Hobson-Jobson: A Glossary of Colloquial Anglo-Indian Words and Phrases, and of Kindred Terms, Etymological, Historical, Geographical and Discursive is a historical dictionary of Anglo-Indian words and terms from Indian languages which came into use during the British rule in India.
It was written by Sir Henry Yule and Arthur Coke Burnell and first published in 1886. Burnell died before the work was finished, and most of it was completed by Yule, who acknowledged Burnell's detailed contributions.[1] A subsequent edition was edited by William Crooke in 1903, with extra quotations and an index added.[2] The first and second editions are collector's items; the second edition is widely available in facsimile.
The dictionary holds over 2,000 entries,[3] generally with citations from literary sources, some of which date to the first European contact with the Indian subcontinent, frequently in other non-English European languages. Most entries also have etymological notes.[4]
The project began through correspondence between Sir Henry Yule, who was then living in Palermo, and Arthur Coke Burnell, who was a member of the Madras Civil Service, and was holding posts in several places in South India, and particularly, in Thanjavur. In 1872, Burnell wrote to Yule that he had been collecting instances of Anglo-Indian usages of English, as Yule had also been working on a similar list of his own. At Yule's suggestion, they combined their projects, working together until Burnell's death in 1882.[5] Yule and Burnell compiled the text by using a variety of sources, including accounts of Anglo-Indian language and usages by other authors of the time, as well as government documents such as glossaries of revenue administrative and legislative terms, and contemporary dictionaries.[5]
Title
In Anglo-Indian English, the term Hobson-Jobson referred to any festival or entertainment, but especially ceremonies of the Mourning of Muharram. In origin, the term is a corruption by British soldiers of "Yā Ḥasan! Yā Ḥosain!" which is repeatedly chanted by Shia Muslims throughout the procession of the Muharram; this was then converted to Hosseen Gosseen, Hossy Gossy, Hossein Jossen and, ultimately, Hobson-Jobson.[6] Yule and Burnell wrote that they considered the title a "typical and delightful example" of the type of highly domesticated words in the dictionary that also implied their own dual authorship.[7]
The scholar Traci Nagle, however, also finds a note of condescension in the choice. Rhyming reduplication (as in "Hobson-Jobson" or "puli kili") is highly productive in South Asian languages, where it is known popularly as an echo word. In English, however, rhyming reduplication is generally either juvenile (as in Humpty Dumpty or hokey-pokey) or pejorative (as in namby-pamby or mumbo-jumbo); further, Hobson and Jobson were stock characters in Victorian times, used to indicate a pair of yokels, clowns, or idiots.[8][9] The title thus produced negative associations – being at best self-deprecatory on the part of the authors, suggesting themselves a pair of idiots – and reviewers reacted negatively to the title, generally praising the book but finding the title inappropriate. Indeed, anticipating this reaction, the title was kept secret – even from the publisher – until shortly before publication.[10]
Influence and evaluations
The volume received praise on its initial publication from, among others, Rudyard Kipling.[11]Paul Pelliot, the French Sinologist, welcomed the 1903 version, though including a list of corrections and questions.[12]
More recently, however, the scholar Vijay Mishra objected that neither Yule nor Burnell had sound training in the languages required. He further objected that "it may be said that built into these hobson-jobsons is a contemptuous attitude, an ironic belittling of the values contained in the original vernacular words." That is, the British colonialists represented in the volume did not know or care to know the original meanings of the words. He gives as an example the word "babu” (babú) which in the original is “an educated or distinguished person" and a term of respect. But as a hobson-jobson “baboo" is degrading as it "attempts to reduce educated Indians (especially Bengalis) to mimics and harlequins."[13]
The term "law of Hobson-Jobson" is sometimes used in linguistics to refer to the process of phonological change by which loanwords are adapted to the phonology of the new language, as in the archetypal example of "Hobson-Jobson" itself.[15]Webster's Third International Dictionary gives as examples of the law of Hobson-Jobson: Spanish cucaracha becoming English cockroach, and English riding coat becoming French redingote.[16]
^James Lambert (2018). Setting the record straight: An in-depth examination of Hobson-Jobson. International Journal of Lexicography, 31(4): 485–506. doi:10.1093/ijl/ecy010
^Traci Nagle (2010). 'There is much, very much, in the name of a book' or, the Famous Title of Hobson-Jobson and How it Got That Way, in Michael Adams, ed., ′Cunning passages, contrived corridors′: Unexpected Essays in the History of Lexicography, pp. 111-127
^See also The Story Behind "Hobson-Jobson", in Word Routes: Exploring the Pathways of our Lexicon, by Ben Zimmer, June 4, 2009
^"hobson-jobson" in Webster's Third International Dictionary (1961/1986), Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica.
