A new scholarly work titled A Descriptive Grammar of Ollari Gadaba has been published by Lincom Europa (Volume 518 in the Languages of the World/Materials series). The book is authored by Dr. Mendem Bapuji, one of University of Hyderabad (UoH) alumnus, at present working as Assistant Professor at the Linguistic Research Unit, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, and Prof. Panchanan Mohanty, former faculty member of the Centre for Applied Linguistics and Translation Studies, UoH currently serving as Honorary Professor at MANUU, Hyderabad. Dr. Mendem Bapuji, received M.Phil. (2008–2010) and Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics (2010–2019) from the UoH.
Dr. Mendem Bapuji
This book presents a comprehensive grammatical analysis of Ollari Gadaba, an under-resourced Central Dravidian language spoken by less than 10,000 speakers in the Koraput district of Odisha. The grammar is based on thorough research done in the Pottangi, Semiliguda, and Nandapur blocks of Koraput district of Odisha, and it covers phonology, morphology, basic syntax, and convergence features of the language. In addition, the authors also explored the ethno-linguistic contexts of the Ollari Gadaba community and provided insights into how Munda and Indo-Aryan languages have influenced Ollari Gadaba.
Abstract:
Ollari Gadaba is a Central Dravidian language and has less than ten thousand native speakers. The language has various other names such as Gadaba, San Gadaba, Sanᴐ Gadaba, Pottangi Ollar Gadaba, Ollaro, Hallari, Allar, and Hollar Gadaba. There is another Gadaba language called Gutob Gadaba that belongs to the Munda family of languages. Speakers of both Ollari Gadaba and Gutob Gadaba are similar in culture but different in linguistic affiliation. As a result, both the languages are categorized under a common or generic name prevalent in the respective areas.
The present work mainly focuses on the aspects of phonology, morphology, basic syntax and convergence features of Ollari Gadaba. It also highlights the ethno-linguistic background of the language and discusses the convergence features i.e. how Munda and Indo-Aryan languages have influenced this language at various levels. The grammar is based on the field data collected from the native speakers of Pottangi, Semiliguda and Nandapur blocks of the Koraput district. Due to the influence of Odia the official language of the Odisha State, this language has lost many lexical items and grammatical features and this is dealt with detailed and ample examples.
This book is a valuable contribution to the documentation and preservation of India’s rich linguistic diversity, especially in the context of smaller and marginalised languages.
Title: A Descriptive Grammar of Ollari Gadaba
Publisher: Lincom Europa Year of Publication: 2025
Series: Languages of the World/Materials, Volume 518
ISBN: 9783969390740