40

CHAPTER I

PHONEWCS

41

1.0 PHONEMIC INVENTORY

The language of lv:alavedas has twenty four segmental

phonemes and nine supreasegmental phonerr.es. The segmental

phonerres are five vowels, eighteen consonants and one phoneme of

length. The suprasegwental phonemes include two junctures, four

pitch levels and three terrr.inals. The two junctures constitute open

juncture and close juncture. Pitch level discussed is low, mid,

high and extra high; the three terminals are rising, falling and

level.

The following phonemic inventory gives a clear view of the

phonological structure of the speech of Malavedas.

1.1 SEGt/'JENTAL PHONEMES

1.1.1 Vowels

High

Mid

Low

Front

i

e

Central

a

Back

u

o

1 . 2. 2 CONSONANTS

Labial Dental Alveolar Retroflex Palatal Velar

VI Vd VI Vd VI Vd VI Vd VI Vd VI Vd

Stop P t d R t c j k

- ~

Nasal m n n n N

Lateral I 1

Flap r

Continuant v y

fricative s

1.3 . Distribution of segmental phonemes

1. 3.1 Vowels

1.3.1.1 Short vowels

Initial ~edial Fin~l

Iii linnul ' today' Ikittil ' got' Ikatil 'to bite'

lei I ennui 'which day' Ikettil 'tied' Ikatel ' debt'

lal I annul 'that day' Ikattil 'a unit of weight' Ikatal 'shop'.to-w

101 I annul 'one' Ikottil 'struck'

lui luntul 'to push' Ikuttil 'child' Ikatul ' mustard'.

1. 3.1. 2 Long vowels:

liil

leel

liiRal

leelal

, bamboo'

'cardamom'

Ikiilul

Iteelul

'tar'

',scorpion'

ltiil

I peel

'fire'

, madness'

laal laalal ' workshop' Ikaalul ' leg' Ipaal ' mat'

1001 loolal I coconut leaf' Ikoolul 'stick' Ipool 'to go'

luul luuril 'to unwear (Past) I Ikuutul 'cage' IpuuI ' flower'.

1. 3. 2 Consonants

1.3.2.1 Short consonants

stops

Ipl Ipattil I dog' Ikappil ' pUlley' · ...

It I Itattil 'knocked' Ikattil ' knife' ·...Idl Itanu/ 'a month' /addu/ 'that' ·.../RI /Rootu/ 'road' /kaaRu/ 'car' ·.../t! /taaRu/ 'tar' /katti/ 'a un!t of measure' ·...

lei Icatti/ 'clay pot' /kacci/ ' straw' ·...../j/ /jaati/ 'nut meg' /kajju/ 'bite (past)'

Ikl Ikattil 'a unit of n:easure I Ipakkil ' insect'

Nasals

Iml Irr.alal 'hill' laamal ' tortoise' /D1araIr.1 'tree'

Inl Inaalul 'four' laanal ' elephant' lavanl 'he'

Inl lanai 'dam"

Inl /nae.nkel 'we' (Excl. )

~CJ1

Laterals

III IlooRil 'lorry' Ikallul ' stone'

III Ikallul 'toddy' lavall 'she'

Flap

Irl Irentul 'two' laral 'hip'

Continuants

Ivl Ivattil ' basket' Ikaavul 'worshipping place'

Iyl

lsi

yaattaRa

Fricative

Isaamil

, journey'

'God'

Ikaayul

Ipasal

, money'

I gUlf, I

1. 2. 3 Long consonants

Ippl Ikappil ' pulley'

Ittl Ikattil ' knife'

~

Iddl laddul 'that'en

IRRI IkaRRal 'a sheaf of cone'

Ittl Ikattil 'a unit of measurement'

Iccl Ipaccal 'green'

Ijjl Ikujjul ' drank'

Ikkl Ipakkil ' insect'

Imml lammal ' mother'

47

-c.- as~ Q)

~ as lotlotQ) '0

~ '0 fJl ~Q)

Q) r-l 0 '0 Q) ~ 0.~ "T"i ... 0 ;J .... as0 '0 fJl ... ... ~ c.

'-;JfJl

'- fJl

'- t;j as''- '- co ;J co'- '- ;J ;J ;;. ~~;J co r-l r-l • co§ § : ~ r-l • ;;. ~ ... .as co 0 0 co0 Q) ...:>I: ...:>I: u ...:>I: ...:>I:'- '- '- '- '- '- '-

'­c.oc.o'-

48

1.1. 3 Length

All vowels and consonants have length opposition. Length is

symbolized as /:/. Both/V:/and/C:/ are represented as

/VV/and/CC/respectively.

1. 2 CLASSIFICATION OF CONSONANTS

The consonant phonemes are classified according to the

manner and position of articulations.

1.2.1 Mmmer of articulation

Voiceless Voiced Total

Stops 6 2 8

Nasals 4 4

Laterals 2 2

Flap 1 1

Continuants 2 2

Fricative 1 1

Total 7 11 18

49

1.2.2 Position of articulation

Voiceless Voiced Total

Labial 1 2 3

Dental 1 2 3

Alveolar 2 2 4

Retroflex 1 2 3

Palatal 1 3 4

Velar 1 1

Total

1.4 ALLOPHONIC DISrnmUTION

1.4.1 Vowels

1. 4.1.1 Ii iii High front vowels

e. g. liril to sit

liiril I combed I

7 11 18

Iii [yi iiI]

[Yi] High front unrounded tense vocoid with an onglide of y

occurs ,dth or without length in the initial. position.

50

e. g. litil [yidi] , thunder'.liiml [yi: rw] 'larva of louse'

[i] High front unrounded tense vocoid occurs word finally

and \\ith length in the medial and final position.

e.g./kuttil [kut:i] 'stabbed'

lniilaml [ni:l:)m]' length'. .

