III. LANGUAGE VARIATION
Sambalpuri: A dialect of Oriya
According to Sir George Grierson’s The Linguistics Survey of India, there are no dialects of Oriya within its geographical area. However, Prof. Golokabihari Dhala and Dr. Kunjabihari Tripathi have pointed the dialects of Oriya. After Nineties, there has been a great deal of attempt to establish dialectal variations of Oriya to separate regions. This process has been successful in western Orissa, especially where Sambalpuri is spoken. These regions include Sambalpur, Balangir, Sundaragarh, Kalahandi, Subarnapur, Phulabani districts of Orissa and Phuljhar, Sarangagarh, Rayagarh, Bastara of Madhya Pradesh. Many more people who speak Sambalpuri emphasize it as their mother-tongue instead of Oriya.
Sambalpuri is also known as the language of Koshal region and is also called as Koshali language. Koshal region consists of several districts of western Orissa such as Sambalpur, Balangir, Sundaragarh, Kalahandi, Subarnapur, and Phulabani. Apart from these districts, Sambalpuri is also being used by the people of Keonjhar, Dhenkanala, some parts of Puri, and mostly among the several tribes of Orissa. Apart from these districts, some tribes such as Sahara, Binjhal, Bhuyan, Ganda use Sambalpuri for their communication.
So, whether Sambalpuri is an independent language or is it one of the most valuable dialects of Oriya is a debatable question.
Difference between the Sambalpuri and Oriya speech sounds
- In Oriya, @ /ɔ/ does not occur word finally rather it occurs in almost all the words. For example, aÐVç /ba:ʈ/ aÐV /ba:ʈɔ/ way, ALÐhç /a:ka:ś/ ALÐh /a:ka:śɔ/ sky, hhÊeç /śɔśur/ héhÊe /śwɔśurɔ/ father-in-law, etc.
- There is a decrease in the difference between _ /nɔ/ and Z /ɳɔ/. Z /ɳɔ/ is used in a very few number of Sambalpuri words. For example, L'Z /kɔ’ɳɔ/ LÐÜ /ka:ɱ/, eÐaZ /ra:bɔɳɔ/ eÐa_ç /ra:bɔn/, etc.
- There is also a decrease in the difference between m /lɔ/ and f /ɭɔ/. For example, in Sambalpuri LfÐ /kɔɭa:/ black is read as LmÐ /kɔla:/ black.
- Different kinds of pronunciations are found for XÏ /ṛ/ and YÏ /rh/ in Oriya. In other words, it can be said that there is a very less use of XÏ /ṛ/ and YÏ /rh/. So, from the above said points, it can be concluded that in Sambalpuri, there are not much use of flap sounds such as XÏ /ṛ/, YÏ /rh/, Z /ɳɔ/, f /ɭɔ/.
- Use of [ Ü ] Chandrabindu and loss of Nasal sound in a Sambalpuri word. For example, eÐÜ^çaÐ /ra:ɱdhba:/ to cook, hÊÜOçaÐ /śuɱghba:/ to smell, Ò[ÜÒ[mç /teɱtel/ tamarind, @Ü^Ðeç /ɔɱdha:r/ darkness, etc.
- The dental sounds in Oriya change to retroflex sounds before a retroflex. For example, VÊÜXÏç /ʈuɱṛ/ mouth, ÒVÜXÏÐ /ʈeɱṛa:/ stick used to fetch water from a well, WÜXÏÐ /ʈhɔɱṛa:/ cold, WÜVç /ʈhɔɱʈ/ fraud, etc.
- The B /i/ sounds (Oriya words of two letters) are changed to H /e/ (Sambalpuri words of three letters). For example, LÐHmç /ka:el/ yesterday/tomorrow, eÐH[ç /ra:et/ night, AHÜMç /a:eɱkh/ eye, etc. This formula also works for the Oriya words with three letters. In this case, it becomes Sambalpuri words of four letters. For example, cHjç_Ð /mɔesna:/ mat, LHmçSÐ /kɔeldƷa:/ liver, etc.
