I furnish a small SCIT below, which has (upto 90%), several Ganajam-Visakha
ma'mDaliika words. That Telugu is approaching extinction. In my opinion
(confined to me and my friend only at this stage, here), Ganjam-Visakha
Telugu has to be preserved. That is the species needs protection and
preservation. That Telugu is Endangered (an example that I can show here
and someone may come up with another ma'mDaliikam that is endangered).
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TELUGU OF EAST OF ANDHRA
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GANJAM - VISAKHA
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How many of us have an opportunity to visit Sri Ganesh Patro's works
(plays) such as a'gnaDi koncem a'lOcincanDi and pa'vala'? The nectar of Telugu
of Ganjam-Visakha oozes away in these plays. If one has not read Ganesh
Patro's plays, it is time for them to do so. What a creativity in a natural
scenario that Ganesh Patro had offered! The lovers of Telugu, Telugu
literature, and linguistics are indebted to Ganesh Patro for ever.
This essay contains several examples of the Telugu spoken in Ganjam,
Srikakulam, and Visakha areas. Some of them contain a touch of humor. One
should read it in RIT (Thanks! Kanneganti and Ananda Kishore!). Andhras who
are proud of their own regional forms of Telugu should dust off their
ingnorance once again and be a bit open-minded. They should accept that a
language has variations and such variations enrich the language in return. The
Telugu of Ganjam-Visakha has its nerves connected to the Kalinga rule and
culture. If one recalls the history of Andhra and Telugu language it is clear
that a tribe of Andhras migrated to the Kalinga kingdom and settled there. The
present Andhra societies (some atleast) inhabiting Ganjam, Srikakulam,
Vizianagaram, Koraput, and Visakha regions have their origins from such
tribe(s). There is nothing wrong with their Telugu at all and it is 100%
Telugu.
EXAMPLE #1 : TRAVEL BY BUS:
--------------------------
In any region, if one travels by bus or train, it is definite that he or
she will come across a broad spectrum of cultures (a cross section of the
society of a geographical fragment). From Berhampur (Orissa) on wards upto
Waltair, if one travels by bus (especially privately owned), several examples
of Ganjam-Visakha Telugu usage can be noticed and enjoyed (if that person
admires variations of Telugu). The privately-run bus has a driver, conductor,
cleaner, and checker. The company employes a head-checker who holds surprise
checks to stop corruption by the on-line employees. Usually these buses are
packed beyond the legal capacity. The conductor collects money and he lets the
passengers travel (some times with out a proper ticket). The passengers stand
up in the middle of the road on a no man's land to stop the bus. He/she thinks
that the bus is owned by him/her. Once, the cleaner, hanging on the foot board
identifies a person stretching his/her arm at full length, he shouts
"a'pa'lii". The conversation then continues as the following.
cleaner: a'pa'lii! a'panDii draivarii!
(The cleaner slams on the body of the bus very hard. There is no
bell or buzzer. Often these buses do not have the doors.
They are naturally air-conditioned. The driver is already exhausted
and disguested. He is in his own world. He slowly stops the bus
opposite to a rural pan shop (kiLLii koTTu or kiLLii baDDi. A bunch
of passengers try to get in to the bus by squeezing each other, with
their 3 feet diameter baskets and blazing cigars (reverse also :
aDDa poga).
conductor: vunDamDamma'! ETa' tondara? ETi? miiku imgita gEnam lEdETi?
paDDalla'gekkEnDamma'! mundu DabbivamDamma'!
Oi na'yuDoo! suTTarpavOy! Cha! kaDupula tiragatandi Oi.
a'DagunTalu kakki na' bassanta' kara'bu sEsta'rayya'!
(na'yuDu : Any rural man is addressed this way in this region.
suTTa = cuTTa, cigar
ETi = EmiTi
gunTa & gunTaDu = is common usage.)
The conductor approaches the guy and asks for money.
ETi? enda'ka TikeTTu?
Traveller Guy: benDigETu ka'Diki.
conductor: roopa'innara ilagiyyi.
The traveller gives the conducto a small paper ball.
conductor: ETidi? (unfolds it and notices that it is a rupee note.)
ETi vOyi na'yuDu? anaka'palli bellamda'ni la'ga nOTu unDalu
sEsEsina'vu. roopa'innara ba'boo!
Traveller: na'ka'Da roopa'innara lEdanDi kanDakTarii. roopa'i sEsukOnDi.
(ka'Da = daggara)
conductor: (Gets very mad.)
orE sima'salam! (The cleaner's name is Simhachalam.)
a' Draivariini bassa'pamanra'!
ETii guDiseTTu bEram?
(guDiseTTu is a commonly used curse word in this region.
Simhachalam (sima'salam) is a frequently encountered name.)
The driver stops the bus again.
conductor: diguvOyi na'yuDu.
Traveller: ETanDii a' jabardastii? ETi? enduku diga'la? Dabbiccina'nu
kadanDii. nuvvETi nannu bassekkaniivu?
(jabardastii = by force)
conductor: (furious)
diguvOyi mundu. ETi mii ta'taga'ri banDanukunna'va idi?
roopa'innara TikeTTuki roopa'i ista'Du sooDamDi (looks at other
travellers).
Traveller: (still cool)
EmamDii kanDakTarii? mii ta'taga'ri banDi ka'damDii idi.
pallakOnDii. marii ra'jarikam sEstunna'vu.
ata'rTii ekkuvaipOna'di iiDiki.
