6

LW/M 104

KOI?AVA

LW/M 104

KOI?AVA

1.2. Vowels
1. Phonology
1.1. Consonants

Table 2: Vowel phonemes

plosive, unvoiced
voiced
nasal
lateral
fricative
continuative
approximants

bilabial
p
b
m

retroflex
t
Q
Q
J

dental
t
d
n
I
s

palatal
c [tf]
j[<i3]
fi [JI]

velar
k
g

r
v

The table shows only the native sounds. In loanwords from Sanskrit, Hindi or English we also
find sh UJ, f, h. The opposition dental : retroflex can be exemplified by minimal pairs like:
ponnY
kai!Y
oodmudi

'gold'
'stone'
'read'
'old'

poQQl
kaJJY
OOQmuQi

'woman'
'liquor'
'run'
'unripe'

Gemination is phonemic. Geminates occur only with short vowels.

'picture'
'below'
'play'

back
unrounded
rounded
l[w]
u
e [A]
o

front

Table 1: Consonant phonemes

patta
a(j.Qi
kaJJi

'coronation'
'obstacle'
'thief (f)'

Retroflex consonants and I, y do not occur initially in native words.2 The distribution of [JI] is
very restricted. Initially [JI] was found only in a handful of words (e.g. iiaaiJ.a 'shame').
Ungeminated [Jil occurs only in puuiii 'cat' (Garman 1973: 43). Medial geminated [JI] is quite
common (kuiiiii 'child', miiiiia 'before'). Velar [!]] and palatal [JI] as conditioned variants of /n/
are not marked in writing; i.e. aynga 'they' (and not: ayilga), -inja ABL (and not: -ifija).
Intervocalic 4 is pronounced [t]. In the sequence (j.Vt an unstressed vowel is usually elided,
e.g. koqati" ['bt~tm] -> ['bttm] 'gave (to 3rd)'.

close
mid
open

e
a

The Ko(j.ava back unrounded vowels presented a problem for us.3 The following presentation
owes a lot to Emeneau (1970) and Garman (1973).
Closed short vowels in medial unstressed position are centralized; /u/, /i/ and /i/ are then
almost indiscriminable: [11], [i], [m] respectively; cf.
adlnji
garu(j.a
kuQike

[adwfiqsi]
[gar~~ra]

[kG>(ikl

'from it'
'eagle'
'cooking pot'

/a/ is raised to [~] in this position, which for us was difficult to distinguish from e. Longe is
raised before a high vowel, coming sometimes close to 1:
keepi [kv:pi]
keepa [kA:pal

'I will ask'

The unrounded back vowels in medial position are conditioned by retroflex consonants. The
vowels i, e do not occur before a retroflex, where they became u, o after labials, i, e elsewhere.
Thus, the oppositions /i/ : /i/ and /e/ : /e/ do practically not exist in medial position, although
there are a few exceptions (mainly before r).4 The following pairs contrast !i/, /e/ with other
vowels:
ettr
kenr
neerkeeJY
.ldTda

'ox'
'bundle'
'come to view'
'ask!'
'below'

ettl
kat!I
neerkaaJY
kiitY

'arrive!'
'bedstead'
'hang'
'grain'
'tom piece'

ottl

'press!'

.ldTJY
kuuu

'lower'
'noise'

Final short u, a are rare as they changed to i, e, but u usually remained after u (pu!u 'worm'), a
after a (takka 'sufficient'). If a suffix is added, older a optionally reappears, e.g. in the infinitival
ending (bapp-if-ki" I bapp-a-ki) and in class I nouns in -if(n): appifnqa I appanqa 'father's'.

2 In loan words initial retroflex consonants are quite frequent. English 1 is rendered in Kcxjava as _t, e.g . .tiiceri'
'teacher', whereas English th is pronounced as dental I.

3 Not only for us: cf. the following spellings in different sources: 3rd person past of cl. II/III verbs -i!ti'
(Balakrishnan) /-all' (Garman); 3rd person PT of class I verbs -ici (Balakrishnan) /-l'ci (Garman), putti!ri 'harvest
festival' (DED) I puttari (Garman).
4 Other exceptions are optionally assimilated loans, e.g. ii!ll i"i~l 'spear', or due to paradigmatic regularity, e.g.
niicja lni:it;la 'your' (niinl'you'), eevi (< ee)uvi) 's/he will get up'; keepi (< kee)- +p) 's/he will ask'.

KOQAVA

50

LW/M 104

9.

