Hobson Jobson (Hardback) | Released: 30 Mar 2013

Product Overview & Details

Hobson-Jobson is a landmark historical glossary that documents the influence of Indian, Arabic, Persian, Portuguese, Chinese, and other Asian languages on English during the period of British India. Originally compiled by Henry Yule and A. C. Burnell, the work records thousands of Anglo-Indian words and phrases along with their meanings, origins, historical background, and cultural context.

The book is much more than a dictionary. Each entry often includes historical notes, literary quotations, travel accounts, anecdotes, and observations about life in colonial India. It provides insights into the languages, customs, trade, administration, geography, and everyday experiences of the British Raj.

The title itself comes from a British rendering of the cry “Ya Hasan! Ya Husain!” associated with the Muharram festival, showing the very linguistic transformation that the book studies.

Considered a classic work of historical linguistics, Hobson-Jobson remains valuable for researchers studying language exchange, colonial history, Indian culture, and the development of modern English vocabulary.