Kodava language

Kodava
ಕೊಡವ
Native to India
Region Kodagu, Karnataka
Ethnicity Kodava
Native speakers
200,000 (2001)[1]
Dravidian
Kannada script, Coorgi–Cox alphabet
Language codes
ISO 639-3 kfa
Glottolog koda1255[2]
Kodagu: home of the Kodavas shown above in the map of Karnataka, India (in orange)

The Kodava or Coorg language (Kannada script: ಕೊಡವ ತಕ್ಕ್ Kodava takk, meaning 'speech of Kodavas', in the Kodava language) is a Dravidian language and the original language of the Kodagu district in southern Karnataka, India. The term Kodava has two related usages. Firstly, it is the name of the Kodava language and culture followed by a number of communities from Kodagu. Secondly, within the Kodava - speaking communities and region (Kodagu) it describes the dominant Kodava people. Hence, the Kodava language is not only the primary language of the Kodavas but also of a large number of other castes and tribes in Kodagu. The language has two dialects: Mendele (spoken in Northern and Central Kodagu, i.e. outside Kodagu's Kiggat naad) and Kiggat (spoken in Kiggat naad, in Southern Kodagu).

Comparisons

Linguistically, Kodava language shows some deviations from other Dravidian languages. For instance, most Dravidian languages have 5 short and 5 long vowels. Kodava has two more vowels, namely the close central unrounded vowel /ɨ/ and the mid central unrounded vowel /ɘ̞/, which can likewise be short and long (Balakrishnan 1976). These peculiarities and distinctness of the language had attracted the attention of scholars from the sixteenth century. However, they did not consider Kodava an independent language. It was considered as a dialect of Kannada, closer to Tulu (Ellis 1816), or closely related to Malayalam and Tamil (Moegling 1855). It was in the early 20th century that the philologists and linguists recognized it as an independent language. It is closely related to and influenced by Tamil, Tulu, Kannada, and Malayalam. A majority of the words are common between Kodava and Beary bashe, a dialect which is a mixture of Tulu and Malayalam spoken by the Beary and Belchada community.

Literature

Family histories, rituals and other records were scripted on palm leaves called Pattole (patt=palm, ole=leaf) by astrologers in the ancient times. When Kodava was written, it was usually with Kannada script, sometimes with minor modifications, and sometimes in the Malayalam script as well. The folk songs of the Kodavas, called the Palame (also known as the Balo Patt or Dudi Patt), were orally transmitted across several generations. The language had no significant written literature until the twentieth century. Appaneravanda Hardas Appachcha Kavi, a playwright, and Nadikerianda Chinnappa, a folk compiler, are the two important poets and writers of Kodava language. Other important writers in the language were B D Ganapathy and I M Muthanna.

The Pattole Palame, a collection of Kodava folksongs and traditions compiled in the early 1900s by Nadikerianda Chinnappa, was first published in 1924. The most important Kodava literature, it is said to be one of the earliest, if not the earliest, collection of the folklore of a community in an Indian language. Nearly two thirds of the book consists of folksongs that were handed down orally through generations, sung even today during marriage and death ceremonies and during festivals relating to the seasons and in honour of local deities and heroes. Traditionally known as Balo Pat, these songs are sung by four men who beat dudis (drums) as they sing. Kodava folk dances are performed to the beat of many of these songs. The Pattole Palame was written using the Kannada script originally; it has been translated into English by Boverianda Nanjamma and Chinnappa, grandchildren of Nadikerianda Chinnappa, and has been published by Rupa & Co., New Delhi.[3]

Cinema

The Kodava Cinema industry is very small. A few movies portraying the native culture and traditions of the Kodavas have been produced in this language. The first Kodava film 'Nada Mann Nada Kool' was directed by S.R.Rajan and produced in the year 1972.

Names of family members

Mother Amma/ Avva
Father Appa/ Ayya/ Pappa/ Appayya
Grandfather Thatha / Daddappayya
Grandmother Avvayya / Avva / Thaayi /Thathi
Maternal Uncle / Paternal Aunt's husband Mama / Mava
Maternal Uncle's wife / Paternal Aunt Mavi / Mayi
Eldest Paternal Uncle / Eldest Maternal Aunt's husband Baliappa / Doddappa
Eldest Paternal Uncle's wife / Eldest Maternal Aunt Baliavva / Doddavva
Elder Paternal Uncle / Elder Maternal Aunt's husband Bojappa
Elder Paternal Uncle's wife / Elder Maternal Aunt Bojavva / Bojamma
Younger Paternal Uncle / Younger Maternal Aunt's husband Kunjappa
Younger Paternal Uncle's wife/ Younger Maternal Aunt Kunjavva / Kunjamma
Youngest Paternal Uncle / Youngest Maternal Aunt's husband Cheriappa
Youngest Paternal Uncle's wife/ Youngest Maternal Aunt Cheriavva / Cheriamma
Father-in-law Mava
Mother-in-law Mavi / Mayi
brother-in-law (elder) / cross-cousin (elder, brother) / lineal cousin (elder, sister)'s husband Bava
sister-in-law (elder)/ cross-cousin (elder, sister) / lineal-cousin (elder, brother)'s wife Mamme
brother (elder) / lineal cousin (elder brother) / cross-cousin (elder, sister)'s husband Anna
sister (elder) / lineal-cousin (elder, sister) / cross-cousin (elder, brother)'s wife Akka
brother (younger) Thamma
sister (younger) Thange
Wife Ponne
Husband Wadiya
Son Movae
Daughter Movva

