I'm talking about wish the verb in the following sense only:
1.1 [WITH TWO OBJECTS] Express a hope that (someone) enjoys (happiness or success):
they wish her every success
As we can see, Oxford dictates that wish must have two objects when used in this sense.
In India, it's extremely common to drop the second object when it's understood.
For example:
It's her birthday today. Did you wish her?
It's highly unlikely in India that anyone would say “Did you wish her a happy birthday?”
In the above example, at least the context was introduced in the previous sentence, but this usage is also possible without mentioning the context when it is known by the people involved. For instance, on Mother's Day, a brother could ask his sister: “Did you wish Mom?” It's understood that he's talking about Mother's Day.
Also, it's common to introduce the context in the same sentence without using a second object. As in:
Ever since we broke up she doesn't even wish me on birthdays.
My questions:
- Do native speakers use “wish” like this?
- If they don't, does this sound right to them?
- Is it a feature of Indian English; or downright wrong?
- (EDIT:) How would a native speaker phrase these example sentences?
Best Answer
I have a hunch that the InEng (IE/IndE) usage is derived from the polite valediction, Best wishes, i.e. “I hope everything goes well for you”, and the phrase “send her/him my best wishes”. In both expressions two objects are not required, it is understood that the speaker is saying ‘I would like to send you the best of luck today.’
The InEng usage of ‘wishes’(noun) sounds almost Italian to my ears. In Italian the expression is auguri, and it's very common to just say to one another Auguri! when it is Christmas or the New Year. Tanti auguri is literally ‘many wishes’ which Italians say to each other on birthdays, it is also used to say ‘congratulations’ and ‘good luck’.
But do BrEng speakers use this form? No, not really. Before joining El&U two years ago, I had never heard this form of exchange before; e.g. “Did you wish mum?” In none of the English coursebooks or grammar books I have bought over the years, have I come across this usage, so my guess would be that it is currently considered non-standard English. But whether native speakers would understand it, is a different question, and I'd say ‘absolutely!’
In "I wish my colleague", there's nothing to decypher. Context will tell us if, for example, the colleague is retiring or on maternity leave.
The form has also entered the dictionary. In Cambridge Dictionaries Online
And its usage has been recorded by linguists and experts
How might a native speaker say the following sentence in British English?