Iraamatii [ra: mati: ] 'personal name (Ferr,.) (Voc.)'

[i] Lower high centralized vocoid with slight retroflection

occurs medially before a retroflex consonant·

e. g. Ikilil [kili] , bird'.

[I] Lower high front unrounded vocoid occurs elsewhere.

I aanil [a :nI ] ,nail '.

Ivikkul [vlk: UI] 'stammering'

1.4.1.2 Ie ·eel mid front vov.'els

e.g./ellul 'bone'

leelul 'seven'.

le/ lye e E]

51

[ye] High mid front unrounded tense vocoid with an onglide

of y occurs with or without length in the initial position.

e. g. I elil [I' ell ] , rat'

leenil [ye: nIl 'ladder'

[e] High wid front unrounded tense vocoid occurs with or

without length in the initial syllable and with length in the medial

and final posi tion.

e. g. IceR€/ [ceRe] 'bund I

Iveelil [v e: 11] , fence I

Inalleel [nal:e:] 'personal name (Fern.) (voc.)'

[E] Mid front unl'::rounded vocoid occurs elsewhere.

e.g. Inellul [nEl:tO] 'paddy'

1. 4.1. 3 la aal low central vowels

la!iI 'to beat'

laatil 'swing'.

lal [a a a ,,]

[a] Low central unrounded vocoid occurs with or without

length in the initial position.

e. g. lantal [ant~] 'father'

laanal [a:n~] 'elephant'

52

[a] Lov.er mid central unrounded vocoid occur without

length in the medial position except after a velar consonant.

e.g. Ikatalul [ke0~lm] 'sea'

Itatil [ t <\lI 'wood'

['Q] Low back unrounded vocoid occurs with or without

length after a velar consonant.

e.g. Ikaalul [ke:l ill

IkaRil [k e RY]

'leg'

'dish'

[1\] Lower mid back unrounded vocoid occurs elsewhere.

e.g. Ipaal [pA:] 'mat'

Ipantul [p /\ nt !U] , ball'

lanai rAn 1\] , dam'. .1.4.1.4 10 001 Mid rounded back vowels

e. g. lotal 'to break'.

lootal ' canal'.

101 [ ~ 0 0

[~] Higher mid back rounded tense vocoid with an onglide

of w occurs in the initial position with or without length.

e. g. /oralu/ [~ra1 fll

53

, mortar'

/oola/w

[0 : 1 a] 'coconut leaf'

[0] Lower mid back rounded vocoid occurs non in!tially

with length.

e.g. /toolu/ [to: 1 fll] 'shoulder'. .[0] Lower mid back rounded vocoid occurs elsewhere.

/kote/ [k otE] 'urnbrella'.

1. 4.1. 5 /u uu/ High back rounded vowels

e. g. /utu/ 'to wear'

/uutu/ 'to blow 1

/u/ [ rr U m i U ]

[w ] High back rounded tense' vocoid with an onglide ofu

w occurs with or without length in the initial position.

e. g. /uRi/ [n'RI] 'a rope suspended from a bean: to

keep vessels'

/uuncaalu/ [w :nca : I w] , swing'u

[U] Centralized unrounded high back lax vocoid occurs

without length after palatal consonant.

e.g. /pijju/ [pij:U] 'caught'

/aayutam/ [ B: yUdam] I weapon'

[UJ.] High back rounded tense vocoid occurs in the first

syllable when preceeded by an onset and with length in all non-

ini tial environment.

54

e. g. /rr.untu/ [munD1UJ 'dhoti'

/kaaRRu/ [ka: R:~ '\\lind'

[u] High back unrounded lax vocoid occurs elsewhere.

/rnuukku/ [rr,u: k: w.] 'nose'

/tuni/ [tunI] 'cloth'

1.4.2 Consonants

1.4.2.1 /p/ Bilabial voiceless stop

e. g. /pattarn/ 'kite'

/p/ [b B P]

[b] Bilabial voiced fricative occurs without length in the

intervocal position and in -rnpr- cluster.

e.g. /paapi/ [p",,:bI] 'sinner'

/tarr.praan/ [tarnbra:n] 'land lord'

[ E] Bilabial voiced stop \\ith an onset of heavy voicing

occurs after homorganic nasal.

e.g. /kampu/ [kamB '1I ] , stick'

[ p] Bilabial voiceless stop occurs elsewhere.

e.g. /pacca/ [p e c:a] 'green'

55

Ikappil [k e p: I] 'pulley'

Ikapaml [kapam ] , phlegm'

1. 4.2.2 It dl Dental voiceless and voiced stops

lattil 'figtree'

laddul 'that'

It I [d D t]

[ d] Half voiced dental stop occurs without length in the

intervocal position.

e.g. Ikutirel [kUdlrE] 'horse'

[t] Dental voiced stop with an onset of heavy voicing

which trials off toward the end of the stop occurs after a dental

nasal.

e.g. Ivantul [vent 1\] 'came'

[t] IDental voiceless stop occurs elsewhere.

e. g. Italal [t ala 'head'

Itattal [t at: a] , parrot' .

/d/ [d]

[d] Dental voiced stop occurs elsewhere.

56

laddul [e d: 1lI] 'that'

laat.yaml [a:dyam] 'first'

1.4.2.3 IRI Alveolar voiceless stop

IR RRI

e. g. IkaRal 'stain'

IkaRRal 'a sheaf of corn'

IRI [E t R]

[d] Alveolar voiced stop occurs after an alveolar nasal.

e.g. lenRel [end a] 'mine'

[.!] Alveolar voiceless slightly aspirated stop occurs with

length.

e.g. IkaaRRul [k: e !: 1II] 'wind'

[R] Alveolar drill occurs elsewhere

e.g. lavaRI [avaR] 'they'

IkaRil [k a RI] 'dish'

1. 4. 2. 3 It I Refroflex voiceless stop

It ttl.