References
Yule, Henry; Burnell, A.C. (1903). Hobson-Jobson: A glossary of colloquial Anglo-Indian words and phrases, and of kindred terms, etymological, historical, geographical and discursive. William Crooke ed. London: J. Murray. (Searchable database)
Mishra, Vijay (2009). "Rushdie-Wushdie: Salman Rushdie's Hobson-Jobson". New Literary History. 40 (2): 385–410. doi:10.1353/nlh.0.0087. JSTOR 27760263. S2CID 162138441.
Nagle, Traci (2010). "'There is much, very much, in the name of a book' or, the Famous Title of Hobson-Jobson and How it Got That Way", in Michael Adams, ed., 'Cunning passages, contrived corridors': Unexpected Essays in the History of Lexicography, pp. 111–127.
———— (2014). "The Visible and Invisible Influence of Yule's Hobson-Jobson on Murray's Oxford English Dictionary". International Journal of Lexicography. 27 (3): 280–308. doi:10.1093/ijl/ecu013.
Pelliot, Paul (1903). "(Review)". Bulletin de l'École française d'Extrême-Orient. 3 (3): 477–479. JSTOR 43729736.
Purcell, Susan (2009). "The Law of Hobson-Jobson". English Today. 25 (1): 60–64. doi:10.1017/S0266078409000108. S2CID 145468193. Retrieved 2011-05-12.
Rushdie, Salman, "Hobson-Jobson", in Imaginary Homelands: Essays & Criticisms, 1981–1991, also collected in Travelers' Tales India by James O'Reilly and Larry Habegger, pp. 97–100.
Shapiro, Michael C. (1989). "(Review)". Journal of the American Oriental Society. 109 (3): 474. doi:10.2307/604171. hdl:2027/hvd.32044010693141. JSTOR 604171.
Teltscher, Kate (2017). "Hobson‐Jobson: The East India Company Lexicon". World Englishes. 36 (4): 509–521. doi:10.1111/weng.12285.
External links
Look up Hobson-Jobson in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.
Wikisource has original text related to this article:
Hobson-Jobson
Yule, Henry, Sir. "Hobson-Jobson: A glossary of colloquial Anglo-Indian words and phrases, and of kindred terms, etymological, historical, geographical and discursive". New ed. edited by William Crooke, B.A. London: J. Murray, 1903. A part of the Digital Dictionaries of South Asia.
Internet Archive
BBC article on Hobson-Jobson
May 04, 2023
hobson, jobson, glossary, colloquial, anglo, indian, words, phrases, kindred, terms, etymological, historical, geographical, discursive, historical, dictionary, anglo, indian, words, terms, from, indian, languages, which, came, into, during, british, rule, ind. Hobson Jobson A Glossary of Colloquial Anglo Indian Words and Phrases and of Kindred Terms Etymological Historical Geographical and Discursive is a historical dictionary of Anglo Indian words and terms from Indian languages which came into use during the British rule in India It was written by Sir Henry Yule and Arthur Coke Burnell and first published in 1886 Burnell died before the work was finished and most of it was completed by Yule who acknowledged Burnell s detailed contributions 1 A subsequent edition was edited by William Crooke in 1903 with extra quotations and an index added 2 The first and second editions are collector s items the second edition is widely available in facsimile The dictionary holds over 2 000 entries 3 generally with citations from literary sources some of which date to the first European contact with the Indian subcontinent frequently in other non English European languages Most entries also have etymological notes 4 Contents 1 Background 2 Title 3 Influence and evaluations 4 Law of Hobson Jobson 5 See also 6 Notes 7 References 8 External linksBackground EditThe project began through correspondence between Sir Henry Yule who was then living in Palermo and Arthur Coke Burnell who was a member of the Madras Civil Service and was holding posts in several places in South India and particularly in Thanjavur In 1872 Burnell wrote to Yule that he had been collecting instances of Anglo Indian usages of English as Yule had also been working on a similar list of his own At Yule s suggestion they combined their projects working together until Burnell s death in 1882 5 Yule and Burnell compiled the text by using a variety of sources including accounts of Anglo Indian language and usages by other authors of the time as well as government documents such as glossaries of revenue administrative and legislative terms and contemporary dictionaries 5 Title EditIn Anglo Indian English the term Hobson Jobson referred to any festival or entertainment but especially ceremonies of the Mourning of Muharram In origin the term is a corruption by British soldiers of Ya Ḥasan Ya Ḥosain which is repeatedly chanted by Shia Muslims throughout the procession of the Muharram this was then converted to Hosseen Gosseen Hossy Gossy Hossein Jossen and ultimately Hobson Jobson 6 Yule and Burnell wrote that they considered the title a typical and delightful example of the type of highly domesticated words in the dictionary that also implied their own dual authorship 7 The scholar Traci Nagle however also finds a note of condescension in the choice Rhyming reduplication as in Hobson Jobson or puli kili is highly productive in South Asian languages where it is known popularly as an echo word In English however rhyming reduplication is generally either juvenile as in Humpty Dumpty or