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Badaga Language
Badaga Language
The unique and fascinating language of Badagas
Dedicated to the memory of the Great Badaga Leader Rao Bahadur H B Ari Gowder
Website of Wing commander Bellie Jayaprakash
Also see http://badaga.wordpress.com
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Click on the following links to know more about
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Let us learn Badaga
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” Ollenge iddiya ? - How are you ?”
‘Suddi saddha ella olliththa ? - (Roughly) ‘ How is everything ? ‘
1. Are you a Badaga ? - Nee ondu Badagana?
2. Yes, I am a Badaga - Ha, Na ondu Badaga
3. What is your name ? - Ninna hesaru aena ?
4. My name is Bhoja - Enna hesaru Bhoja
5. Which is your village ? - Ninna Hatti edu ?
[5a. Amme / Thamma, nee ai hatti ? - Girl/ Boy, which is your village?]
6. My village is Bearhatti - Enna Hatti bandu Bearhatti
7. Whose son/daughter are you ? - Nee dara maathi / hennu ?
8. I am Mela thara (top street) Joghi Gowder’s son / daughter - Na Mela thara Joghi gowdaru maathi / hennu
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Numbers in Badugu /Badaga
1. Ondu (One) 11. Hannondu (Eleven)
2. Eradu (Two) 12. Hanneradu (Twelve)
3. Mooru (Three) 13. Hadimooru (Thirteen)
4. Naakku (Four) 14. Hadanaakku (Fourteen)
5. Iidu (Five) 15. Hadanaidu (Fifteen)
6. Aaru (Six) 16. Hadanaaru (Sixteen)
7. eizhu (Seven) 17. Hadarizhu (Seventeen)
8. Eattu (Eight) 18. Hadarettu (Eighteen)
9. Ombathu ( Nine) 19. Hathombathu (Nineteen)
10. Hathu (Ten) 20. Eipathu (Twenty)
30. Moovathu (Thirty) 40. Nalavathu (Forty)
50. Iivathu (Fifty) 60. Aravathu (Sixty)
70. Elavathu (Seventy) 80. Embathu ( Eighty)
90. Thombathu (Ninrty) 100. Nooru (Hundred)
Days In Badugu/Badaga
1. Aadivaara (Sunday)
2. Sovaara (Monday)
3. Mangavaara ( Tuesday)
4. Bodavaara (Wednesday)
5. Chikkavaara (Thursday)
6. Bellie (Friday)
7. Sani (Saturday)
Months In Badugu/Badaga
(Courtesy ” Naakku Betta ” Monthly - Goodalu (1979) Issue by Sivaprakash B.Sc.,B.Ed (Davanai))
It is said that Badaga month starts on every 10th of the English month. Like for example Goodalu month starts on 10th January.
1. Goodalu (Jan)
2. Aalaani (Feb)
3. Nallaani (Mar)
4. Aani ( Apr)
5. Aadire (May)
6.Aadi (Peraadi) (Jun)
7.Aanaani (Jul)
8.Perattadi (Aug)
9. Dodda Deevige (Sep)
10. Kiru Deevige (Oct)
11. Thai (Nov)
12. Hemmaatti (Dec)
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Peculiar Words
There are some words in Badaga that are truly peculiar. For example :
1. GIJI GIJI ( as in Give & Jinx) - Confusion , mess up / disorderly
GIJI GIJI maada beda - Don’t create confusion
Room ekka ethe GIJI GIJI (ya) hadadhe ? - Why is this room in such a mess?
2. MURUKKU(LU) (Mu ru ku) - Foul mood / mild anger
Amme Ekka maathaduvadu elle ? - Why is sister not talking ?
Ava murukkindu endhave - She is in a foul mood
3. BADAYI (Ba daa ee ) - Show Off (proud)
Appara badayi maadiya - She shows off a lot
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Research on Badaga
I found this interesting article on the net. Is it not fascinating that so much research has been done on our language ?
