हमें लोगों के सामने बोलने से इतना डर क्यों लगता है? कौनसी ऐसी चीज़ें या डरों की जड़ें हैं जो हमें रोकती हैं? क्या हम इस डर से मुक्ति पा सकते हैं? हमें क्या वो चीज़ें हैं जिन्हें याद कर के हम एक पहला कदम ले सकते हैं इस डर से छुटकारा पाने के लिए ? 

Why do we feel so scared of speaking in front of people? What are some of the things that hold us back? Can we get over it? What do we need to remember the next time we are in front of people/ an audience and have to speak to / address them?

Be it school or conversations with in a group of friends, be it college or a business, how can we get over our fear of speaking out or speaking up in public? I will address this in the next part, and share a few tips and tricks with you to make a small start in getting over your fear!

स्कूल हो या दोस्तों के साथ बातचीत, कॉलेज हो या बिज़नस, कैसे पाए लोगों के बीच बोलने / सार्वजनिक बोल के डर से छुटकारा?

अगले भाग के एपिसोड में मैं आपको कुछ तरीक़े ओर तरकीबें बताऊँगी जिस का अभ्यास कर के आप एक छोटी सी शुरुआत कर सकते हैं!

One of the things I’ve been trying to explain for years now, and also being extremely mindful of, is the use of the #apostrophe. An apostrophe, that particular #punctuation mark – that single quotation mark that we put ahead of, or after, words, is a tricky little devil. So, I can understand why so many of us get it wrong so often.

Now that irritating little single #punctuationmark, or apostrophe, has a handful of very specific uses in the #EnglishLanguage.

Connect with me on LinkedIn or on Instagram @TruthAbtNobody / Twitter or write to me at thetruthaboutnobody.gmail.com - I'd love to hear from you! Oh, and do check out my other podcast "The Truth About Nobody" on Anchor, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and your other favorite listening platforms!

People  find it easy to call me a “Grammar Nazi” and have often done so in the  past as well. I take wholehearted offence when it comes to the term.  Especially because we use the word “Nazi” too easily. Lightly. Loosely.  Without respecting what it once stood for and, unfortunately, the very  real danger it still represents.

In  deriding grammar “enthusiasts” with a term you don’t fully respect, and  in trying to wrest a small victory over language lovers, merely because  you can’t be bothered to admit you don’t care much about the language  you are lucky to communicate in, you’re conveniently forgetting a very  dark and very loaded history.

It’s  the same problem I have with the use of words like “libtards”, “bhakts”  and similarly dismissive or accusatory terms on Twitter and other  social media. And no, my critique is not religious, political or even  sociological, it’s purely linguistic. Tune in for more, and do share your thoughts :)

Connect with me on LinkedIn or on Instagram @TruthAbtNobody / Twitter or write to me at thetruthaboutnobody.gmail.com - I'd love to hear from you! Oh, and do check out my other podcast "The Truth About Nobody" on Anchor, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and your other favorite listening platforms!

The English language, like any other, has been corrupted by many. If there is Hinglish - or Hindi English - there is most definitely Pinglish, or Punjabi English. Punjoo friends and I have often laughed at our parents’, grandparents’ and relatives’ use of this strange concoction of Punjabi English that we’ve all grown up with.

Native languages or the mother tongue also make for a lot of confusion when you’re growing up and trying to master the other two languages that are compulsory to pass any exam in India - Hindi and English. It corrupts both, brings you red on marks on dictation and essay papers.  

Connect with me on LinkedIn or on Instagram @TruthAbtNobody / Twitter or write to me at thetruthaboutnobody.gmail.com - I'd love to hear from you!

It’s not just Indians who use weird expressions or incorrect words. There are a number of phrases and words that many people, around the world, also get horribly wrong. Some of these, unfortunately, have to do with basic,incorrect spelling, but most are either a product of incorrect language translations or the use of similar-sounding words. 

Here's a sample.

Riddle me this. 

Do you use can where  you feel you could?

And use will where you’d do better with would?

Let’s also talk about shall, don’t you think we should?

Can and could.

Will and would.

Shall and should.

Do these three pairs confuse you too?

In this week's episode, I start with an apology and talk about a simple, two-letter word. NO.

NO…and the immense punch that it packs. Such a little word. Carrying so much power and import. And so difficult to say sometimes. Saying "no" is definitely an art. One that many of us may take a lifetime to master. But one that every effective communicator must learn to practice at least. It requires preparation, tact, logic, some cost-benefit analysis, dollops of diplomacy, soft skills -- and an emotional intelligence, combined with rational thought that every good communicator needs to master.

Sounds scary? Well, it’s not. Listen on to find out more!