TEXT: Shantenu Raajel

orr

kaale-u

en-ane

kuiiiii-na

eight-ORO child-ACC

Hastinapura-u-ra Shantenu

one time-OBL:LOC H...OBL.(lEN

poJe-ra

bari-kl

river-GEN

side-OAT hunt-[y]-act3:JNF

raoje

eQQu-e

say3-PCPL king

Sh.

boote-y-aaqookl pooc-i.

boote-y-aaQi-y-i!QQ-ipp-i!-ka

orr

hunt-[y]-act2-[y]-SIM-be3-PCPL-TEMP

one very

KOQAVA

poJe-kl

caaqookl

river-OAT

throw3:JNF go3-PCPL-TEMP he

ennegY

kufiiii-na

caaquv-iya-ndi'?

why

child-ACC

throw3-2s-QUOT

poop-e-ka

avii keetau

aski .

When she went to throw the eighth child into the river, he asked why she was going to throw
away the child.

go2-3

Once upon a time the king of Hastinapura, called Shantenu, went to the riverside to hunt.

2.

51

LW/M 104

baari caay-karti poQQaJi-na

10.

noopc-i.

akka ava ei}Qic-i: ni.inr naa-Qa takkl-na

bembere-kl

iJJ-anaanUQQe

then

behind-OAT

put2-because

she

say2-3

naani nin-na

woman:OBL-ACC see2-3

you

I.(lEN

butt-in

word-ACC

poop-i.

you-ACC leave2-ANT go3-ls

While hunting, he saw a very beautiful woman.

aviin-gi aa
he-OAT

poQQi-na

noop-u

that woman-ACC

priiti aac-i.

see2-ANT love

11.

becomeZ-3

aa kufiiii-na kuuqa iH-i!QQi

poop-i.

put2-SIM go3-ls

When he saw the woman, he fell in love.

4.

avaJ-a

aviin-Qa poQQi

she-ACC he.(lEN

woman

maaQ-aQQu-ndi

aase

aac-i.

makel..()BLGQUOT

wish

becomeZ-3

12.

Shantenu raaje baari bejara-u

He wished that she should become his wife.

5.

aaceengi

ava ei}Qic-i:

but

she

say2-3

king

very

aramane-li injati.

sadness..OBL:LOC palace-LOC be:PT:3

King Shantenu stayed in the palace in deep sorrow.

naani

nii-Qa

poQQi

you-GEN woman

aap-i,

aaceengi ni.inr nan-na

become3-ls but

you

I-ACC

13.

on dina

av& puna boote-y-aa4ookl pooc-i.

one day

he

again

hunt-ymove3:INF

go2-3

on visheytu prashne keeHroo-kayy-a.

question

One day he went hunting again.

ask2-TEL:INF-may-NEG

14.

But she said: I will be your wife, but you should not ask me any question.

alii

on ceriye

there one small

6.

avii

antu

avaJ-a

mangal-aac-i.

he

then

she-ACC

marriage-become2-3

15.

aa kiQQen-gY ii
that boy-OAT

aviin-gY on kufiiii

aac-i,

he-OAT

becomeZ-3 but

one child

aaceengi kuiiiii-na ava poJe-kl

river-OAT

A child was born to him, but she threw the child into the river.

8.

innane

aviin-Qa aare kuiiiii-na

this.manner he.(lEN

kuuqa poJe-kl
also

six

child-ACC

ava poJe-kl
she

boy-ACC see3-JNF

get2-3

There he discovered a small boy.

Then he married her.

7.

kiQQen-a kaamb-e kltic-i.

av&n-Qa mov&n-ndi

got-ille.

he-GEN

knowledge-be:NEG

sonQUOT

aaceengi raajen-gY adi

got-uQQi,

who-QUOT knowledge-be:PRES:3

but

king-OAT that

The boy knows who the king is, but the king does not know that this is his son.

caaQic-i; eJ-ane

river-OAT throw2-3

raaji! daari-ndi

this king

kufiiii-na

seven..ORO child-ACC

caaQic-i.

river-OAT throw2-3

In this manner she threw his six children into the river; the seventh child she also threw into
the river.

1 This traditional Indian story was told by Kaveri Baumgartner. Words of Indo-Aryan origin are marked by italics.

16.

akkaQeke av&n-4a poQQi

alli-kl

just.then

there-OAT come2:ANT reach3-3

he.(lEN

woman

At that moment his wife arrives.

banti

ettuv-a.

LW/M 104

17.

KOQAVA

52

ava

ennuv-a: adl

she

that

sa~3-3

nii-Qa

av~n-a aramane-kl
you-OAT he-ACC !XIlace-OAT

moven,

nii-kl

you..(JEN son

LW/M 104

27.

kaaki-y-eqQi poo-lu.
take2-[y]-SIM

annene eQQi-11
so

28.

kang-at-aac-i.

ava

29.