57

e. g. Ikota/' umbrella'.I kottal ' basket'

It I [D d t]

[D] Voiced retroflex stop with an : onset of heavy voicing

occurs after retroflex nasal.

e. R. Ipantul [p enD w] 'long ago'.. .

[d] voiced retroflex stop with a short duration occurs

intervocalically.

e.g. Ikatil [k e dI] 'to bite'

Ivatil [v e dI] , stick'

[t] voiceless retroflex stop occurs elsewhere.

e. g. IkaUal [k e t: a] 'brick'

ltikkaRRul [Uk: a R ;n ] , ticket'.

1.4.2.5 Ic jl palatal voiceless and voiced stops.

Icoraml 'tunnel'

IjoRaml 'fever'

Icl [2 J C]

58

[c] Palatal slightly voiced affricate occurs word initially.

e.g. /caavu/ "[ca: v UI] 'corpse'

[J] Palatal voiced affricate with an onset of heavy

voicing which trails off at the end occurs after a palatal nasal.

e. g. / ancu/ [e nJ UI] , five'

[c] palatal voiceless fortis affricate occurs elsewhere

e.g. /pacca/ [pcC:a] 'green'

/cakRam/ [CakRam] 'wheel'

/j/ [J j]

[J] Palatal voiced affricate with an onset of heavy voicing

occurs after a palatal nasal.

e.g. /karci/ [kanJI] 'rice'

[j] Palatal voiced affricate occurs elsewhere.

/pijju/ [pIj: U] 'caught'

/ jeyilu/ [j a yU lD ] , jail '

1. 4.2. 6 /k/ velar voiceless sto p

/kaalu/ ' leg'

/K/ [g G k]

59

[g] Velar half voiced stop occurs without length in the

inter vocal position and without length word initially.

e. g. Ipakalul [p a g a '1 1lI] 'day time'

I goolil [go :II ] , hus band'

[ G] Velar voiced stop with an onset of heavy voicing

occurs after a dental nasal.

e. B. Ipankal [panGa] 'fan I

Iteenkal [t a :nGa] , coconut I

[k] Velar voiceless fortis stop occurs elsewhere.

Ikuural [kU:ra] 'hut'

Ikaakkal [ka:k:a] 'crow'

1.4.2.7

Iml Bilabial voiced nasal.

e.g. Imaraml 'tree'

[m] Bilabial nasal occurs initially and medially.

e.g. Imaamil [m a:mI] 'Mo's Br's Wi'

Isatyaml [sa ty~ m] 'truth'

Isamayaml [samay 9 m] 'time I

60

1. 4.2.7 Inl Dental velar nasal.

Inl [n n n]

e. g. Inattaml 'loss'

[n] Alveolar nasal occurs without length medially and

finally before enunciative vowel.

e.g. Itoonel [t () :n a] 'in abudance'

I maanul [ rna: n lll] , deer'

Iponnul [pO~:lD] 'gold'

[il] Velar nasal occurs medially only before velar stoP.

e.g. Iteenkal [t a :nGa] 'coconut'

[n] dental nasal occurs elsewhere.

lnaalul [na:lw. ] 'four'

Ipannalul [pan:alU] 'bad'

1.4.2.8 Inl voiced retroflex nasal

e. g. aani 'nail'

Inl [n].

[n] post - alveolar retroflex nasal occurs medially and.finally.

61

e.g. laniyaaranl [anIya:r a n] 'personal name (Maso)'. .

Ituunul [tU : nw] , pillar'

1. 4. 2. 8 1n.1 voiced palatalnasal

e. g. Ikancil

[n.] Pre-palatal nasal occurs initially and medially only

before a palatal stop.

e.8. naanke [n. at. :nGE] 'we (Excl.)1

Ipan.cil [p e njI] 'cotton'

1.4.2.9 [1] Voiced alveolar lateral.

e.8. aalu

III [1]

'banyan tree'

[ 1]· Alveolar lateral occurs initially and medially.

Ivalal [val a] 'net'

IlaaRil [1 1\ : RI] , lorry'

1.4.2.10 II I voiced retroflex lateral.e. g. laalul. 'man'

62

/1 [1]. ./1/ Retroflex lateral occurs in the rr.edial position.

e.g. /vala/ [va 1 a] 'bangle'

/kalli/ [k e 1: I] 'thief (Ferro.)'

1.4.2.11 /r/ voiced alveolar flap

e. g. /maram/

/r/ [r]

'tree'

[r] Alveolar flap occurs initially and medially.

e.g. /rentu/ [r and lll] 'two'

/maram/ [mar em] 'tree'

1. 4.2.12 /v / voiced labiodental continuant

e. g. /vaalu/

/v/ [w v]

'tail '

[ w] Bilabial voiced continuant occurs before back vowels.

e.g. /caavu/ [c e:w 1II] 'corpse'

[v] Labiodental continuant occurs elsewhere.

63

e.g. Iteyvaml [tEyv9 m] 'God'

Ivelal [va I a] 'price'

1.4.2.13 Iyl palatal voiced continuant.

e.g. Icaayal 'tea'

Iyl Iyl

[ y] palatal voiced continuant occurs initially and medially.

e. g. lyaattaRal [ya: t: aR J\

Ivayatul [vayatD] 'age'

1. 4.2.14 lsi Alveolar voiceless fricative

e. g. I aasal ' desire '

lsi [s s].[ s] occurs before t

Ikastaml [k a st am] , sorry'

, journey'

[s] Alveolor voiceless fricative occurs elsewhere.

