubts")? I heard this many times throughout college from many different TAs and classmates, and one of my coworkers just said it as well.
I've never heard this usage of the word "doubt" from anyone that isn't Indian. What gives?
The United States invariably does the right thing, after having exhausted every other alternative. -Winston Churchill
America is the only country that went from barbarism to decadence without civilization in between. -Oscar Wilde
Wow, even the French showed a little more spine than that before they got their sh*t pushed in.[^] -Colin Mullikin
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I never use doubt instead of question., IMO they both have different meaning. doubt is more like a confrontation, while question means asking for clarification. But you are right, many Indians use doubt instead of question.
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Yes, I have noticed this too. I see them using doubt in place of question. You get used to it.
There are only 10 types of people in the world, those who understand binary and those who don't.
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This is a very good doubt, no question about it.
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A lot of their version of English comes from the British occupation. Basically, they're using English derived from British English of the late 1800's.
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Colin Mullikin wrote: Why is it very common for Indian English-speakers to use the word "doubts" instead of "questions"
Not all Indians. I studied, spoke and thought in English from day 1 in India - I doubt you'll question the way I speak it. 
But you're right - there are many other Indian English phrases that are often misused. "We're performing an updatation (upgrade)" and "Let me find out the answer to your question and revert (get back to you)." are some that make me smile.
/ravi
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That would also explain why my Kenyan customers use the word 'revert' so often.
My plan is to live forever ... so far so good
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Language has regionalisms, this being an example.
Where I grew up, it was Sunday and next Sunday were synonymous - 6 days from now.
Here, Sunday and Sunday week refer to 6 days from now and a week after that; took me a while to catch onto that.
And an item with a fractional dollar amount is x cent, as in 20 cent, not 20 cents.
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Having studied English in 'local' schools in Bengaluru, (more than thirty years ago), to me, 'doubt' and 'question' are synonymous.
modified 2-Jun-15 1:17am.
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They're not. If you ask a question, there's something you don't know and want to get the answer to.
If you express a doubt about something, you are really not sure that what you are told is true. That in itself doesn't necessarily mean that you need and/or will get anymore information on that matter.
At least, that's the way I see it... 
Anything that is unrelated to elephants is irrelephant
Anonymous
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The problem with quotes on the internet is that you can never tell if they're genuine
Winston Churchill, 1944
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I'd just like a chance to prove that money can't make me happy.
Me, all the time
modified 2-Jun-15 2:30am.
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Yes, true.
But, difficult to get over what has been ingrained through all of schooling; more so, since English is not my natural language. 
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That is the source of the confusion though. From prior discussion here, in some Indian languages the same word is used for the English concepts of doubt and question; making a natural point of confusion for people learning the language; especially if they rarely use it with anyone other than locals.
Did you ever see history portrayed as an old man with a wise brow and pulseless heart, waging all things in the balance of reason?
Is not rather the genius of history like an eternal, imploring maiden, full of fire, with a burning heart and flaming soul, humanly warm and humanly beautiful?
--Zachris Topelius
Training a telescope on one’s own belly button will only reveal lint. You like that? You go right on staring at it. I prefer looking at galaxies.
-- Sarah Hoyt
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I understand. It doesn't make it any easier when the subtle distinction varies from the use of the words either.
When used as a noun, a question is a quite neutral word. Nothing much in it apart from the fact that you need to know something.
When you use it as a verb and say that you question something, then it takes on a slight negative meaning and becomes more like doubt - in fact probably even more negative than that...
Anything that is unrelated to elephants is irrelephant
Anonymous
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The problem with quotes on the internet is that you can never tell if they're genuine
Winston Churchill, 1944
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I'd just like a chance to prove that money can't make me happy.
Me, all the time
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They aren't synonymous. A question will invite healthy discussions. A doubt is in fact a gesture of apprehension and that the asker may be in a state of dis-agreement on something which was discussed.
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Agree.
But, while talking casually, we use them interchangeably, isn't it? For example, these are commonly used: ಲೋ, ಒಂದು doubt ಇದೆ; ஒரு doubt இருக்குடா; एक doubt है - especially in the Indian context, isn't it?
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Quote: They aren't synonymous.
Er .. yeah .. they are! Not in all possible meanings in all possible uses but still!
In this specific case I don't see why 'have you any doubts' should be considered inferior to 'have you any questions'. Just as with 'have you any concerns' or 'do you see any problems' it's strictly speaking a Yes/No question which opens the route to comment or discussion on the material students have just been presented with. There's no 'proper' form here. Many people these days would just say 'thoughts' with an upward inflection whereas I tend to just look blank and give a slight shrug. It's one of the many cases where successful communication has very little to do with correct grammar!
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I prefer 'question' though.
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"Do the needful" is the worst!
You have just been Sharapova'd.
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Is it? The worst? It's grammatically perfect.
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Just tell them to ask Leland Gaunt[^]. 
"These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined."
- Homer
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13 ways to drink gin[^]
Normally I'd never post anything this old for fear of invoking the wrath of Leslie Nielsen, but I really fancy a jalapeno G&T right now.
Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them.
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Looks like 13 ways to pollute nectar to me! Hic!
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Does Griff need a hobby?
You cant outrun the world, but there is no harm in getting a head start
Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time.
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No!
He used to have a hobby and this was deemed safer for mansheepkind.
Some men are born mediocre, some men achieve mediocrity, and some men have mediocrity thrust upon them.
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I think Bergholt is off on his hobby-horse again! 
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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