Shantenu raaje av8n-ga mov8n-a kaaki-y-eqQi aramane-kl poop-a.

he..(JEN

son-ACC take2-[y]-SIM !XIlace-OAT

av~ pooyi-11
there he go2-ANT

a1li

av8n-ga praje-Ki.
he..(JEN

iv~n-gl

ava).-a

this

30.

eQQuv-a:

pooyi-11 ava-Qa

appen-a

go2-ANT she..(JEN

father-ACC ask3-3

raajen-aayill aa).uv-a."

naa-ga jaga-11

place-OBL:LOC king-MAN

ruJe3-3

ellar-k-uu

sen3-NML:m-GEN daughter

av8n-a nooti-11

aap-a.
ooJ-3

aaceengi

av~

eqquv-a: "naa-kl naa-qa moova).-a

he

say3-3

31.

kushi

I-OAT

!.(lEN

mov~n-uqgl;

on

naa-Qa moova-kl

you-OAT one son-be:PRES:3 !.(lEN

av8n-g1 raaji!

aap-e-kayyu-le.

he-OAT

become3 -INF-<:annot

king

tap-t\-kayyu-le, ennegl

daugther-ACC give3-INF-<:an-not why

on mov8 punc-eengi

daughter-OAT one son

give.birth2-COND

But he says: "I cannot give you my daughter, because you have a son, and if my
daughter gives birth to a son, he cannot become the king."

"After my death this one will become king and rule in my place."
22.

one fish

keep-a.

but

eql)ic-eengi nii-kl

subject-OAT say3-3

die2-PCPL-after !.(lEN

aase

marriage-become1-0BLG-QUOT wish

av~

When he goes there, he tells his subjects:

mangal-aa-qgu-ndl

he

say2..COND

21.

she

He goes and asks her father.

go3-3

The king Shantenu takes his son to the palace.

see3-3

He wishes to marry her.

see1-negCONV -become2-3

say2-ANT she

Sh.

kamb-a, ava on miini maaruv-av~n-Qa moova.

a1li

this-OAT she-ACC

After she had said so, she disappeared.

av~ on caay-karti muuQi-na

KOQAVA

There he sees a beautiful girl, she is the daughter of a fiShmonger.

gol-may

She says: "That is your son, you may take him to the palace."
18.

53

all-OAT-even he-ACC see2:ANT happy

Shantenu raajen-gl mov~n-a booqgu

arl-ee

Shantenu

that-EMPH time-OBL:LOC Satyavati-ACC:EMPH

king-OAT son-ACC want

samaya-11

Satyavati-noo

booqgu.

Everybody becomes happy on seeing him.

want

23.

av8

bliari shakti-piiiiia buddi-vante

ki"qqe.

he

very

boy

power-and

intelligentm

Shantanu wants the son, at the same time he also wants Satyavati.
32.

He is a very strong and intelligent boy.

ii

vishaya-11

dukka-tl

aramane-11 dina

this affair-OBL:LOC sorrow-OBL:LOC palace-LOC day

24.

appen-gl mov~n-a noo):i-11

dumba kushi

father-OAT son-ACC see2-ANT very

happy

aap-a.

aaceeng-uu

av~

on):ige-aayin ipp-a;

3 3.

but-also

he

lone-MAN

be3-3

av~n-gl
he-OAT

av~n-Qa
he..(JEN

daar-eeng-ondl kuuge booqgu-ndl aase

aap-a.

who-atleast-one

become3-3

with

need-QUOT

wish

jivamana-11

av~

puna on dina

boote-y-aagookl poop-a.

he

again one day

hunt-[y]-move3:INF go3-3

One day he goes hunting again.

mov~n-gl

appe bejara-n-11

ipp-aa-na

son-OAT

futher sorrow-OBL-LOC

be3-NML-ACC see2:ANT doubt

nooti-tl

The son sees that his father is in sorrow, and he worries.

life-OBL:LOC

Nevertheless he is lonely; he longs for someone to share his life with.

push.~way3-3

With this affair he spends his days in the palace in sorrow.

become3-3

The father is very happy seeing his son.

duuduv-a.

34.

av~

appen-Qa

bejara sangati-na

he

father..(JEN

sadness

keep-a.

connection-ACe ask3-3

He asks about the reason for his father's sadness.

samshaya bapp-a.
come3-3

54

LW/M 104

35.