Isaamil [sa: mI] 'God'

64

1. 4. 3 Length

There are two degrees of phoneIllic length opposition, 1. e.

short and long. This length opposition is found both for

vowels and consonants.

1.4.3.1 Short vowels:

Among short there are three degrees of phonetic durations

extra short, short and half long. Thus based on duration a

short vowel will have three allophones.

IV I [V V. V]

["yl vowel with an extra short duration occurs before a

long stop or before a consonant cluster whether first

rr>elJ1ber of the cluster is a stop.

e.g. luppul w[up: Ill] 'salt'

laddul [e d: 1lI ] 'that'

IkaRuppul [k e RUp: Ill] , black'

[v.] Half long vowel cccurs word finally

Imoottel [m8:ta] "bed bug'

[V] short vowel occurs elsewhere .

leH [yell] 'rat'

Ivalaml [Vel::,) 1J1] I manuare I

Imatil [rr.atl] 'lap'

65

1.4.3.2 Long vowels

All vowels have length opposition in all position except

the following conditions.

1. Word finally short 101 does not occur.

2. In monosyllabic word all final vowels are long °

Among long vowels there are two degrees of duration

ultralong and long.

IV: I [\i : V: ]

[V:] Long vowel with an ultra length occurs word finally with

pitch level.

eg. Iteevaniil [t a :Vani] 'personal name (Fern.] (Voc.)'• o.

laniyaarool [anIya:ro:] 'personal name (Masc.) (Voc.)'. .[V:] Long vowel occurs elsewhere.

eg: - Ivaavul [VA: v:.u] , dark moon'

ltiil [tI:]

1 •4 • 4 COJJSOD8ots

'fire'

Just like vowels, there are two degrees of phonemic

length; short and long for consonants also. The variation in

66

duration between a short and long consonant is lesser when

comparing the variation in duration between a long and short vowel.

The following consonants have length opposition medially.

1- All voiced and voiceless stops

2. All nasals except /n/ and /n/.3. The laterals/l/ and /1/

4. The continuant /v/ and /y/

5. The fricative /s/.

1.5. SUPRASEGMENTAL PHONEMES

The folloWing are the supraseg rrental phonemes in the

language of Malavedas.

Junctures:

1. / - / Open juncture

2. / + / Close juncture.

Pitch levels:

1. / 1 / Low

2. / 2 / Mid

3. / 3 / High

4. / 4 / Extra high

Terminals:

1- / i / Rising

2. / J- / Falling

3. / I / Level

67

1. 5 .1. J1BlCtures

Both junctures, open and close occur at the word boundary.

If an open juncture occurs between two words, the initial voiceless

stop of the second word will be fricativized. If two words are

united by a close juncture, the word initial voiceless stop of the

second word will be lengthened. If the second word begins with a

non stop or with a vowel, it will have fortis and tense quality

respectively.

eg:- lamma - kuurekku pooyil

[am:a xu:rEk:w. p 0 :y1t]

'mother went to house'

lamma + kuurekku pooyil

[am:axu:rEk:uJ. p 0 :yI ~]

, (helshe) went to mother's house'.

I aana - kuttiyaanRil

[a: na xut : Iya :nRU!. .

'elephant is child'

68

laana + kuttiyaanRil.[a: nax: ut: ya :nRIJj.'it is child elephant'

Iku t ti + caakeddu/.

[/kut :I/ca: k: Ed:uJ,)

'the child took the 8lU1Dy bag'

Ikutti + caakeddul

[kut: Ie: a: k: Ed: u1-]

, (he) took the small gunny bag'

1. 5.2 Pitch levels

There are four degrees of phonemic pitch levels.

Following are the four degrees of pitch levels.

1. I 1 I Low

2. I 2 I Mid

3. I 3 I High

4. I 4 I Extra high

e8:- lninRe ~tla 11 '(this is) your father'

IninRe ~nYaii' your fattEr (is ......• )'

lninRe anta i I

69

(who is) 'your father

Pitch level I 4 I occurs with vocatives.

eg:- Iteevanii tl 'personal name (Fern.) Voc)'.

The pitch levels I 1 I and I 2 I have two .sub-members

each.

I 1 I [1~ 1

[1~] Occur before a non-final falling terminal which is

incom plete .

eg:- Iraamatiine ajju antal

'Father beat Raamati'.

[1] Occurs elsewhere.

eg:- Ipooyil

'(he) went'

I 2 I (2~ 2]

[ 2~] occurs in the utterence initial posi tion.

70

eg: - / avan vantu/

'he came'

[2] Occurs elsewhere.

/ marattikkeeRi/

'(he) climbed on the 'treE'

1. 5. 3 Terminals

1. / t / Rising

2. / -i, / Falling

3. / I / Level

1. 5. 4 Intonation

There are three types of significant com binations of the

pitch levels and terminals.

1. 5. 4.1. / • / It is characterised by a low pitch and a falling

terminal.

These are of three types.

71

1.5.4.1.1 I 2 1 t I occurs in· a single word utterence.

eg:- Iciriccul [cI~hIC:Ul~] 'laughed'

vantul [ve !!be~] ,came'

1. 5.4.1. 3 13 2 1 <l..cccurs in sentences ending in a finite verb.

eg: lavan marattikkeeRil

[av~l~m8 r 9 ¥:Ix:eJI ~]

1.5.4.21 I ? I High pitch level and rise in terminal.

The pitch level rise occurs with the interrogative markers such as

faal and I-iii. In the medial position a rise can be observed,.

These are of two types.

eg:- lennatukkaa pooyii?1

'Why did you go'.

1. 5.4. 2. 2 I 2 3 t I occur at the end of an utterence.

