I work in IT in a large corporation with much of its work outsourced. I often see emails from these folks telling me or the customer to "do the needful". I realize that English is not their first (or second or third) language but this phrase really grates. Is it proper or PC to tell them that this is not exactly proper English? I realize that this phrase actually existed once upon a time but it just seems odd, archaic, wrong, and funny all at once.
Am I the only one?
I've not heard this. Is it IT lingo? Can you use it in context to give an idea of the meaning?
I think it's particularly Indian. All of my clients in India tend to sign off their email messages with "Please do the needful." if they've made some sort of request of me. I've never seen it from anywhere else.
I think it is proper English in India...it's a local, idomatic expression that I would guess got its start when India was under British control. It just sounds weird to North American English speakers. I have no idea how British English speakers would take it.
I thought it was a little strange the first time I saw it, too. But I've seen it so much since then that I just take it as "what they say in India as a polite request for assistance."
ArteNow