(kanDakTarii = conductor.
pallakOnDi = ma'Tla'DakanDi
ata'rTii = authority)
conductor: na'yuDoo! burratirgu taggincuvOyi.
pallakOni digu. idETi koorla bEramanukunna'va?
bErama'Dutunna'Du (Looks at others and shouts again.)
In the mean time the guy bargaining for the price slowly makes his
way to the middle, finds a place and squeezes in the middle and
makes himself comfortable. Slowly he takes out a home-made cigar
(suTTa) and holds it between his lips. The conductor goes towards
him and bursts out in anger.
conductor: suTTa'puvOyi na'yuDu. TikeTTu konalEni sompuki suTTokaTi.
akkilnEni na'kEsvarra'vu la'ga.
evaDanDii ii rankumoguDu?
orE sima'salam! iTuka'si pa'rra'ra'!
ii na'yuDu ga'rini dimpura' iiruDa'!
(iTuka'si = ii vaipu
pa'rra'ra' = ra'ra')
The checker relaxes in his allocated seat in the last row reading a
cheap adult magazine (in Telugu). Now and then he would discuss
the contents with a passenger friend near by. The cleaner shouts
for the checker's help.
cleaner: sekkaruga'roo! iiraBadruDuga'roo! ra'yanDii! bEki pa'rra'yanDii!
pa'sinjaru na'yuDu lOpela gandika sEstunna'Du. kanDakTarii
ka'kettipOna'Du. a' pa'sinjErni dinsa'la. bOsiDiikElandaroo
ekkaDamE ii banDi.
(sekkaru = checker
bEki = vEgam
gandika = goDava
ka'ka = vEDi
bOsiDiikE = curse word)
The cleaner gets down, goes to the back door and brings out a huge
wooden block and drops it in front of the back wheels. The
checker and cleaner together try to evict the passenger who gives
trouble to the conductor. At the same time several passengers out
side are waiting to embark the bus at that stop. Most of them are
women with fish baskets. They take this golden opportunity and
squeeze in to the bus with their baskets. The whole bus now
stinks like fish.
conductor: orE sima'salam! ETira'? tongunna'va'? nii biipii
aNa'roTTaipOgaldu. ii na'yuDni dimpara' ani aristE
maccakannelammalandarnii ekkinsEsina'vura'.
ETira' pa'vala' bEDa nokkEstunna'va' na' enaka?
(tongunna'va' = paDukunna'va'
biipi = viipu
aNaroTTi = aNa roTTi
maccakannelammalu = matsyakannelu)
The driver stops the engine, goes down, and sits on the road side
and starts enjoying a beedi.
conductor: ETanDii draivarii? apEsina'ra' injanii?
pEka'TlO tirna'dha mELa anDii idi.
amma'! maccakanneloo! diganDamma'. banDila ja'ga' lEdu.
na' ramkumoguDu bEkinspecTaru soosina'DanTe na'ku ka'ryam
sEsEsta'Damma'. digamDamma'!
(drivarii = driver
injanii = engine
bEkinspeTaru = break inspector
ka'ryam = SOBanam
tirna'dha mELa = Worshiping Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheswara on
Sunday evenings. This is only seen in these regions.
Marijuana and beediis are offered to the Gods.)
The conductor approaches one fisherwoman:
conductor: ETamma'? ETii gandika? miikka'dETi seppaDam?
Enaka banDekkamDamma'. mii peddalaki mokkuta'namma'.
fisherwoman: kE kE kE. (with cigar (aDDa poga) in her mouth)
kiikuhuhalli. hoohu hOhulE ha ha'.
(aETETE! siipurupalli. mooDu kOsulE gada'.)
(With cigar in mouth (aDDa poga) - You have to be an expert to
understand their language.)
conductor: ETii ardamavadamma'. a' suTTa singa'rama'pu.
The fisherwoman removes the cigar from her mouth.
fisherwoman: ETi ba'boo kanDakTarii? marii ii poddu giirva'NamekkuvaipOna'di.
mooDu kOsulu payana'niki buDiki na'To aDinsEttunna'vu.
(giirva'Nam = burra tirugu
buDiki na'To = a rural orissa dance)
The whole act goes for about an hour and half. Passengers lose
their patience. One cultured passenger shouts at the top of his
voice.
cultured passenger: EmiTOy kanDakTaroo? EmiTii goDava?
mammalni ma' vooLLaki veLLanivvava'?
ikkaDE ka'puram peTTinaTlundi.
adhikaprasangam ekkuvaipOyindOy niiku.
mundu bassu kadalcu.
mii ishTam vaccinaTTu ra'jyam Eltunna'rOy.
araganTa nuncii coostunna'nu ii ra'dhdha'ntam.
The conductor gives up. He lets the passengers continue the
journey.
conductor: orE sima'salam! ii taTTa Ta'pii miideyyira'.
manci lanDacOrii bisinessEnaDii.
a' draivariini injanii sTa'rTu seyyamani mokkara' iiruDa'!
(lanDa'cOrii = slang)
(Ta'pii = top)
The cleaner informs the driver to start and continue the travel.
The driver is in deep meditation. He grabs a masala pan, chews it,
spits all over the dark-red ka'cu saliva and starts the bus.
cleaner: rai rai! (slams on the wall once again)
The exhaust pipe spits thick black and pungent smoke. Dust raises
in the air. The bus again travels at 5 mph.
---------------PALANA
N.B. Next one on more examples.
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POSTED TO NURTURE TELUGU CULTURE AND LANGUAGE IN THE NORTH AMERICA.
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PARANANDI LAKSHMI NARASIMHAM
CAS
COLUMBUS
OH 43202
DISCLAIMER: Opinions expressed above are not those of the CAS.
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