Ivarumii ?I

[varumI: l' ]

'did (you) come'

72

1.5.4.3 1.1 This is characterised by a mid pitch and a level

terminal in the middle of an utterence. The pitch pattern is 13 2 11

These are of three types.

1.5.4.3.1 I '-I With slight rise in the beginning and then trailing

off; occurs after the first word.

eg:- liiaanl katee pooyil

[iia:n "lk a d a

'I went to shop'

po:yI ~J

1.5.4.3.2 I l / Level and trailing off;

[ l Occurs with repetitive stretches,

eg: - /iiaanum avanum pooyil

~'I and he went '

1. 5. 4. 3. 3 I Z I Level trailing followed by a level occurs

elsewhere.

eg: - luRukunni pooyi cinima kantul.[uRukun: I po: yI Z cIniD1a k.;) ntU tJ.

73

'(he) went to Urukunnu and saw the film.'

1. 5. 5 Phrase intonation

It is considered as a combination of more than one word.

It is represented as

Phr: = \\ 1 + W2 ± W3 ± ••••••••••••••••

Phrase intonations are checked both in isolation and in

syntactic frames. In syntactic constructions, phrase intonations are

super imposed by sentence intonations, the pharases are examined

in isolation.

1. 5. 5.1 Geoera1 characteristics

1. 5.5.1.1. Em phatic constituent has the highest pitch level.

eg:- Inana plinal ' good child'..1. 5.5.1. 2 If Wi is a numeral or adjective and W2 is a noun then

the higher pitch level win be in the noun.

eg. I pa~ca pa~kil

In~alu paYyul

IO~U kall~1

'green insect'

'four cows'

'one thief'

74

1.5.5.1.3. All the constituents of a co-ordinate construction have

equal pitch levels.

eg:- IpatYiim pu~ceeml 'dog and cow'

A. There are three types of pitch level for the phrases which

have two word constituents.

1. ~1 + W2 occurs when

eg:- 10fu pU!lel

In~alu pa~YUI

2 3Inalla puuI

W is a numeral or adjective_1

'one child'

I four cows'

'good flower'

'red colour'

2. "'1 + "'2 occurs in co-ordinate constructions and when the

words are connected with 1-001.

,eg: - I tenoo paalool (is it) honey or milk'

3. W1 + \'\"2 occurs elsewhere

eg:- laRttappanal.

Ital~ mU!iI

'bride money'

'hair'

B. Phrases with three word constituents:

There are three types of pitch levels for the phrases

which have three word consti tuents.

75

1. \\'1 + W2

+ W3

occurs when W1

is a numeral adjective.

eg:- lo~u n~lla ptlllel.. 'one good child'

2. ~1 +*2 + ~3 occurs in co-ordinate constructions or when

w1 ' W2 and \\3 are connected by 1-00/..

'forty four'

/eleyoo puuvoo kaayoo/ ' leaf flower or fruit'

3. «1 + ~ 2 + ~3 occurs elsewhere.

eg:- /~lla paTutta pa~am/ ' a good ripe banana'.

1. 6. SYLLABLE

1.6.1. The basis of syllabification

1. Any vowel either long or short constitute the nucleus of

the syllable. So there are as many numbers of syllables in a \\lord

as there are vowels.

2. Any consonant or consonant clusters which can occuI' ¥Lord'

initially rr.ay be the onset of the word initial syllable. Word final

consonant form the coda of the last syllable.

76

3. The onset of the non initial syllable can be anyone of the

consonant with or without length or anyone of the following

clusters. If there are two or three consonants between vowels, the

first consonant goes with the preceeding vowel and the second (and

the third in the case of three member clusters) consonant goes with

the following vowel.

e.g. ta-Ia 'head'

cee - re 'rat snake'

nan - tu 'crab'

vraa - lu 'a type of fish'

muu - tta 'bed bug'

koy - ttu 'harvest'

1. 6. 2. Syllabic structure

In a syllable, both onset (0) and coda (C) are optional

and nucleus (N) is obligatory

S=±O+N±C

Anyone of the vowels long or short constitutes the nucleus

of a syllable.

N = V (V)

Anyone of the consonants or consonant clusters which occur

word initially forms the onset of the initial syllable.

C = C (C)

77

Anyone of the consonants ( with or without legth) or the

following consonant clusters can form the onset of a non-initial

syllable.

Anyone of the consonant can form the coda of a non final

syllable.

1. 6. 3. Syllabic pattmn

1.6.3.1. Monosyllabic words

Here there is only one syllable

CW

eg:- CVV tii 'fire'

1. 6. 3. 2. Multisyllabic words

1.6.3.2.1. Initial syllable

(C) C (V) (C)

e.g:- e - li . 'rat'

VV aa - na ' elephant

VC uy - ru . 'life'

CV ta - la 'head'

cw paa - lu 'milk'

CC VV vraa - lu 'a type of fish'

e.g:-

eve man - tRi

evve paam - pu

eeve Pley - RRu

eevve SRaam - pu

(e) ev (V ) ( e )

ev ka-vi-lu

evv vi-maa-nam

eevv vay-kk-oolu

eev ko-cca-mma

eve val-yan-ta

eeve kay-ttan-te

78

, minister'

'snake'

'procelain pIate '

, s~amp'

'cheeck'

, aeroplane'

, straw'

'step mother'

'father's elder brother'

, bangle'

1.6.3.2.3. Final syllable

(e) ev (V)

eg: ev ta-la

eev um-pRaa-ttl

eve ul-sa-vam

eevv aa-ttum-ktaa

'head'

, Fzhava' woman'

'festival'

'lamb'

79

1. 7. Clusters

Clusters may be analysed in two ways, the first part of

the consonant group may be assigned to the preceeding vowel and

the second part to the following vowel. There are vowel clusters

and consonant clusters. The vowel cluster is very few in this

language. Among consonants two consonant and three consonant

clusters are found in the speech of Malavedas. Two consonant

clusters occur initially and medially. The three consonant clusters

are found only medially. There is no cluster either consonant or

vowel in the final position. Since length is taken as phonemic, no

constant homogenous consonant cluster is possible.