Peter Ladefoged Languages index
Prof.Peter.L says 'Badaga is a Southern Dravidian Language (Tamil-Kannada branch) spoken by approximately 250,000[NOW ABOUT 500,000] people in the Nilgiris hills in Southern India. There are several dialects, only the most conservative having the complete set of contrasts illustrated here.
Badaga has five vowels /i e a o u/ , all of which can be contrastively half and fully retroflexed.'
Bellie Jayaprakash adds:
ha:alu ha:allu
'milk' 'waste[d]'
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Badaga Names
Badaga Names
Birds (Hakkilu)
Birds (Hakkilu)
- Haddu (Eagle)
- Kakke (Crow)
- Soray (Dove)
- Kili (Parrot)
- Emme Hakkilu
- Bikkola
- Karia(n)chitta (Black bird)
- Gubbachi (Sparrow)
- Mayilu (Peacock)
- Koi (Poultry hen/cock)
- Kaadu Koi (Wild hen)
- Baathu(koi) – Duck
Mari (chic) –{Koi Mari – chic(ken)}
Also for calf [ for eg) Nei mari – puppy dog]
Animals
Animals
- Aanay (Elephant)
- Kaade -Kaadu Emme – (Bison)
- Ottaga (Camel)
- Kudire (Horse)
- Kaththe (Donkey)
- Dana (Cow)
- Emme (Buffalo)
- Yethu (Bull)
- Karu (Calf)
- Huli (Tiger)
- Singa (Lion)
- Siruthe (Panther)
- Karadi (Bear)
- Maanu (Deer)
- Pulli Maanu (Spotted Dear)
- Kadame (Sambar)
- Handi (Black Pig)
- Kaadandi – kaadu handi – (Wild Pig)
- Mullandi – Mullu Handi – (Porcupine)
- Seeme Handi (White Pig)
- Koda, Korangu (Monkey)
- Mola (Rabbit)
- Nari (Fox)
- Nei (Dog)
- Koththi (Cat)
- Eli (Rat)
- Aame (Turtle)
- Nalli (Crab)
- Halli (
- Haavu (Snake)
- Kappe (Frog)
- Meenu (Fish)
Insects
Insects
- Hoo (general for insect)
- Nona (Fly)
- Selandhi (Spider)
- Kunni (Bee)
- Eruppu (Ant)
- Kosu (Mosquito)
- Bendu (Moth/Butterfly)
Anatomy
Anatomy
- Mande (Head) – also refers to Hair though there is specific word – Orama
- Heddakku (Back of the skull) – usually Badagas have a long heddakku as they donot use cradles. The reason for not using cradles for babies is a story by itself. It is due to the fact that when they left Mysore to escape from the King (Thipu Sultan ?) in the night in a hurry, they had forgotten the baby which was sleeping in the cradle,each thinking that the other person wiould pick up the child.
- Moole (Brain)
- Nethi (Forehead)
- Kenni (Cheeks)
- Kannu [eye(s)]
- Kivi (Ear)
- Mookku (Nose)
- Bae (Mouth)
- Thudi (lip)
- Hallu (Teeth)
- Naalenge (Tongue)
- Dhaade ( Chin)
- Thonde (Throat)
- Gaththu (Neck)
- Maaru – Nenju - (chest)
- Mole (Breast)
- Hiththalu – Bennu – (Shoulder)
- Kai (Hands)
- Mutti (Elbow – also for knee)
- Beralu (Fingers)
- Hebbatte - Katte (beralu) – [Thumb]
- Ugilu (Nails)
- Hotte (Stomach)
- Mollu Kudi (Naval)
- Nadu (Hip)
- Pitti (Buttocks)
- Thode (Thigh)
- Monakkaalu (Knee)
- Kaalu (Leg)
- Midi (Heel)
- Angalu (Foot)
Badaga Proverb (Dhoddaru Shloka) 'Hindhee endhalle sandhe, Naale endhalle haalu'
[Never postpone any work]
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