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Tamil, Sanskrit, North Indian Languages, Kinship

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C.R.Selvakumar - Electrical Engineering

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Sep 25, 1992, 10:48:28 AM9/25/92

This is #11 article in the series of postings I am making to show
certain common linguistic heritage for the whole of India.
I am trying to present words which are likely to be used in the
villages and rural areas. [ some words might be equally well known
in urban areas as well- like this one]

I strongly believe that a careful consideration of these words
and understanding how they are related, one may gain a more wholesome
view of India's true heritage.

The word for todays posting is an important and a very fundemental
word:
_______________________
| |
| "kaala" = 'time' |
|______________________|

The North Indian words I may refer to below are from the compilation by
Sir Ralph Turner: Ref

R.L.Turner, " A Comparative Dictionary of the Indo_Aryan Languages"
Oxford University Press.,New York, 1966

R.L.Turner's entry No. 3084

Sanskrit : kaala = 'time' [ used in Atharvana Veda]
kaala = 'fixed point of time' [ Satapatha BraahmaNa]
kaala = 'fate, death' [ Maha Bharat ]

Prakrit: kaala = 'time, death' Pali: kaala = 'time, morning'
: kaalE = 'early'

Assamese: kaal ='time,season, death' Kashmiri: kaal = 'season, time,
meal time, fate, death'
Bengali :kaal = 'time, season. death' Punjabi : kaal = 'time, death, famine'
Oriya : kaaLa = 'time, bad time, Sindhi : kaalu = 'death, dearth'
Sinhalese:kaala = 'time' Asoka's : kaala = 'time'
Kumauni: kaal = 'time, death, famine' W.Pahri : kaal ='famine'

Marathi : kaaL = 'time, death famine' Hindi : kaal = 'time, bad time, fate,
: death'
Gujarathi:kaaL = 'time, death, famine' Mythili : -------------
Bhojpuri: --------------
Nepali :kaal 'time, season, death' Bihari : --------------

"kaal" is cited from more than 10 "minor" languages in the North West as
well.

R.L.Turner's acknowledgement of root: Does not cite any borrowing nor does
he show any Skt. roots like he does elsewhere. But most interestingly,
Turner cites "kaala = time' as a dravidian word as a matter of
fact - under entry 2918
( Entry No. 2918 is Skt. kalayati = to count; and this word is also cited
as a dravidian word. As evidence he shows Manfred Mayrhofer's
work)

My comments: This is certainly the Tamil word "kaalam" = 'time, season, period'.
Tamil word "kaalan" = death. Often it is said "kaalam pollaathathu'
meaning "'time' is bad'. kaalam is also used in the meaning of
"ending period". A careful
and unbiased reading of the following will help to see my reasons for
saying that it is a Tamil word. I concur with Turner's statement under
item 2918 that Skt. kaala(=time) is derived from Dravidian. The Tamil
root is "kaal" which means among other things "basis", "foundation",
"beginning", "path", "flowing". In Tamil "kadai kaal" means
foundation and it is used to this day. "kaal kOL" means the inauguration
function "the beginning". We have already seen that "kaal" means
a vital source of water flow ( for irrigation) (canal) "flowing".
"kaal koLLu" means "to take root", "to found". In Tamil 'kaal saithal'
means 'adiOdu azhithal = to die completely including the substratum
or roots". [ azhithal = die, perish; kaal = foundation/sub-stratum/
root] One of the popular
meanings of"kaal" in Tamil is "leg" and the legs are considered to be the
"basis on which to stand". And hence the meaning of foundation.
The legs are considered to be our "bottom most" (sub-stratum) part
or the beginning of our body [ another word for leg in Tamil
is "adi" meaning "bottom" ; and head is considered the end "mudi"
or the end or culmination]. Much more can be said but not
necessary I feel. From the meaning of "kaal = beginning",
Tamil word "kaalai = morning" is formed.
The word "kaala" in
Skt. is thought to be of uncertain origin [ this usually means it is
a borrowing but don't know from where for sure] according to
certain other Indo-European Specialists. [ See C.D. Buck, "A
Dictionary of Selected Synonyms of
the Principal Indo-European Languages" University of Chicago Press, 1951 ]
[Buck says cites Skt. kaalaya = 'drive' as original meaning giving
the sense 'morning' equated with 'time for driving cattle to pasture' ;
{although Buck cites as kaalaya, it should be 'kaalya' I think ??}
But others(Turner) say that even this word 'kaalya' is derived
from 'kaala' = time and hence of Dravidian origin; Skt. kaalya must be
derived from Tamil "kaalai"= "morning" from the Tamil root kaal
discussed above.].

It is clear that Skt. borowed this word from Tamil and other
Indian language. This should be even more
obvious if you look at the words in other Indo-European languages.
I am listing below the words from a compilation by C.D.Buck ( ref above):

Words in Indo-European Languages
________________________________

As you can notice, the Skt. word stands out as an odd one. Since Skt. is
well documented to show convincing cognates for other words in indo-european,
the lack of one for kaala is another reason (not the only reason) why
Skt. must have borrowed from Tamil/pan-indian- languages.

Buck says the Middle English 'Staunde', Old High Germanic
'Stunta' Middle High Germanic 'Stunde' meaning 'period of time ( whence
'hour' in Modern German' comes from the original meaning 'fixed time'
and cites Gothic word 'standan' etc. to mean 'stand'.
The Tamil word "kaal" = leg, (can mean stand or post) appears to be an
interesting excellent semantic parallel. I am not sure whether 'stunde'
meant 'stand on legs' or some standing like 'tide'.

This important word 'kaala' = time in Sanskrit is certainly a borrowing from
Tamil/Dravidian/pan-Indian-languages. Unfortunately, the north indian
language speakers ( and some south indian dravidian speakers as well)
have been told, it appears, that those languages
borrowed this word *from* Sanskrit- which is quite incorrect, in my
opinion. I will try to answer any *substantive* arguments against my opinion.
I am open for correction if sufficient substantive points are offered against
my views. As far as possible i have tried to remain within limits of
professional linguists conclusions . I will kindly request valaNYars (= nettors)
not to raise some trivial issues [ I'll ignore; no time for such things;
no offense meant when I ignore]

Thanks for listening.

anbudan (= with regards)
Selva Selvakumar (selv...@watserv1.uwaterloo.ca)

C.R.Selvakumar - Electrical Engineering

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Sep 27, 1992, 7:24:34 PM9/27/92

The last article in this series was #11 discussing the word "kaala = time,
season, period'. This is article #10A which is an extension to the
article #10. In article #10 we saw the word "gOlaa" = 'round, ball'.

This is in the series of postings I am making to

show certain common linguistic heritage for the whole of India.
I am trying to present words which are likely to be used in the
villages and rural areas.

I strongly believe that a careful consideration of these words

and understanding how they are related, one may gain
a more wholesome view of India's true heritage.

The word for todays posting is "guDaa" = 'globe, ball'

The North Indian words I may refer to below are from the compilation by
Sir Ralph Turner: Ref

R.L.Turner, " A Comparative Dictionary of the Indo_Aryan Languages"
Oxford University Press.,New York, 1966

R.L.Turner's entry No. 4181

Sanskrit : guDa = globe, ball ( used in M.Bh)
: guDikaa = kernel (used in Varahamihira Brhatsamhita)
: gulI = pill (lex.)
: gulikaa = globule ( used in Kaadambari)

Prakrit: guDiaa = 'pellet' Pali: guLa = 'cluster'
: gulia , guliaa = 'ball' : gulikaa = 'little ball'

Assamese: guri = 'minute particle' Kashmiri: -------
: guraa, gulI = 'sinker on fishing
net or line'
Bengali :gur(/d) = 'globe, mouthful' Punjabi :-------
Oriya : gur(/d)aa, guLaa = 'pill' Sindhi :---------
: guLI = 'round clod'
:gor(/d)i ='pebble' W.Pahri : ---------

Sinhalese: guLiya = 'pill, ball, lump' Lahndaa :

Marathi : Hindi : guriyaa = ' glass bead'
: gulaa = 'ball, bullet'
: gulla = small pellet'
Gujarathi: Mythili : guriaa = 'bead'
Bhojpuri: --------------
Nepali : Bihari : --------------

For words in other languages please see article #10 on gOla. Almost all indian
languages have a word related to gOlaa or gOlI or guLI etc.

R.L.Turner's acknowledgement of root: Asks us to confer with gOla and
gOTTa. Both are of dravidian origin.

My comments: This is only an addendum to article #10. The forms clearly
show ( note the variation r/l/D/T) the connection with
Tamil "kOLam"= 'round, ball, globular thing, globe'
and "koTTai = seed',
"kOli = bead, glass bead, small marble ball (children play thing)'
"kuLikai = pill" etc.

Turner's entry 7246 shows a word
"nimbagulikaa = berry of Melia azadirachta" where "nimba"
and "gulikaa" are its parts. [ Sindhi : nimUrI, Hindi: nibaulI,
nibolI, nibaurI, Gujarathi : liboLI, Marathi: niboLI, nibuLI]
The word gulikaa is used as a berry. [ nimba is used as a
febrifuge ( = to relieve fever)]
It is also interesting to note that the children in Tamil
Naadu commonly use the term "kOli kaai" where "kOli =
small marble/glass
ball' and "kaai = unripened fruit or berry". kaai = berry is
common usage. This Tamil usage also clearly points out to the
root sense of the word "kOli" is 'round, ball-like'.
Tamil 'kuLikai' is mostly used in the sense of a
medicinal pill ( kuLi indicates a round thing. This belong to
a large class of words denoting 'round, bend, circular, turn'
and that it is a Tamil root is in no doubt).

[Those who are interested: Please read this along with my
article on gOla and my responses
to Prof. Chandra, Kuram T. Narayana and the article by Dorai
Sitaram and my response to Dorai Sitaram ]

Thanks for listening,

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