After the publication of six volumes of a Tulu lexicon (Tulu-Kannada-English dictionary) more than two-and-half decades ago, another mega work in Tulu, Tulu Jnati Padakosha (Tulu etymological dictionary), is in the offing.
A group of four experts are working to bring out the Tulu etymological dictionary and its cost would be borne by the Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy and Nitte University.
The Tulu lexicon was published by the Rashtrakavi Govinda Pai Research Centre, Udupi, in 1988.
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Ashok Alva, a researcher at Regional Resource Centre for Folk Performing Arts, Udupi; Padmanabha Kekunnaya, a researcher and one of the assistant editors of Tulu lexicon; Kamalaksha, a retired professor of Kannada at Kannur University, Kerala; Saigeetha, a lecturer at Nitte University, have been working for the past six months on the etymological dictionary. The team will find out Tulu words in seven other languages, including Kannada, Tamil, Telugu and Malayalam. The others are Beary, Kodava and Sali (spoken by weavers).
Those Tulu words would be recorded only if it was found in at least three other languages, Mr. Alva told The Hindu . Its meanings in Kannada and English would be given. A Tulu word though spoken in different languages might have different meanings in different languages and these too will be recorded. The phonetic transliteration of Tulu words would be mentioned in the Jnati Padakosha.
According to Mr. Alva, it might require at least three years to complete the work. He said that in the first phase, the team are gathering Tulu words mentioned in dictionaries.
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President of the academy M. Janaki Brahmavar said that Nitte University would sponsor the cost of the project for one year. The academy would sponsor the cost for two years.
She said that as the Jnati Padakosha would study the variations of a Tulu word in other languages it would be an interesting study.
Registrar of the academy K. Chandrahasa Rai has said that the academy has reserved Rs. 10 lakh for the project.
Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy, Nitte varsity to bear the cost
Team will find words in seven other languages