While the original Beantown gets a flavour of India (see previous post), India's own Beantown now proudly calls itself that. See this:
Bengalooru. Meaning, City of Baked Beans. A very nicely written, and funny article from the Economist about place names and name changes.
As it rightly asks, why are only English speakers expected to kowtow to name changes? The French say Edimbourg, the Italians say Pechino and the Germans (and Dutch) say Kapstadt. And they all get away with it. Woe betide the English speaker (accented or otherwise) who dares mispronounce Edinburgh, Beijing or Capetown. Should we be flattered that expectations are higher for us English speakers?
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2 comments:
This is a common phenomena of the countries ruled by british. We still believe that they r superior to us. r they? what do u think?
@Govind
This has nothing to do with superiority.
First of all, you and I now count as English speakers. So it's not just the British I mean with that post.
Second, I find it bloody irritating to have to adjust my mental model to the whims of local politicians. I was born in Bombay, darnit, and that's what I call it still. Same with Bangalore. It's difficult to adjust to randomness like this, especially when there is no justification for it.
I respect Kannada pride and all that, but we all know this whole Bengalooru thing is fuelled by worry about software companies and non-Kannadigas filling up Bangalore. Well, they're not going to "get Bengalooru back" by ramming long words down the throats of non-Kannadigas.
The big positive I can see about this decision is that it's given a jump start to the sign-painting industry in Bangalore. Repainting everything should keep them busy for the next couple of years, at least.
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