Exploring the languages spoken across the world and by whom, can reveal intriguing insights into historical colonial interactions. Our main focus here is English, though many local languages globally carry traces of their colonial past.

Historical colonial encounters left an indelible mark on local languages, especially in countries affected by the military and economic power of empires. For example, the cadences of Indian English still resonate with traces of British India.

Real-world example: When you hear an Indian speaking English, you'll likely notice a unique rhythm and pronunciation - a product of centuries of colonial influence.

"Hinglish" is a blend of English and Hindi, spoken by the Indian diaspora and English speakers within India. It requires competence in both languages. More than just a linguistic curiosity, Hinglish serves as a tool for reclaiming the colonists' language and asserting an immigrant identity in English-speaking contexts.

Real-world example: In a conversation, someone might say, "I'm going to the bazaar to buy some roti and chai." Here, English and Hindi words are intermixed, creating a sentence in Hinglish.

With the spread of the colonial language (English in this case), native languages in colonized countries faced a significant decline, as English was forcibly taught and promoted in schools. This imposition was a weapon of colonization. Post-colonial eras saw language becoming a battleground for liberation and decolonization efforts.

Real-world example: Imagine a classroom in colonial-era India where a child is punished for speaking in their native tongue instead of English. This practice was a part of the larger colonial agenda to promote English and suppress indigenous languages.