Foreign words and phrases
Syed Badrul Haque Dhaka
I am drawn to letters pertaining to the intrusion of foreign words and phrases in our mother tongue, Bangla, that appeared in your daily recently. It highlights the prejudices that many people, even in 2005, still have towards foreign languages. One has to accept that language changes and that is what constitutes its interest and variety. There are certain words and phrases, which in their source language are far more graphic, concise and eloquent than if they are translated. Are we to emasculate our language to such a point that any word or phrase which might be considered difficult or elitist should be avoided? Certainly not. We would be at a nadir of linguistic expression unless we measure well with other progressive languages of the contemporary world. The richness of any language develops from its history and its contact with other countries and their language and literature. It is high time we realise this.
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