Calcutta/Kolkatta

[Ross Clark (FOA LING)]

Can you explain exactly what sorts of phonological difficulties "Kolkatta",
"Mumbai", "Chennai" or "Basu" would have presented for "early Brits"?

Ross Clark

-----Original Message-----
From: Shilpi Misty Bhadra [mailto:evenstar at mail.utexas.edu]
Sent: Saturday, 13 January 2001 10:39 a.m.

[ moderator snip ]

Calcutta is now Kolkatta in the latest Indian news. Mumbai has been around
for a long time, as Chennai for Madras. The early Brits had a hard time
with pronouncing Indian names, although they didn't to have much trouble
with Delhi (which hasn't changed). ;) My family is from Calcutta/Kolkatta.
My mother's maiden name was Basu, but changed to Bose, because it would be
easier for the Brits to pronounce. But she hasn't changed her maiden name
spelling ... yet! ;)