As we have mentioned before the English language has grown
and developed over centuries, and although based on Germanic languages, it has
borrowed words and phrases from all over the place, mixed them all together and
the result is the language we know today. As a matter of interest I thought I
would look at some examples of words that originated in India and are now part
of our everyday conversations. Many of
these words were incorporated into the English language in the days of the British
rule in India and I wonder how many of us realize just how many Indian words we
have “stolen”!
I mean, how terribly upper class English is it to play polo
whilst wearing ones jodhpurs? Wrong, both polo and jodhpurs have their origins
in India – jodhpurs being the type of trousers traditionally worn by Indian
men. Along the same lines we also have gymkhana
– a term in English speaking countries which refers to an equestrian event showing
the training and grooming of horses but was originally used to describe a place
where any sporting events took place.
I wonder how many of us are wearing a bangle – that’s another
one, or are lounging in our pyjamas or dungarees – yes both of these also have
their origins in India! Have you ever wondered if you (or someone else) are
going doolally? Did you realize this phrase,
meaning to go mad, originated from when British troops were stationed in a town
called Deolali before being sent home – and were known to develop “camp fever”
from boredom!
The list just goes on and on, and includes bungalow,
shampoo, shawl, thug, verandah and jungle, to name just a few. One of my favourites has got to be juggernaut,
which in my ignorance I thought was a fairly modern term. Boy was I wrong! The term actually dates back to the 17th
Century and is inspired by the followers of Vishnu and the Jagannath Temple in
Odisha. Every year they hold Ratha Yatra, a chariot procession, where thousands
of devotees pull huge carts through the streets carrying enormous, religious icons.
Turning to food and drink we also find punch – one of my favourite party
drinks! The word originates from the
Hindu and Urdu word for five and was historically made from five ingredients:
alcohol, sugar, lemon, tea and spices.
Then again who does not enjoy a hot toddy when feeling cold and
snuffly? Recipes for these are varied
but usually include whisky, water, lemon and honey and are always served hot.
It is believed that the name originated from the Indian drink toddy which is an
alcoholic Palm wine.
This is not a comprehensive list of all the Indian words adopted into the
English language – I just picked out the ones that made me smile! Finding out about the origins of words and
how language evolves is certainly a real eye opener!
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