Chutney, Raita, Churidar are among the 70 new words of Indian origin that have been added to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED). British Council, UK’s cultural-educational organization unveiled these words to mark its 70th anniversary in India.
Alan Gemmell, Director, British Council India said in a tweet that these 70 words are included in OED to “reflect on the Britain and India connection as well as the influence India’s language and thought have had on English and people all over the world.”
Weve published 70 English words of Indian origin with @OED to reflect on our #70Years of connecting; the centuries connecting Britain&India, &the influence India’s language and thought have had on English and people all over the world. Try it! https://t.co/8hoIoVdeXM
— alangemmell (@alangemmell) November 23, 2018
Besides these above words, Pashmina, Yoga, Roti and Loot are among the 70 other words that have officially found a place in reputed dictionary.
As per an IANS report, the British Council said that this step highlights “the proximity and understanding between the two nations.”
The English language has evolved with the words of Indian origin. Some of them date back to the pre-independence era while many words got a place in the OED recently, it added.
There are “many points of connection over the centuries in which people, ideas, language, goods, and services have moved between Britain and India,” said Gemmell, as per the report.
He was quoted by IANS as saying, “For the cashmere we drape and pyjamas we sleep in; the bangles we wear; the shampoo that cleans our hair; the cheetahs we watch whose speed we admire; and, the curry and kedgeree we might eat on a verandah — we thank the rich languages of India, and the people who have mixed and shared over the generations of those last 400 years.”
These 70 words can be seen at the website of British Council under various categories such as Food, House & Home etc. with their meanings.