DISCOVERY OF DRAVIDIAN AS THE COMMON SOURCE OF INDO-EUROPEAN |
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21. baba = babble (JS-22). As we begin to note the IE root-words beginning with b, it is important to keep in mind that out of four literary Dravidian languages (Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu) two of them namely Tamil and Malayalam have a total of four words beginning with b (Tamil has one, and Malayalam three including the one in the Appendix in DED). This is because there is great correspondence between b and p in Dravidian which we noted in the previous chapter. Because of this, Tamil and Malayalam and a few other Dravidian languages will have to approach the IE roots which have initial b in them with the words which begin with p. The other Dravidian languages which have less number of words beginning with b are Irula, Palu Kumrumba, Alu Kurumba, Belari, Naikri, Naiki of Chanda. Toda does not have any such words listed in DED. On the whole, a number of Dravidian languages, especially Kannada, Tulu, Telugu, Gondi and a few others have a remarkable number of words which begin with b, and as was noted in the previous chapter there are a number of groups in DED which have nothing but those words which begin with b, and many of them denote basic meanings underscoring their great antiquity along with the words beginning with p in Dravidian. Many of these languages with greater number of words beginning with b will approach IE root-words beginning with b, with seed-words which have either initial b or initial p, or sometimes with words which have both initial b and initial p. That in Indo-European b becomes p in Armenian and Gothic (Pei-24) may be recalled here. The DR. seed-words with which this IE root baba denoting: babble, is entwined connote different sounds made by the mouth. For instance, bobba = loud cry, shout, scream (4526-Te); bobbe = yell, shout, loud sound (Ka); bobbiri = to bawl (Ka). An important point to be noted here is that in colloquial Kannada (Dharwad dialect) the expression pya-pya (pya reduplicated) is used to signify stammering or babbling; but this commonly used Kannada expression is not listed in DED. In view of the fact that this root has given rise to the word baby, note the DR. seed-words papa = babe, infant, child (4095-Te); pap = baby, child (Pa); papa = small child (Ka); pap = child, young one (Ga). Germanic bube = boy, is suspected of coming from this root. Here, note that in the same group 4095, papadu = boy (Te). The word barbarian (an uncivilized individual or outsider who can not speak correctly), derived from this IE root baba (= babble) has relationship with DR. words such as ber(u) = state of being separate, apart or different [[as a barbarian compared to a civilized person]] (5548-Ka); breenju = stranger, unknown man (Kui); porabiga = stranger, alien (4333-Ka); pirar = outsiders, strangers (Ta); purattavan = foreigner, stranger (Ta), and with barbarre (bar reduplicated) = to prattle [[babble]] (5230-Malt); barbarrna (bar reduplicated) = to talk loudly, chatter noisily [[babble]] (Kur). 22. bat = to beat (imitative) (JS-23). The DR. seed-words of this IE root are bettu = to strike forcibly into (5478-Ka); bettuni = to beat (Tu); and with b = p correspondence, pettu = to beat (as with hand, staff, hammer, etc.) (4389-Ka); pettu = stroke, blow, knock, to beat, hit (Te); pet = beating (Ka); potu = to beat (4581-Ta). In view of the fact that JS states that this root is imitative, note that in DR. Kannada pata or pata-pata (pata reduplicated) denotes: sound imitating applying blows or kicks (3841-Ka). Note that Latin battuo denotes: to beat, knock (Ltc.74), and that in Kannada bettu denotes: strike forcibly into (5478-Ka). 23. bel = strong (JS-24). The DR. seed-words of this IE root are bal = to grow strong (5276-Ka); bala = strength, (Tu); bolu = strength (Ka); balme = strength, might (Tu); and in the same group 5272, with the correspondence between b and v which occurs in DR., note the words val = strong (5272-Ta); vali = strength, power (Ta). 24. beu, bhel, bhleu = swelling, flowing, flowering (JS-24-25). As we begin to deal with IE roots which begin with bh, it is important to observe that bhel and bhleu, which begin with bh have a variant beu which begins with b. That is the correspondence between bh and b occrs in these root-words themselves. Also note that many other IE roots which begin with bh have given rise to words which begin with b. For instance, the words beech, buckwheat, bark, book are derived from the root bhago (JS-27-28); bast and baste are derived from bhasko (JS-29); bank, bankrupt are derived from bheg (JS-31); Italian bardello, French brothel, Germanic forms denoting bole, bore, board are derived from bher II (JS-36), and so on. Even words beginning with p are sometimes derived from the IE roots beginning with bh. For instance, Greek pistis, pistology are derived from the root bheidh (JS-31); Greek pakhus, pachycardian, pachyderm, etc., are derived from the root bhengh (JS-35). These points are important to keep in mind because even though Dravidian still has a few words which begin with bh (for instance, bhandu = rudeness (3902-Tu); bhedre = tomato (4406-Nk); bhandana = to wither (4004-Go); bhisurkana – to slide (4131-Go), etc.), and with ph (for instance, phar = big (4411-Nk); phugay- = to swell (4469-Nk); phuki = honey (4345-Go), etc.,), the element bh has corresponded with b on a large scale, and that b largely corresponds with p and sometimes with v. |
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