The aÞb¦Þ or the case markers in Sambalpuri are – (-ÒL) /-ke/ for First, Second, Fourth, (-\Þ) /-thi/ for Third, Seventh, (-_Ê) /-nu/ for Fifth, and (-e) /-rɔ/ for Sixth.
In Sambalpuri, there are three tenses, such as the Present tense, Past tense, and the Future tense. In Oriya, there is no sign for the Present tense where as in Sambalpuri, j /sɔ/ is the Present tense marker. For example,
cÊBÜ LeçjÞÜ /muiɱ kɔrsiɱ/ I do. ÒjcÐÒ_ Leçj_ç /sema:ne kɔrsɔn/ They do., etc.
Sambalpuri Words
According to the meanings, Sambalpuri words can be classified into three categories such as, (i) words which are same as Oriya, (ii) words which are slightly different from Oriya, and (iii) words which are totally different from Oriya.
cÐR /ma:tʃhɔ/ ↝ TÊeÞ /dƷhuri/ ↝ ‘ small fish’ LÊc÷Ñe /kumbhi:rɔ/ ↝ LÊc÷Ñe, cNe /kumbhi:rɔ/, /mɔgɔrɔ/ ↝ ‘crocodile’ HLÐ /eka:/ ↝ HLçmÐ /ekla:/ ↝ ‘alone’ _=fÐ /nɔŋgɔɭa:/ ↝ _ÜNçmÐ /nɔɱgla:/↝ ‘naked’ @¨ÞeÐ /ɔɳɖira:/ ↝ @ÜeçeÐ /ɔɱrra:/ ↝ ‘male’ ÒcÐVÊ /moʈu/ ↝ bÊjçLÐ /bhuska:/ ↝ ‘fat’ aÐO /ba:ghɔ/ ↝ aÐOç /ba:gh/↝ ’tiger’ DWÐZ /uʈha:ɳɔ/ ↝ DWÐ_ç /uʈha:n/ ↝ ‘uphill’ QYÐZ /tʃɔɖha:ɳɔ/ ↝ QYÐ_ç /tʃɔɖha:n/↝ ‘uphill’ RÐB /tʃha:i/ ↝ RÐHÜ /tʃha:eɱ/ ↝ ‘shade’ aN /bɔgɔ/ ↝ aÜLç /bɔɱk/ ↝ OÊiÊeÑ /ghuṣuri:/ ↝ OÊÜiçeÑ /ghuɱṣri:/ ↝ ‘pig’ ÒSÐL /dƷokɔ/ ↝ SÜMç /dƷɔɱkh/ ↝ jÐ` /sa:pɔ/ ↝ jÐÜ`ç /sa:ɱp/ ↝ ’snake’ OeQVÞA /ghɔrɔtʃɔʈia:/↝ QÜVÞA /tʃɔɱʈia:/ ↝ LÐM /ka:khɔ/ ↝ MÐÜL /kha:ɱk/ ↝ ‘armpit’ LÐh /ka:śɔ/ ↝ MÐÜj /kha:ɱs/ ↝ ‘cough’ ÒjLÐ /seka:/ ↝ ÒjÜLÐ /seɱka:/ ↝ ÒaL /bekɔ/ ↝ ÒaÜLç /beɱk/ ↝’neck’ QÞcÊVÐ /tʃimuʈa:/ ↝ QÞcçWÐ /tʃimʈha:/↝ cÐVÞ /ma:ʈi/ ↝ cÐHVç /ma:eʈ/ ↝ ’soil’ cʨ /muɳɖɔ/ ↝ cÊXç /muɖ/ ↝ ‘head’ Ò`V /peʈɔ/ ↝ Ò`Vç /peʈ/ ↝ ‘belly’ ]ЫÊeÐ /da:ntura:/ ↝ ]Ü[çeÐ /dɔɱtra:/ ↝ SÐkÐS /dƷa:ha:dƷɔ/ ↝ SkÐSç /dƷɔha:dƷ/ ↝ ’ship’ jÞ+ÐZÞ /sigha:ɳi/ ↝ jÞÜÒO_ç /siɱghen/ ↝ L]fÑ /kɔdɔɭi:/ ↝ LÒ]mç /kɔdel/ ↝ ’banana’ Ò[«ÊfÞ /tentuɭi/ ↝ Ò[ÜÒ[mç /teɱtel/ ↝ ’tamarind’ TÞ@ /dƷhiɔ/ ↝ VÊÒLmç /ʈukel/ ↝ ’girl’ `_ÞLÞ /pɔniki/ ↝ `_çMÞ /pɔnkhi/ ↝ ÒbÐÒNB /bhogei/ ↝ bÊNÐ /bhuga:/ ↝ ’basket’ LkÊZÑ /kɔhuɳi:/ ↝ Lkç_Þ /kɔhni/ ↝ ’elbow’ TÞVÞ`ÞVÞ /dƷhiʈipiʈi/ ↝ TÞVç`ÞVÞ /dƷhiʈpiʈi/ ↝ ’lizard’ `Ê@ /puɔ/ ↝ `ÞmÐ /pila:/ ↝ ‘male child’ `ÐDÜh /pa:uɱśɔ/ ↝ MÐe/MÐeç [kha:rɔ/kha:r]↝ ‘ash’ _ÞAÜ /nia:ɱ/ ↝ SÊB /dƷui/ ↝ ‘fire’ VÐLÊA /ʈa:kua:/ ↝ VÐÜLÊ /ʈa:ɱku/↝ ‘kernel of mango’ XÐf /ɖa:ɭɔ/ ↝ XÐkÞ /ɖa:hi/ ↝ ‘branch’ `ÞAS /pia:dƷɔ/ ↝ DmÞ/DHmç [uli/uel] ↝ ’onion’ R[Ê /tʃhɔtu/ ↝ R[Þ /tʃhɔti/ ↝ LÊA`\e /kua:pɔthɔrɔ/ ↝ LeÐ /kɔra:/ ↝ ’small snow’ a[Ðj /bɔta:sɔ/ ↝ ^ÊLÐ /dhuka:/ ↝ ’storm’ QÐLeÐZÑ /tʃa:kɔra:ɳi:/ ↝ _eÞH_ç /nɔrien/↝ ’maid-servant’ @_Ð\ /ɔna:thɔ/ ↝ VÊeÐ /ʈura:/ ↝ ’orphan’ M_Ð /khɔna:/ ↝ [Ê[çeÐ/[Ê[ÍÐ [tutra:/tutra:] ↝ `ÞÕ`ÊXÏÞ /piŋpuṛi/ ↝ QÐÜVÞ /tʃa:ɱʈi/ ↝ ‘ant’ AMÊ /a:khu/ ↝ LÊÒheç /kuśer/ ↝ ‘sugarcane’ TÐXÊ /dƷha:ṛu/ ↝ aÐeç_ÞÜ /ba:rniɱ/ ↝ ‘broom-stick’ aÞ}ÞaÐ /bintʃhiba:/ ↝ ^ÊLçaÐ /dhukba:/ ↝ RÞqÞaÐ /tʃhintʃiba:/ ↝ TÞÜVçaÐ /dƷhiɱʈba:/ ↝ ‘to sprinkle/shower’ `ÍZÐc /prɔɳa:mɔ/ ↝ SÊkÐeç /dƷuha:r/ ↝ ‘to show respect with a wish’ ]Ê^ /dudhɔ/ ↝ NÊejç /gurɔs/ ↝ ‘milk’ @ZJjÐeÞA /ɔɳɔosa:ria:/↝ jÐÜLÊeç /sa:ɱkur/ ↝ YÏÐ*ÞaÐ /rha:ŋkiba:/ ↝ YÐ`çaÐ /ɖha:pba:/↝ ‘to cover’ Ò`Ð[ÞaÐ /potiba:/ ↝ [Ê`çaÐ /tupba:/ ↝ ÒSÐ[Ð /dƷota:/ ↝ `ÜÒYÏB /pɔɱɖhei/ ↝ ‘shoe’ ÒmÒ&eÐ /lendƷhera:/ ↝ QÞ`çeÐ/QÞ`ÍÐ [tʃipra:/tʃipra:] ↝ _Þh /niśɔ/ ↝ ÒcRÐ /metʃa:/ ↝ ‘moustache’ hÊA /śua:/ ↝ eË` /ru:pɔ/ ↝ ‘parrot’ aÞmÊA /bilua:/ ↝ LÊmÞkÐ /kuliha:/ ↝ ‘boar’ `ÍSÐ`[Þ /prɔdƷa:pɔti/ ↝ `ÐVç`_ÞA /pa:ʈpɔnia:/ ↝ ‘butterfly’ `a_ /pɔbɔnɔ/ ↝ ^ÊLÐ /dhuka:/ ↝ ‘wind’ aÐ`Ð /ba:pa:/ ↝ aÊA /bua:/ ↝ ‘father’ ÒaÐkÊ /bohu/ ↝ ak /bɔhɔ/ ↝ ‘sister-in-law’ H¨Ê@ /eɳɖuɔ/ ↝ ÒVÜNçVÐ /ʈeɱgʈa:/↝ ‘chameleon’ hfÐ /śɔɭa:/ ↝ hmÐ /śɔla:/ ↝ ‘brother-in-law’ aÐf /ba:ɭɔ/ ↝ aÐmç /ba:l/ ↝ ‘hair’ kf]Ñ /hɔɭɔdi:/ ↝ kmç]Ñ /hɔldi:/ ↝ ’tamarind’ QÊVÑ /tʃuʈi:/ ↝ mÞVÞ /liʈi/ ↝ ÒSÐ[Ð /dƷota:/ ↝ `ÜÒYB /pɔɱɖhei/ ↝ ’shoe’ NÊeʨÞaÐ /guruɳɖiba:/ ↝ ÒOÜjçeÞaÐ /gheɱsriba:/ ↝ ’crawl’ `ÞSÊfÞ /pidƷuɭi/ ↝ cЯÐ/cÐSÐ [ma:ja:/ma:dƷa:] ↝ ’Jack fruit’ eÐ[Þ /ra:ti/ ↝ eÐH[ç /ra:et/ ↝ ’night’ LÐmÞ /ka:li/ ↝ LÐHmç /ka:el/ ↝ ‘tomorrow, yesterday’ jéÐcÑ /swa:mi:/ ↝ OB[Ð /ghɔita:/ ↝ ’husband’ ±Ñ /stri:/ ↝ L_ÞAÜ/L_ÞA [kɔnia:ɱ/kɔnia:] ↝ ‘wife, bride-groom’ @je`Ð /ɔsɔrɔpa:/ ↝ TÊeçmÐ/TÊmâÐ [dƷhurla:/dƷhulla:] ↝ ‘cockroach’ LÊeÐYÏÞ /kura:rhi/ ↝ LÊÒYÏeç/VÐ=ÞA [kuɖher/ʈa:ŋgia:] ↝ ‘axe’ ÒNXÏÐ /geṛa:/ ↝ aÐÜNÍÐ/aÐ=çeÐ [ba:ɱgra:/ba:ŋgra:] ↝ ‘dwarf’ aÊYÏÞAZÑ /burhia:ɳi:/ ↝ cLeçmÐ/cLXÏÐ [mɔkɔrla:/mɔkɔṛa:] ↝ ‘spider’ mÐ& /la:ndƷɔ/ ↝ Òm&ç/ÒmÜSç [lendƷ/leɱdƷ] ↝’ tail’ L[ÊeÑ /kɔturi:/ ↝ LHÜQÞ/LBÜQÞ [kɔeɱtʃi/kɔiɱtʃi] ↝ ’scissors’ ÒRÐV cÐR /tʃhoʈɔ ma:tʃhɔ/↝ TÊeÞ /dƷhuri/ ↝ ‘a kind of small fish’ L*XÏÐaÞRÐ /kɔŋkɔṛa:bitʃha:/↝ LÜVÞA /kɔɱʈia:/ ↝ JfÐBaÐ /oɭa:iba:/ ↝ a_çkÐaÐ/a_àÐaÐ [bɔnha:ba:/bɔrna:na:] ↝ ‘to sweep’ LÐcÞS /ka:midƷɔ/ ↝ LÊeç[Ð/LÊ[Ðà [kurta:/kurta:] ↝ ‘shirt’ ÒbÐSÞ /bhodƷi/ ↝ bÊSÞ /bhudƷi/ ↝ ‘feast’ ÒNÐVÞH /goʈie/ ↝ NÊÒV /guʈe/ ↝ ‘single’ cÊÜ dÞaÞ /dƷibi/ ↝ cÊBÜ dÞcÞ /dƷimi/ ↝ ‘I shall go’. cÊÜ MÐBaÞ /muɱ kha:ibi/ ↝ cÊBÜ MÐBcÞ /muiɱ kha:imi/ ↝ ‘I shall eat’. jÊ`ÐeÞ /supa:ri/ ↝ NÊA /gua:/ ↝ L`ÒfBaÐ /kɔpɔɭeiba:/ or ÒQÐaÐBaÐ /tʃoba:iba:/↝ L`çmÐaÐ /kɔpla:ba:/ ↝ ’to chew’ aYÞAf /bɔɖhia:ɭɔ/ ↝ aYmç /bɔɖhɔl/ or aÒYmç /bɔɖhel/ ↝ ‘custard apple’ NÐ¨Þ /ga:ɳɖi/ ↝ NÞS /gidƷɔ/ ↝ ’buttock’ [LÞA /tɔkia:/ ↝ cÊQçmÐ /mutʃla:/ or cÊQfÐ /mutʃɔɭa:/ ↝ ‘pillow’ ^fÐ /dhɔɭa:/ ↝ Ò^Ðaç /dhob/ ↝ ‘white’ jcém`ÊeÑ /sɔmwɔlɔpuri:/ ↝ jcmç`ÊeÑ /sɔmɔlpuri:/ ↝ ‘Sambalpuri’
| Case aÞb¦Þ jÕsÐ | Sambalpuri (jcém`ÊeÑ) Case-ending in singular | Sambalpuri (jcém`ÊeÑ) Case-ending in plural | aÞb¦Þ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative LrÊà | Null | H/e/, cÐÒ_/ma:ne/ | 1st `Í\cÐ |
| Accusative Lcà | ÒL /ke/, Ò* /ŋke/ | cÐ_ÒL /ma:nke/, cÐ_Ò* /ma:nŋke/ | 2nd ]Þé[ѯР|
| Instrumental LeZ | ]éÐeÐ /dwa:ra:/, Ò]B /dei/, Òe /re/, Ò]BLeÞ /deikɔri/, \Þ /thi/ | ]éÐeÐ /dwa:ra:/, Ò]B /dei/, Òe /re/, Ò]BLeÞ /deikɔri/, \Þ /thi/ | 3rd [ó[ѯР|
| Dative j>Í]Ð_ | ÒL /ke/, Ò* /ŋke/ | cÐ_ÒL /ma:nke/, cÐ_Ò* /ma:nŋke/ | 4th Q[Ê\àÑ |
| Ablative @`Ð]Ð_ eÊ | /ru/, D /u/, _ÊÜ /nuɱ/, WÐ_Ê /ʈha:nu/ | _ÊÜ /nuɱ/, WÐ_Ê /ʈha:nu/ | 5th `}cÑ |
| Genitive | e /rɔ/ | e /rɔ/ | 6th iºÑ |
| Locative @^ÞLeZ | Ò_ /ne/, WÐÒ_ /ʈha:ne/ | Ò_ /ne/, WÐÒ_ /ʈha:ne/ | 7th j©cÑ |
| Vocative | Òk /he/, H /e/, AÒe /a:re/, Òe /re/, kÒa /hɔbe/, ÒkÐ /ho/, kÒNÐ /hɔgo/, kÒaÐ /hɔbo/ | Òk /he/, H /e/, AÒe /a:re/, Òe /re/, ÒkÐ /ho/, kÒaÐ /hɔbo/ | jÒcÐé^_ |
Tense and Aspect in Sambalpuri
Present
cÊBÜ MÐBjÞÜ Ð muiɱ kha:isiɱ ‘I eat’ cÊBÜ MÐDÒRÜ Ð muiɱ kha:utʃheɱ ‘I am eating’ cÊBÜ MÐBÒRÜ Ð muiɱ kha:itʃheɱ ‘I have eaten’ cÊBÜ MÐBAjÊÒRÜ Ð muiɱ kha:ia:sutʃheɱ ‘I have been eating’
Past
I ate. I was eating. I had eaten. I had been eating.