1.7.1 Two consonant clusters.·

1. 7.1.1. Word initial

Of the eighteen consonants fifteen can occur word initially.

Each of the consonants has the potentiality to occur before all the

other seventeen consonants. So the possible number of initial two

consonant cluster is

15 x 17

Actual occurrence

= 245

= 10

The word initial two consonant clusters with their exampIes

are given belo w:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

pR-

pI

tl-

sn-

kl-

kR-

mR-

vr-

vy-

st-

80

/pRaayam/

/pleeRRu/

/tlaam/

/sneekam/

/klaassu/.

/kRisi/

/mRikam

/vraalu/

/vyaayam/

/stalam/

'age'

, plate'

'a month'

'love'

'class'

,agriculture '

'animal'

'a type of fish'

'thursday'

, place'

81

Classification of consonants based on initial two consonant

clusters

Total No.

Consonants which do not occur

in initial clusters: I d t j n iii

Consonants which occur only as

first member: Ic k m v sl

Consonants which occur only as

second mem ber in clusters:

IR I I n r yl

Consonants which occur both as

first and second member: Ip t/

Total

1. 7.1.2 Word medial two consonant clusters.

5

5

6

2

18=========

Word medial two consonant clusters are of three types.

1. Clusters in which both the members are short consonants.

2. Clusters in which the first member is a long consonant and the

second member is a short consonant.

82

3. Clusters in which the first member is a short consonant and

the second member is a long consonant.

These three types are treated separately.

The word medial two consonant clusters with their examples are

given below:

1. -pn- /sopnam/ 'dream'

2. -pR- /vepRaalam/ 'hurly-burly'

3. -ty- /satyam/ 'truth'

4. -tn- /retnam/ 'jewel'

5. -tR- /aayuutRi/ 'hospital'

6. -tl- /katla/ 'frame of door'

7. -tR- /atRassu/ 'address'

8. -cm- /lecJI1i/ 'a personal name'

9. -cy- /lecyam/ 'aim'

10. -kR- /cakRam/ 'wheel'

11. -mp- /kanempu/ 'a type of fish'.

12. -nt- /anta/ 'father'

83

13. -nR- liinRal 'date palm'

14. -nk- Ipenkall 'sister'.15. -nt- lantil 'seed'

16. -nc- Ikancil ' rice-gruel'

17. -ly- Ikalyaanaml 'marriage'.,

18. -vr- IkovriaRI 'a clan'

19. -yl- Imaylaattukuuttaml 'a clan'

20. -yr- ItayriaD11 'courage'

21. -st- Ikastaml 'sorry'

22. -sn- Ikasnaml ' piece'

Classification of consonants based on medial two-consonant

clusters.

TotalConsonant \\hi ch . do not occur in medialtv.o consonant clusters : Ijl

Consonants which occur both as first andsecond member: In R m p n t k c II.Consonants which occur only as firstmember In sl

Consonants which occur only as secondmember: II t rl

Total

1

9

2

3

B4

1.7.1.3 Medial two consonant clusters with long consonant as first

member.

e.g.

-ttR-

-ttR-

/naccettRam/

/kottRe/

, star'

, theatre'

1. 7.1.4 Medial two consonant clusters with long consonant assecond member.eg:-1. -lRR- /velRRu/ 'belt'

2. -ytt-

3. -Rmm-

4. -Rcc-

5. -ykk-

6. -stte-

7. -Rpp-

/kayttu/ 'neck I

/ooRwme/ I memory'

/tooRcce/ I torch I

/vaykkoolu/ I stra w'

/muustte/ 'bed bug'

/vesaRppu/ '6\\68t'

1. 7.2 Medial three consonant clusters

1. -ntR- /mantRi/ ' minister'

2. -mpl- /kampli/ ' blanket'

3. -yry- /tayryam/ 'courage'

4. -yvR- /tayvRu/ 'driver'

85

Classification of consonants based on medial three consonantclusters.

Totalnumber

Consonants \\ hich do not occur in medialthree consonant clusters: II t c j k n ii 1 sl 9

Consonant which occurs as first second andthird mem ber: Nil

Consonant which occur as first and thirdITiem ber IyI 1

Consonant which occurs as second and thirdmember; Nil

Consonants which occurs only as firstmember : Inml

Consonant swhich occur only as secondrrerr:ber : Itprv I

Consonants which occur only as thirdmem ber: IRII

Total

2

4

2

18=========

1.8 FUNCTIONAL LOAD OF SEGMENTAL PHONEMES

1. 8.1 Vowels and Consonants

Vowels

Consonants

47.679%

52.321%100 %

=========="

86

1. 8.1.1. Vowels

Functional load based on tongue height

High 17.192%

Low 16.238%

Mid 14.249%47.679%========

1.8.1.1.2. Functional load based on tongue advancerrent

Central

Front

Back

1.8.1.2. Consonants

19.192%

17.238%

11.249%

47.679%======

1.8.1.2.1. Functional load based on manner of articulation

Voiceless Voicedpercentage Total

Stop 18.239 7.467 27.706

Nasals 9.667 9.667

Laterals 5.476 5.476

Continuants 3.627 3.627

Flap 2.953 2.953

Fricative 2.324 2.324

Total 20.563 29.190 51.753

87

1. 8.1. 2.2. Functional load based on position of articulation

Voiceless VoicedPercentage Total

Alveolar 10.286 3.363 13.649

Labial 4.143 9.428 13.571

Retroflex 2.954 5.048 8.002

Velar 4.809 2.619 7.428

Palatal 2.857 2.762 5.619

Dental 2.286 1.328 3.614

Total 22.049 19.748 51.753

1. 8.3 Vowels

1.8.3.1 Among vowels the percentage of short and long vowels are

as follows:

