178 Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. [July, 



simply expresses that it is not desirable to discourage the use 

 of European terms. We would leave the natives free to use them 

 if they find them most convenient. "We think that from us Euro- 

 peans, at any rate, there should come no discouragement of such a 

 course, which in fact most of us would, I believe, rather actively en- 

 courage, so far as in us lies, though we cannot and would not dictate in 

 the matter. I propose then to withdraw my original motion, and to 

 support that in an amended form, as moved by Dr. Anderson. 



" I cannot consent to the amendment of the Reverend gentleman op- 

 posite, because I think that it is not desirable to adopt obscure and far- 

 fetched Sanscrit and Arabic words. Sanscrit is not in this country the 

 language of education as Latin is in Europe. Ordinary educated na- 

 tives know nothing of Sanscrit, and Sanscrit compounds are as bad as 

 German ones. Arabic is a language wholly foreign to this country ; 

 all very well when the Mahomedans were masters, but not suited to 

 these days. The first result of this proposition would be, that we 

 must all make a commencement by getting up the whole of the terri- 

 ble great book which Major Lees has placed on the table, a book 

 which the Society has printed, but which I doubt if any member has 

 read. The speech at our last meeting of the learned Babu Rajendralala 

 was most able and excellent, and my only objection to it is, that it was 

 not to the point. He seemed to represent me as seeking to force down 

 the throats of the natives English words for the commonest terms, 

 for * hot water' for instance. Such an idea I never entertained for one 

 moment. I have all along said that, wherever a vernacular word 

 exists to express the required meaning, and is used by the people, they 

 must continue to use it. I have been asked what I mean by the ver- 

 nacular. I mean simply the language used and understood by de- 

 cently educated natives. Of course I do not suggest that a word is 

 not vernacular, because it is of Sanscrit origin. " Jal,' water was men- 

 tioned, that is an elementary vernacular word. As respects the words 

 "general use" in the proposition before the meeting, it is now only pro- 

 posed that we should not discourage the use of English words by those 

 who choose to use them. I would say, Let the more learned few use 

 European words which they find convenient, and let the millions also 

 use those European words which they find convenient, whether scien- 

 tific, technical, or any other. I do not object to corruptions : in all 



