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Abujhmaria is a dialect of Gondi and it belongs to the Central Dravidian sub-group of the Dravidian language family. A comparative study of the imprtant features of phonology and morphology of Abujhmaria with its sister languages is attempted in
the following pages. This comparison brings out the relationship that Abujhmaria holds to its sister languages of the Dravidian family and at the same time brings out its closeness with other central Dravidian lanaguages as well.
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| Phonology |
| Vowels: |
| a < *a |
Maria, akka: elder sister; Ma. akka; Ko. akn; To. okn, okok; Ka. akka; Ko . akke, akke id. or female parallel cousin; Tu. akka id. or elderly woman; Te. akka; Go. takka: (DED. 24); Mu. akka husband’s elder sister (CVGD. 32).
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Maria. kan. eye; Ta. ka ; Ma. kan, kanu; ko. kan; To kon; Tu. kannu; Te. kanu, kannu; kol. kan; Nk. kan; Ga (oll). ka, Go. kan; Kona, kan; kui kanu; kuvi kannu; kur. khann; Malt. qanu; Br. khan; Pe. kanga; Mana. kan (DED 973).
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Maria. han. to go. Following an initial e-, -a- alternates with -e- in SDr. Ta. cel; Ma. Celka; Tu. cellu; NK (ch). ser, sen/se. This can be compared with the forms of CDr. where -a- remains the same. Go han, hon; Pe. Ma´d. hal; Kui, sa; Kuvi. hal (DEDS. 2286).
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| Maria a: < *a: |
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Maria. a:k, a:ki, leaf; Ka. a:ku; Te.a:ku; Go-a:ki:; Kona. a:k; Kui. a:ku; Kuvi. akku; a:ku. cf. Ta. akai (DED. 284).
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Maria. pa:l milk; Ta. Ma. Ko. Ka. Kol. pa:l; Pa. pe:l. Ga (Oll. S). pa:l; Go. Kona. pa:l; Kui. pa:l, pa:du; Kuvi. pa:lu; Br. pa:lh Nk (Ch). pa:l; Pe. pa:l id. cf. Skt. pa:lana milk of a cow newly calved (DED. 3370).
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Maria in particular and all the CDr. in general and NDr. languages identify the reconstructed *a/*e nearly always with e:
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Ta. ña:nru time, day; Ma. ña:nnu day; Te.ñe:u today; Go. ne:n; Kona. ne:nru; Pe. ne:ciba:r; Man. ne:nj; Kui. ne:nju; Maria. ne:n today (See, Zvelebil p.45).
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Maria e: i she-goat; Ta. ya: she-goat; Ta. ya:u goat, sheep; Ma. a:·u id; Ko. a: id; Ka.Ko·. a:·u id; Te. e:ika, e:a ram; Go. e:i: she-goat; Kui. o:a goat; Kur. e:a: she-goat; Malt. ee id; Br. he: (DED 4229).
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PDr. ya: > e in most of the CDr languages as well as in Maria.
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Maria. iye:n this year; Ta. ya:u year; Ma. a:nu; Ka. e:u; Kol. i:e: this year; Nk. iyer id; Pa. iya id; Ga (Oll). iya:n id; Go. iyen; (DED. 4230).
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Maria. e:mul tortoise; Ta. ya:mai, a:mai; Ma. a:ma; Ko. e:m(b); Ka. a:me; Ko. a:me; Go. hemul; Kui. se:mbi.
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