Nearly 120 years after the publication of Ferdinand Kittel’s Kannada-English dictionary, a similar, but a more comprehensive one, is being brought out. While Kittel’s dictionary has over 60,000 words, the three-volume lexicon compiled by V. Krishna has approximately 1.6 lakh words.
The Kannada Sahitya Parishat will release it on Sunday at the Senate Hall.
A Commerce student, Mr. Krishna has worked with the Indian Agricultural Research Institute and corporate institutions, which have no connection with lexicography. Mr. Krishna, who is now working on a Kannada-Kannada Thesaurus, spoke to The Hindu .
How different is your work compared to the Kittel dictionary?
It is more comprehensive. It has meanings of Kannada words in English with diacritical marks which explain pronunciations. It has grammatical labels, explanatory meanings in English, Kannada phrases and idioms with English translations. The dictionary has more contemporary words, besides old, middle and modern Kannada words.
Considering your professional background, what made you opt for lexicography?
While working with IARI, I found it difficult to translate a few Kannada words into English. Institute director Narayan Keshav Barde asked me to refer to a Kannada-English dictionary. The love for words began in the 70s and turned into an obsession. I thought of compiling a small dictionary in 1980, but the picture grew larger over the next two years. It took almost thirty years to realise my dream of providing a possible alternative to Kittel dictionary.
Which dictionary model have you opted for?
I basically followed the Webster New World Dictionary model, besides referring to the Sanskrit-English dictionary by V.S. Apte, the Sanskrit-English etymological and philological dictionary by Sir Monier Williams, and the Kannada-Kannada-dictionary by the Kannada Sahitya Parishat.
It is learnt that you faced problems with publication?
There was cold response from various universities in the State and abroad. One State university, which showed interest initially, backed out later. It was at this juncture that Dr. C. Veeranna of the Kannada Sahitya Parishat decided to publish the work.
What are you working
on now?
Currently, I am working on a Kannada-Kannada thesaurus and concordance of words in Kumaravyasa Bharata. Seventy per cent of the work on the 1,200-page thesaurus is over and I am planning to release it by the end of 2016. Similarly, work on Kumaravyasa is halfway through.