Future
I shall eat. I shall be eating. I should have eaten. I shall have been eating.
Certain Notable Features of Sambalpuri
1. Use of Copula Verb in the verb phrase is one of the most important features in Sambalpuri. For example,
BVÐ ÒcÐeç akÞ AH Ð HBVÐ ÒcÐ akÞ (@ÒV) Ð iʈa: mor bɔhi a:e eiʈa: mo bɔhi (ɔʈe) ‘This is my book’ ‘This is my book’
Here, AH /a:e/ is an example of @ªÞ-LÍޯРor copula verb. In Oriya, @ÒV /ɔʈe/ is not being used now-a-days. But in Sambalpuri, AH /a:e/ is still being used, though, one can also say the above sentence without the use of AH /a:e/.
2. Use of negatives in the verb phrases is another distinctive feature in Sambalpuri. For example,
cÊBÜ _ÐBÜ MÐHÜ Ð cÊÜ MÐH_Þ Ð muiɱ na:iɱ kha:eɱ muɱ kha:eni ‘I do not eat’ cÊBÜ _ÐBÜ LeÞ`ÐÒeÜ Ð cÊÜ LeÞ`ÐeÞaÞ_Þ Ð muiɱ na:iɱ kɔripa:reɱ muɱ kɔripa:ribini ‘I can not do’
Survey by Sir George Grierson and others
According to some of the authors/writers, the Sambalpuri dialect is the dialect (but the people who speak Sambalpuri claim it as their language or mothertongue) spoken in the Western part of Orissa such as Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Balangir, Sonepur, Phulbani, Kalahandi; and Phuljhar, Saranggarh, Rayagarh, Bastar of Chattisgarh. Koshali and Sambalpuri are one and the same. They stand for the same dialect, Oriya. The literature of this dialect is not so high. The condition of this dialect is pathetic. However, the language movement has taken a great pace. Many more local magazines have emerged with great public support. Along with these writings, audio-video pictures, music videos have been produced. The people of these regions are more interested in these kinds of entertainment than the standard Oriya audio, video, films. However, the quality of the songs and literature is not rich enough. Two other dialects such as Chattisgarhi and Baghelkhandi have native speakers of around 30 lakhs and 6 lakhs respectively.
The sweetness of Sambalpuri is decreasing to some extent in some of the parts/regions of Sambalpuri spoken districts of Orissa. Apart from this, Laria declares itself as a separate language. Some of the tribal languages like Oraom, Kisan, Munda, Mundari, Kolha, etc. claim themselves as non-Oriya.
However, speakers of Sahara, Binjhal, Bhuyan, Ganda, etc. also speak Sambalpuri. Whether Sambalpuri is to be called as a language of its own or can be termed as one of the most valuable dialect of Oriya is a debatable topic. Even Sambalpuri has many variations such as Sambalpuri spoken in Sambalpur, Sundaragarh, Patnagarh, Titilagarh. A close case study can be done on Sambalpuri and Laria. Both Sambalpuri and Laria have borrowed words from each other and this is the reason why there are a lot of similarities among these dialects/languages. Nevertheless, whatever the matter is – Sambalpuri can be regarded as one of the best example of a dialect of Oriya language.
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