hokey pokey or pejorative as in namby pamby or mumbo jumbo further Hobson and Jobson were stock characters in Victorian times used to indicate a pair of yokels clowns or idiots 8 9 The title thus produced negative associations being at best self deprecatory on the part of the authors suggesting themselves a pair of idiots and reviewers reacted negatively to the title generally praising the book but finding the title inappropriate Indeed anticipating this reaction the title was kept secret even from the publisher until shortly before publication 10 Influence and evaluations EditThe volume received praise on its initial publication from among others Rudyard Kipling 11 Paul Pelliot the French Sinologist welcomed the 1903 version though including a list of corrections and questions 12 More recently however the scholar Vijay Mishra objected that neither Yule nor Burnell had sound training in the languages required He further objected that it may be said that built into these hobson jobsons is a contemptuous attitude an ironic belittling of the values contained in the original vernacular words That is the British colonialists represented in the volume did not know or care to know the original meanings of the words He gives as an example the word babu babu which in the original is an educated or distinguished person and a term of respect But as a hobson jobson baboo is degrading as it attempts to reduce educated Indians especially Bengalis to mimics and harlequins 13 James A Murray made extensive use of Hobson Jobson in writing entries on South Asian words for the Oxford English Dictionary 14 Law of Hobson Jobson EditThe term law of Hobson Jobson is sometimes used in linguistics to refer to the process of phonological change by which loanwords are adapted to the phonology of the new language as in the archetypal example of Hobson Jobson itself 15 Webster s Third International Dictionary gives as examples of the law of Hobson Jobson Spanish cucaracha becoming English cockroach and English riding coat becoming French redingote 16 See also EditAnglo Indian cuisine Folk etymology Hanklyn Janklin List of English words of Sanskrit origin List of English words of Hindi origin Phono semantic matchingNotes Edit Yule amp Burnell vii Yule amp Burnell xi James Lambert 2018 Setting the record straight An in depth examination of Hobson Jobson International Journal of Lexicography 31 4 485 506 doi 10 1093 ijl ecy010 Teltscher 2017 a b Yule Henry 1886 Hobson Jobsoniana Asiatic Quarterly Review 1 119 Yule amp Burnell 419 Yule amp Burnell ix Traci Nagle 2010 There is much very much in the name of a book or the Famous Title of Hobson Jobson and How it Got That Way in Michael Adams ed Cunning passages contrived corridors Unexpected Essays in the History of Lexicography pp 111 127 See also The Story Behind Hobson Jobson in Word Routes Exploring the Pathways of our Lexicon by Ben Zimmer June 4 2009 Nagle 2010 114 Teltscher 2017 p 509 511 Pelliot 1903 Mishra 2009 p 388 Nagle 2014 p 280 OED entry for Hobson Jobson hobson jobson in Webster s Third International Dictionary 1961 1986 Chicago Encyclopaedia Britannica References EditYule Henry Burnell A C 1903 Hobson Jobson A glossary of colloquial Anglo Indian words and phrases and of kindred terms etymological historical geographical and discursive William Crooke ed London J Murray Searchable database Mishra Vijay 2009 Rushdie Wushdie Salman Rushdie s Hobson Jobson New Literary History 40 2 385 410 doi 10 1353 nlh 0 0087 JSTOR 27760263 S2CID 162138441 Nagle Traci 2010 There is much very much in the name of a book or the Famous Title of Hobson Jobson and How it Got That Way in Michael Adams ed Cunning passages contrived corridors Unexpected Essays in the History of Lexicography pp 111 127 2014 The Visible and Invisible Influence of Yule s Hobson Jobson on Murray s Oxford English Dictionary International Journal of Lexicography 27 3 280 308 doi 10 1093 ijl ecu013 Pelliot Paul 1903 Review Bulletin de l Ecole francaise d Extreme Orient 3 3 477 479 JSTOR 43729736 Purcell Susan 2009 The Law of Hobson Jobson English Today 25 1 60 64 doi 10 1017 S0266078409000108 S2CID 145468193 Retrieved 2011 05 12 Rushdie Salman Hobson Jobson in Imaginary Homelands Essays amp Criticisms 1981 1991 also collected in Travelers Tales India by James O Reilly and Larry Habegger pp 97 100 Shapiro Michael C 1989 Review Journal of the American Oriental Society 109 3 474 doi 10 2307 604171 hdl 2027 hvd 32044010693141 JSTOR 604171 Teltscher Kate 2017 Hobson Jobson The East India Company Lexicon World Englishes 36 4 509 521 doi 10 1111 weng 12285 External links Edit Look up Hobson Jobson in Wiktionary the free dictionary Wikisource has original text related to this article Hobson Jobson Yule Henry Sir Hobson Jobson A glossary of colloquial Anglo Indian words and phrases and of kindred terms etymological historical geographical and discursive New ed edited by William Crooke B A London J Murray 1903 A part of the Digital Dictionaries of South Asia Internet Archive BBC article on Hobson Jobson Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hobson Jobson amp oldid 1150362424, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
