Oxford English Dictionary Adds Indian Words

Context

The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has included 13 new words and expressions from South Asia, such as a number of Indian terms, reflecting the influence of Indian English and the diversity of Indian languages in the formation of the modern English language.

Key Highlights

• The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has added almost 900 new words to its latest quarterly additions.
• Of these, 13 words and phrases from South Asia have been introduced, some of which are widely used in India.
• 23 entries have been updated from older entries concerning the Indian subcontinent, as the English language is constantly evolving as a result of cultural exchange and globalisation.

Newly Added South Asian Words

• Food and Cuisine
  • Nihari – A slow cooked meat dish with aromatic spices.
  • Karahi – South Asian deep cooking pot, often in the shape of a bowl.
  • Shutki: Dried fish which is usually eaten in Bengal and nearby areas.
• Art and Culture
  • Alpana: Decorative floor art created with rice flour paste in festivals and religious occasions.
• Traditional Clothing
  • Chapan – A long, loose gown normally worn as an overcoat.
  • Chapkan – A long, close-fitting coat that is fastened at the front.
• Administration and Governance
  • Nazim – a Provincial governor in the Mughal rule, who had civil, military and judicial powers.
  • Upazila – a sub-district administrative unit that is extensively used in Bangladesh.
• Indian English Expressions
  • Out of station is an indian English phrase for someone who is out of their normal place of living or working.
  • PCO (Public Call Office) – Public telephones that used to be seen all over India till the time mobile telephones became popular.
  • Affected – Used to describe somebody who is affected by something.

Why is This Significant?

• Recognition of Indian English
  • Indian English is a unique variety of global English and is widely recognised.
  • Everyday expressions used in India are increasingly receiving international acceptance.
• Cultural Diplomacy
  • Use of Indian terms indicates the increasing cultural impact of India worldwide.
  • The diverse civilisational heritage of India is represented in the food, art, clothes, and administrative aspects.
• Linguistic Diversity
  • English keeps growing as there are words from several languages being borrowed into it.
  • The update emphasizes the importance of multilingual societies in enhancing global communication.
• Globalisation of Language
  • Indian cuisine, traditions and digital communication have helped in the spread and acceptance of Indian vocabulary in the world.

Significance for India

• Boosts the soft power of India.
• Enhances recognition of Indian customs and culture in the international community.
• Understands contribution of Indian languages (Hindi, Bengali, Urdu and regional) to English in the world.
• Promotes indigenous language conservation and documentation.

Challenges

• Strike a balance between global spread of English and linguistic diversity in India.
• Preserving at-risk regional languages and linguistic globalisation.
• Ensuring multilingual education and content creation on digital platforms.

Way Forward

• Promote the use of Indian languages in the educational system, literature, and digital technologies.
• Promote translation of literature in Indian languages into other languages.
• Institute extensive research on Indian English and regional English variants.
• Document and preserve traditional vocabulary using cultural activities.
• Use language as an instrument of India’s soft power and cultural diplomacy.

Conclusion

• Words from Indian languages, culture and everyday life have entered the Oxford English Dictionary, demonstrating India’s increasing linguistic presence all over the world.
• Indo-English is not a borrowed language, but is a language growing from various communities, and is still in a state of constant change.
• This is an affirmation of India’s cultural identity and a boost in soft power in an interdependent world.

Source: The Indian Express

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