Short vowels

Long vowels

65.731

34.269

100.00

========

88

1. 8.3. 2 Among short vo wels the percentage of each is given below:

S1. No. Short vowel Percentage

1 a 28.304

2 e 16.579

3 i 20.234

4 0 4.347

5 u 30.536

Total 100.00========

1. 8. 4 CODSOIl8Ilts

Among consonants theconsonants are as folIo ws:

Short consonantsLong consonants

percentage of short and long

68.42631. 574

100.000--------------

89

1. 8.4.2 Following are the percentage of each among the totaloccurrence of short consonants.

S1- No. Short consontant Percentage

1 p 7.321

2' t 5.371

3 d 1.175

4 R 4~405

5 t 4.817

6 c 6.638

7 j 2.256

8 k 12.384

9 0". 11. 238

10 n 6.753

11 n 3.258

- 1.39512 n

13 1 7.693

14 1 6.528

15 r 8.321

16 v 4.877

17 Y 2.195

18 s 3.465

Total 100========

90

1. 8.4.3 Follo wing are the percentage of each among the totaloccurrence of long consonants.

8l. No. Long consonants Percentage

1 pp 8.915

2 tt 8.318

3 dd 5.312

4 RR 5.315

5 tt 4.314

6 cc 7.315

7 jj 2.467

8 kk 22.413

9 mm 13.574

10 nn 4.255

11 nn 4.325

12 11 2.273

13 11 4.753

14 vv 5.253

15 yy 2.864

16 ss 7.354

Total 100======

91

Cluster

Following are the percentage of each consonant cluster

among the total num ber of consonant clusters.

61. No. Consonant cluster Percentage

1 tl 3.356

2 vr 4.958

3 vR 3.307

4 sR 3.865

5 cn 2.865

6 sk 2.226

7 pI 4.071

6 st 1.655

9 mR 1.644

10 pn 2.644.11 tn 0.644

12 ty 2.644

13 tl 2.223

14 cy 3.223

15 nt 1.113

16 nk 1.113

17 nt 1.723

92

18 -nc 3.226

19 tR 3.226

20 mp 2.864

21 tR 2.464

22 nR 3.,212

23 Is 1.134

24 t1 1.135

25 nb 1.642

26 ly 1.432

27 sn 1.546

28 sn 1.246

29 vr 1.123

30 yr 1.123

31 nd 1.846

32 ng 1.321

33 yl 1.214

34 Rl 2.315

35 st 1.145

36 sn 1.164

37 Rt 1.321

38 Ipp .866

39 ttR .846

40 lly 1.842

93

41 ykk 1.304

42 Rm~ 1.304

43 mkk 1.456

44 mpr 2.303

45 mRR .842

46 Rpp 2.123

1.9 PHONOTACTIS

In thi s section the distribution of segmental phonemes are

dealt with. The following principles are observed in the

distribution of segmental phonemes.

1. All vowels except 101 occur initially.medially and finally.

2. Short 101 never occurs in the word final position.

3. All consonants except I d n -.; occurs only rr.edially. They never

occur word initially.

4. All consonants can occur word medially .

5. All word final consonants except Iml have a strong tendency to

attract enunciative vowel Iw./. This makes many words vowel

ending. Only Iml have the tendency to come in the word final

position.

94

All phonemes and general references to the distri bution of each

phoneme is given below:

1.9.1 Vowels

Iii High front unrounded short vowel occurs initially

medially and finally.

liil High front unrounded long vowel occurs initially and

medially. The long vowel liil occurs in the final position only in

very few instances.

lei Mid front unrounded short vowel occurs initially

medially and finally.

leel Mid front unrounded long vowel occurs i~itial~y

medially and finally.

lal Low central unrounded short vowel occurs initially

n:edially and finally.

laal Long low central unrounded vowel occurs initially and

medially.

finally.

101 Mid back rounded short vowel occurs initally and

1001 Mid back rounded long vowel occurs initially medially

and finally.

lui High back unrounded short vowel occurs initially

medially and finally. \\ord finally it al ways has the tax:i:r:cy to

become enunciative vowel.

95

/uu/ High back unrounded long vowel occurs initially.

medially and finally.

The enunciative vowel /YJ.,/ in Malayalam is a mixed vowel

and interprets it as a central vowel. This vowel is an independent

phoneme and it is pronounced, as central high vowel in Northern

Kerala and as central mid vowel in Southern Kerala (Antony-

1972) .

1. 9.1. The distri bution of vo wels are 8iven with exam pIes in thefollowing chart.

Vowel Position of occurrence

Initial Medial Final

Initial Non-initialsyllable syllable

i 1 2 3 4

ii 5 6 7 8

e 9 10 11 12

ee 13 14 15 16

a 17 18 19 20

aa 21 22 23 24

0 25 26 27

00 28 29 30 31

u 32 33 34 35

uu 36 37 38 39

96

1 /inku/ 'here'

2 /kili/ ' bird'

3 /kulikk-/ 'to bath'

4 /kuRRa/ 'a kind of fish'

5 /iinta/ 'date palDl'

"6 /kiile/ 'below'

7 /puuttiissu ' shoes'

8 /tii/ 'fire'

9 /eDla/ 'eye lash'

10 /veralu/ 'finger' .

