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'