I860.] The Arabic Element in Official Hindustani. 5 



1. Sanskrit, AdhydksTia. 



Upadrisldd. 



Adhikdri. 



Avehshitd, all compounded with a preposition. 



2. Greek, Epistcdes. 

 8. Latin, Inspector. 



4. German, Auf seller, Inspector. 



5. English, Overseer, Inspector. 



Illustrations may he multiplied hy any one who possesses a few dic- 

 tionaries. To be able to express ideas of a complex nature hy short 

 and simple words is an undeniable advantage. When a language has 

 two or more sources from which it can draw, native sources giving it 

 only long cumbrous compounds, foreign ones giving it neat and conve- 

 nient uncompounded words, it is only natural that the latter should 

 be chosen. The Bengali, like the German, has chosen to trust to its 

 Indian resources ; and the result is a collection of ' sescmipedalia 

 verba" of the most alarming description, and what is more to the pur- 

 pose in these practical days, it is yielding visibly to the more progres- 

 sive Hindustani. 



On the score of convenience then I defend the present court lan- 

 guage. If we look at the historical question again, we find good rea- 

 son for the use of foreign words. Hindi is in its origin Sanskrit, with 

 a substratum of Turanian elements, the extent and exact direction of 

 whose influence has never been fully worked out. I believe it to be 

 much greater than is usually supposed. The language thus constitut- 

 ed, was brought into contact with fresh Turanian influences through 

 the Mogul invasions. In the same manner Persian, Pushtoo and 

 Arabic were brought to bear on it. The point of contact was western 

 Hindustan and the Punjab, but gradually the foreign influence pene- 

 trated the whole country. It must be remembered also, that along 

 with an influx of foreign languages came an entire change in the civil 

 and religious organization of the country. Whole provinces were 

 converted to a religion whose most sacred duties can be expressed only 

 in Arabic. Offices were created on the model of those in Cabul and 

 Persia. Systems were introduced which had long flourished in Central 

 Asia among the Mantchus and the Kirghis. 



Hence a large importation of foreign words in religion, government, 



