First, 'International' terms, which have been accepted the world over without any major change, should be adopted in their current forms, as far as possible. For us, the window of the world being through English, the chances are that these terms will enter into Hindi via English, even if they may have a different origin such as Portuguese or French (as in restaurant, ticket, signal, bureau, police, or deluxe). These will also include the proper names and terms based on proper names from English, such as boycott (from Capt. Boycott) or Marxism / Leninism (from Karl Marx or V.I. Lenin), etc. and the usually frequent expressions such as license, permit, royalty or tariff. Such terms are then transliterated into Hindi (as well as in other official languages of the Indian Union) without disturbing the phonological and graphemic pattern of our languages. In fact, it has been clearly stated by the CSTT that "the transliteration of English terms should not be made so complex as to necessitate the introduction of new signs and symbols in the present Devanagari characters. The Devanagari rendering of English terms should aim at maximum approximation to the standard English pronunciation with such modifications as prevalent amongst the educated circle of India" (Cf. Comprehensive Glossary of Administrative Terms 1991: xiii-xiv).
Secondly, all conceptual terms will be attempted to be translated, unless they have somehow already entered into our vocabulary by naturalized borrowing.
Thirdly, indigenous terms, which have come into vogue in our languages for certain technical words of common use (e.g., taar for 'telegram/ telegraph' or Daak for 'post') should be retained.
Fourthly, the aim of vocabulary coinage should be such that one is able to achieve maximum possible identity in all Indian languages by opting for either terms based on Sanskritic roots or by choosing terms common to a number of other regional languages so as to eliminate undue taxation on official language learners from a background of other Indian languages.
Fifthly, the choice of Hindi technical terms must be such that the Hindi equivalents appear simple, semantically precise and with easy intelligibility. Obscurantism and purism may be avoided.
Sixthly, Hybrid forms are normal and natural linguistic phenomena in technical terminology, and therefore, such forms may be adopted keeping in view the contexts and requirements. Examples such as gaaraNTit for 'Guaranteed", klaasikii for 'Classical' or koDkaar for 'Codifier".
Seventhly, as much as possible, complex forms generated by the sandhi rule could be avoided. In case of compound words, hyphen may be placed in between two terms for a quicker and easier grasp of the word structure of the new terms. |
