Manual Of The Administration Of The Madras Presidency (Glossary)

The author has made a noble attempt to draw a beautiful sketch of The Madras Presidency, or the Presidency of Fort St. George, and also known as Madras Province. The first object of the volume is to establish the necessary connection between the English and the vernacular languages in matters where this can be most suitably done by a publication made with Government resources. In considering that connection, it will be found that there are always three difficulties present; uncertain orthography, imperfect correlation between the languages, and multiplicity of synonyms even after correlation is established. It is the object of this volume to supply a definition in each of these cases of ambiguity; the definitions to be taken as standards whenever it is thought lit, or to the extent which is thought lit. In carrying out the process etymology has been added as a necessary attendant upon it. Uncertain orthography arises chiefly in the form given to native words when they are employed in English writings. A statement of the past history and present condition of this question has been given at Volume 1. Imperfect correlation between the English and the vernacular languages appears chiefly in the process of ascertaining vernacular equivalents for English terms connected with the natural kingdom, and especially terms bearing on economical subjects. Multiplicity of synonyms occurs in connection with the lastnamed subject, in the three branches into which that subject resolves itself; the AngloIndian terms (otherwise commercial), the scientific terms, and the vernacular terms.