KOJ.?AVA

aaceengi appe nija

sangati

eQI)uv-aan-g-inji movl:ln-Qa. vishaya-t'i-li.'

father 1rue

situation

tell3-NML-[g]-ABL son-GEN

but

become2-COND India

what.for

hata bapp-a.
desire come3-3

pan-eQq-u)J-e-ndr

javab

koQi.'p-a

feel-SIM-be-1s-QUOT

answer

give3-3

enna-k-oo-ndr

movlln-gi appen-Qa.

takki:-na

namboo-kayy-ate

word-ACC

believe3:INF-ean-negCONV he-GEN

mantrii-na

pooyi-t'i keep-a.

minister-ACe

go2-ANT ask3-3

42.

hri'daya miinl-kaaren-Qa. moova Satyavati-ra

then

tell3-3

heart

father-GEN

ftsh-m-GEN

mele UQQi,

aaceengi Shantenu raaje ava)-a

mangala kaycat-eengi

but

marriage

Sh.

king

she-ACC

ava-ki

punuv-e

movl:l raajen -aayit'i aale-ndu-ndr

ava-da

appa keet-it-int'i-

give.birth3-PCPL

son

she-GEN

father ask2-ANT-be:PT-

king-MAN

rui~LOBLG-QUOT

43.

he-GEN

kaki-y-eQQi

irnponant people-ACC take2-[y]-SIM

Satyavati-ra mane-ki

44.

avl:l ella vishayati-na keet-it'i

~2-ANT

news-ACC

make3-1s

this

baluv-i.

live3~ls

ivl:ln-ee

Mahabharata-t'i-ra Mahapurushe Bhishma.

this-EMPH

M-OBL-GEN

B.

greatbero

Shantenu raajen-gi

miinl-kaare moova)-a

daughter-Ace Sh.

king-DAT

koQi.'p-i-ndr

ottov-a.

give3-ls-QUOT agree3-3

Bhishma Satyavati-na kaaki-y-eQQi Hastinapura-kl poop-a.

tell3-3

pu~uv-e

give.birth3-PCPL son

king-MAN

aaceengi rniini-kaaren-gi ii
fish-m-DAT

takki: keet-it'i

this wool

trerul-ANT

wcrd

nii-Qa.

give3-1s you-GEN

take2-[y]-SIM

H.-DAT

go3-3

appen-gi

aapi-le,

ella vishaya-t'i-na

eQQuv-a.

all

tell3-3

news-OBL-ACC

all-inja Shantenu raaj Satyavati-na mangal-aayi-t'i

S.-ACC

aramani-li.' santosha-t'i-li.'

marriage-become2-ANT palace-LOC content-OBL-LOC

baluv-a.
liv~3-3

From then on the king Shantanu, having married Satyavati , lived happily in the palace.

rule1-0PT

tripti

alii

then-ABL Sh.

movl:ln raajen-aayit'i aa)-aQL

moova-kl
daughter-DAT

but

naani brahmachari-aayit'i
I

holy.man-MAN

oath

now

There he tells his father all the news.

After listening to all the news he says: "/give you my word, the son that will be
born to your daughter, he shall rule as a king."
40.

day-OBL-ABL

there father-DAT

house-DAT go3-3

S.-GEN

anadu eQI)uv-a: naani takki: tap-i

45.

poop-a.

Devavrata goes with his important people to Satyavati's house.

make1-0BLG-QUOT

Bhishma goes to Hastinapura taking along Satyavati.

Devavrata avl:ln-Qa. mukhya jana,l-a

alii

ten3-3

dina-t-inja

B.

The minister says that his father's heart is on the fisherman's daughter Satyavati, and that
her father has asked that - if Shantanu marries her - the son born to her should rule as king.

39.

maa4-aJ)d\l-ndr

wife

The fisherman agrees to give his daughter to the king Shantanu.

ennuv-a.

D.

fish-man-DAT

ftsh-man

perfonn2-COND she-DAT

QUOT teil3-3

38.

poQI)i

This is Bishma, the great hero of Mahabharata.

daughter S.-GEN

on

ndi

falher-GEN

Devavrata says to the fisherman: "/ now take an oath,from this day on I will live like a holy
man."

eQQUV-a appen-Qa.

be:PRES:3

D.

old

akka mantrii
minister

be-GEN

41. Devavrata miinl-kaaren-gi eQI)uv-a: naani ikka shapata maaquv-i ii

avlln-Qa. pa)iye

As the son cannot believe his father's words, he goes and asks his old minister.

37.

S. -ACC

But the fisherman is not satisfied with these words, at the same time Devavrata's desire is
to make Satyavati his father's wife.

son-DAT

falher-GEN

KOJ.?AVA

Devavratan-gi Satyavati-na avl:ln-Qa appen-Qa

time-OBL:LOC D.-DAT

dukka

paristiti

But instead of telling his son the real situation, the father answers."/ am feeling worried,
what will become of India if anything happens to my son."
36.

samaya-t'i

movl:ln-gi

matter-OBL-LOC son-DAT

country-OBL-GEN conditions what-[k]-DUB-QUOT sorrow

Bhorata desha-t'i-ra

enneengi aac-eengi

55

LW/M 104

ad-ee

satisfied become3-NEG that-EMPH