| INTRODUCTION |
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| This dissertation
presents a description of Yerava based on Paniya Yerava
speech, following the Neo Bloomfieldian model. Another
and in all probability the only other, section of Yerava,
with adistinct speech of its own is Panjiri Yerava.
Both the sections of Yeravas are in Kodagu, Karnalaka.
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| The first chapter on Ethnography
has twelve sections in which the geographical description
of area where Yeravas are living, the groups and sub-groups
of Yerava, the name of the tribe, the origin and migration,
population and distribution, somatoscopic observations,
anll1Iopometric measurement, and racial affinity are described.
Thc family descent, kinship, thc naming pattern and material
culture like house, dress, daily routine, entertainment
are identified and described. In the section on life cycle,
birth, puberty, marriage and death are explained along
with some of the rituals connected with these ceremonies.
The final section of this chapter discusses language,
folk literature, bilingualism, literacy and communication
pattern among Yeravas. |
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The second
chapter on Phonology presents the phonemic
inventory of vowels, consonants and supra-segmentals
with phonemic contracts and their distribution; all
these contrasts and their distribution are illustrated.
The other part of thc chapter deals with Yerava phonolactics
which includes types of clusters and types of syllables.
In case of clusters, bolh identical and non-identical
clusters are classified and illustrated. The description
of Yerava syllable system presented here describes the
initial medial and final syllable types. The different
types of syllabic structure are explained willl examples.
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| The third chapter on Morphophonemics
givcs formule formulated and ordered to illustrate the
morphophonemic changes taking place while the morphs juxtapose.
Each formula is given a number. The same number is given
in parenthesis in the other parts of the thesis to enable
cross reference. |
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| The fourth chapter on Noun
Morphology is divided into ten sections. The first
section presents an outline of the general classification
of Yerava stems and the second section presents classification
of noun stems. The simple, derived and compound nouns
are described in the next three sections. The sixth section
deals with the inflection of nouns for gender and number.
Thc eighth section identifies the case markers, and the
eleven cases identified are illustrated. The ninth section
of this chapter describes personal and derived pronouns.
Thc last and the tenth section describes the cardinal
and ordinal numerals along with formation of numerals
of higher order and numeral stem alternants. |
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