11 kotekappaala 'connessibark'

12 /enkine/ 'how'

13 /eeni/ 'ladder'

14 /geeRRu/ ' gate'

15 /sneekam/ ' love'

16 /toone/ 'a lot of'

97

17 /an.iyaaran/ 'personal name (MaseJ

18 /tale/ 'head'

19 /iruvatu/ 'twenty'

20 /anta/ ' father'

21 /aalle/ 'elephant'

22 /kaalu/ 'leg'

23 /kannaaran/ 'personal name (Mase~'

24 /ammaa/ 'mother (voe.) I

25 /oppu/ 'signature'

26 /kotu/ 'musquitto'

27 /eelappalu/ ' sometimes'.28 /oomaykka/ ' pappaya'

29 /toolu ' shoulder'

30 /kannoola/ 'personal name (Fem.) ,••

31 /kutttoo/ 'personal name (Voe.) I

32 /ueci/ 'top of head'

98

33 kurumaaru 'child'

34 kuttaat tukuuttarr I a clan'••35 kunnu ' hill'

36 uuru I settlerr,ent I

37 kuutu 'cage'

38 kuttaaattukuuttau. , a clan'

39 puu ' flower'

1.9.2 Consonants:

Ipl Bialabial voiceless unaspirated stop occurs initially and

rrJedially. The voiceless quality is maintained rriedially vdth length.

\\hen preceeded by homorganic n.asal it is voiced in two instances.

ItI Dental voiceless unaspirated stops occurs initially and

medially. The voiceless quality is n;aintained u.edially with length

and also \lJith clusters.

/dl Dental voiceD unaspirated stop occurs only medially. In

the \lJord initial position it bec~mes voiceless.

IRI Alveolar voiceless stop occurs ini Hally and medially.

Finally it often takes enunciative vo\\el.

It/ Retroflex voiceless stop occurs initially and medially •.¥With homorganic nasal it becorr;e voiced.

99

Icl Palatal voiceless unaspirated stop occurs initially and

medially. The voicel.ess quality is strictly maintained with len~th.

I jl Palatal voiced unaspirated stop occurs initially and

rr.edially.

Ikl voiceless velar unaspirated stop occurs initially and

~edially. The voiceless quality is rr.aintained with length. Ikl

becorr.e voiced \\ith homorganic nasal.

Iml Bilabial voiced nasal occurs initially. rr.edially and

finally.

Inl Dental voiced nasal occurs initially and medially.

Inl Retroflex voiced na'sal only occurs \\ord rr.edially •.

Inl Palatal voiced nasal occurs initially. ~edially it occurs with

clusters.

III The alveolar voiced lateral occurs enly word medially ~

100

III The retroflex lateral occurs. in the word medial

position. Finally it occurs before enunciative vowel.

Irl The alveolar voiced flap occurs initially. rr.edially and

finally. The word final Irl alternates between Irl and IR/.

Ivl The voiced contiunant occurs initially and medially.

The voiced quality is maintianed with length.

Iy I The palatal voiced continuant occurs word medially Q.nC/

,'",;e"-ctlfli •

lsi The alveclar voiced fricative occurs initially and

mEdially. \\ith clusters it becorr.E half voiced. The voiced quality is

~aintained \'with length also.

The follo\'wing chart show the distribution of short

consonants.

G /17/10

Consonant

p

t

d

R

t

C

j

k

n

n

-nr

1

1

v

y

s

Initial

1

3

R

6

8

10

12

14

16

19

22

24

26

26

29

31

33

Posi tion of OCCUm!1ce

Medial

2

4

5

7

9

11

13

15

17

20

21

23

25

27

72

30

32

34

Final

18

----------'----- ---

102

1- /paralu/ , a kind of fish'

2. /paapam/ 'sing'

3. /tenci/ 'bag'

4. /paati/ 'half'

5. /adde/ 'yes'

6. /RoottJJ/ 'road'

7. /muttRa/ 'urine'

8. /taaRu/ ' tar'

9. /kaatu ' forest'

10. /canku/ 'heart'

11- /tanci/ ' bag'

12. /jeyilu/ ' jail'

13. /ajju/ ' beat' (past)

14. /kaaccalu/ ' fever'

15. /inku/ 'here'

16. /maatam/ ' month'

103

17. /maaIri/ 'father's sister'

18. /maanam/ 'sky'

19. /naanke/ ' we' (Incl-)

20. /anta/ ' father'

21- /paanan/ ' tailor'.22. /naanke/ 'we' (Excl).

23. /panci/ ' cott,ro'

24. /raamati/ ' personal name' (Fern )

25. /rattiri/ 'night'

26. /laaRi/ 'lorry'

27. /tale/ 'head'

29. /vale/ 'net'

30. laval. -I ' she'•

31- /yaetRa/ ' journey'

32. /peyalJ1/ ' fruit'

33. /sicce/ ' punishment'

34. /aasa/ ' desire'

Long Consonant

104

Position of OCCUF$Ilce

Consonant Initial ~~edial Final

---- ---------------pp 1

tt 2

dd 3

RR 4

tt 5

cc 6

jj 7

kk 8

mm 9

nn 10

11 11

11 12

yy 13

vv 14

ss 15

105

1. / paa pamIlia/ 'personal name (Fe~')

2. /attaRa/ . 'that much'

3. /addu/ 'that'

4. /i tikkuRRi/ 'wooden digging stick '..

5. /paattu/ 'song'

6. /pacca/ 'green'

7. /ajju/ ' beaten'

8. /akkaci/ 'elder sister'

9. /arr.n:uttan/ 'father's father'

10. /enna/ 'oil '

11. /kallu/ ' stone'

12. /tulli/ 'drop'

13. /payyu/ 'coy. '

14. /puuttissu/ ' shoes'......15. /covva/ 'tuesday'