Numbers (1 to 10)

Number Kodava Tamil Kannada Malayalam Tulu Telugu Proto-Dravidian
1 ond oṉdru ondu onnu onji okaṭi *oru
2 danḍ iraṇdu eraḍu raṇdu raḍḍ renḍu *iru
3 mūṉd mūṉdṛu mūṟu mūnnu mūji mūḍu *muC
4 nāl nāṉgu nālku nālu nāl nālugu *nān
5 añji ainthu aidu añchu ayN ayidu *cayN
6 ār āṟu āṟu āṟu āji āṟu *caṟu
7 ēḻ ēzhu ēlu ēzhu yēl ēḍu *ēḻu
8 eṭṭ eṭṭu eṇṭu eṭṭu edma enimidi *eṭṭu
9 oiymbad oṉpathu ombattu oṉpatu ormba tommidi *toḷ
10 patt patthu hattu pathu patt padi *pat(tu)

[4]

Kodava words

Kodava
Kinha Huduga Boy
Poyi Hoguwa Go
Karri Saaru Curry (English origin from Tamil Karri)
Koole Anna Rice
Ide Idu Keep
Thimbake Thinnalu To Eat
Koolli Snaana To Bathe
Und Untu Is There
Bappi Baruthene I will Come (Farewell Greeting)
Ullo Iddene Am There
Bandan Ullo Bartha iddeeni Am coming
Yenne Ulliya? Hegidiya? How are you?
Māṅge Maavu Mango (English origin from Malayalam Māṅge)
Kaḷḷa Kaḷḷa Thief
Sooroole Modalu First
Kere Pamb Kere Havu Rat Snake
Mūle Mūle Corner
Āme Āme Tortoise
Bēli Bēli Fence
Bithe Beeja Seed
Bādege Bādege Rent
Chatte Sante Market
Ēni Ēni Ladder
Puḷi Hunasi (Huli) Tamarind
Gaali Gaali Wind

Kodava calendar

Months

The Kodava months are named after the Signs of the Zodiac. Thus Cingyaar (from Simha or Lion) is named after the constellation Leo and so on.

Comparative table showing corresponding months of other calendars
Months in Kodava Malayalam calendar (Northern Malabar system) Tamil calendar Saka era Sign of Zodiac Gregorian Calendar
Edmyaar Medam Chithirai ChaitraVaisakha Aries April–May
Kadmayaar Edavam / Idavam Vaikasi VaisakhaJyaistha Taurus May–June
Adare Mithunam Aani JyaisthaAsada Gemini June–July
Kakkada Karkadakam Aadi AsadaSravana Cancer July–August
Chingyaar Chingam Aavani SravanBhadrapada Leo August–September
Kanyaar Kanni Purattasi BhadrapadaAsvina Virgo September–October
Thoolyaar Tulam Aippasi AsvinaKartika Libra October–November
Birchyaar Vrscikam Karthigai KartikaAgrahayana Scorpio November–December
Dalmyaar Dhanu Margazhi AgrahayanaPausa Sagittarius December–January
Maalyaar Makaram Thai PausaMagha Capricorn January–February
Kumbyaar Kumbham Maasi MaghaPhalguna Aquarius February–March
Minyaar Minam Panguni PhalgunaChaitra Pisces March–April

[4]

Days

The days of the week in the Kodava calendar, like other systems, are based on the names of the planets.

Comparative table showing corresponding weekdays
Kodava Malayalam Tamil Kannada Hindi English
Njayar ache Njayar azhca Nyaayiru Bhanuvara Ravivar Sunday
Thingal ache Thinkal azhca Thinkal Somavara Somvar Monday
Chowva ache Chowva azhca Chevvai Mangalavara Mangalvar Tuesday
Padhan ache Budhan azhca Budhan Budhavara BudhvarWednesday
Byalha ache Vyazham azhca Vyazhan Guruvara GuruvarThursday
Bolli ache Velli azhca VelliShukravara SukravarFriday
Chani ache Shani azhca Sani ShanivaraShanivarSaturday

[4]

References

  1. Kodava at Ethnologue (18th ed., 2015)
  2. Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin; Bank, Sebastian, eds. (2016). "Kodava". Glottolog 2.7. Jena: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History.
  3. "– Official Website of Kodava Community". Kodava.org. Retrieved 2012-06-01.
  4. 1 2 3 Kushalappa, M. "The Early Coorgs", 2013.

Bibliography

External links

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