ðə dɪstˈɪŋɡwɪʃɪŋ kˌæɹɪktɚɹˈɪstɪks ʌv bˈɑːbuː ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ ɑːɹ ðə flˈɔːɹɪd, ɛksˈɛsɪvli pəlˈaɪt, ænd ˌɪndɚɹˈɛkt mˈænɚɹ ʌv ɛkspɹˈɛʃən, wˌɪtʃ hɐvbɪn ɹᵻpˈoːɹɾᵻd fɔːɹ ɐmjˈuːzmənt vˈæljuː, ɪn wˈɜːks sˈʌtʃ ɐz sˈɛsəl hˈʌnts ˈɑːnɚd sˌɜː kəlˈɛkʃənz sˈiː fˈɜːðɚ ɹˈiːdɪŋ, ænd læmpˈuːnd, ɪn wˈɜːks sˈʌtʃ ɐz ˈɛf. ˈæntɪsiz bˈæbuː dʒˈæbɚdʒˌiː, bˈiː.ˈeɪ., fɔːɹ ˌoʊvɚɹ ɐ sˈɛntʃɚɹi.
The distinguishing characteristics of Babu English are the florid, excessively polite, and indirect manner of expression, which have been reported for amusement value, in works such as Cecil Hunt's Honoured Sir collections (see Further reading), and lampooned, in works such as F. Antesey's Baboo Jabberjee, B.A., for over a century.