Many Dalit texts have been written in Marathi, a regional language in Maharashtra. There are many difficult words in these texts. In order to facilitate their comprehension, a dictionary of Dalit words is necessary.
2. •Dalit Literature is now recognized & read all over
world.
•First written in Marathi & later in other regional
languages
•Being translated widely in India and abroad.
•All genres- short stories, novels, plays &
autobiographies , criticism
•Writers belong to different castes and sub-castes
•Scope of the presentation being restricted to selected
examples, especially from Dalit autobiographies in
Marathi
3. Dalit Speech Community classified as-
Savarna Speech Community living in the village
Speech Community living outside the village &
considered Untouchable
Nomadic Tribes
Adivasis living in hills & valleys & in jungles
Dalit category includes ‘Mahars’, ‘Mang’,
‘Chambhar’, ‘Dhor’ as Untouchable & ‘Berad’,
‘Banjara’, ‘Bhamta’ ‘Kaikadi’, ‘Kanjarbhat’,
‘Wadar’, ‘Beldar’, ‘Ghisadi’, ‘Gopal’, ‘Kadmade
Joshi’, ‘Gondhali’, ‘Kolhati’, ‘Vaidu’ etc. nomadic
tribes & ‘Mavachi’, ‘Pardhan’ as Adivasi speech
4. Language used as a means of communication
Acquired from the family and surroundings
Boli Bhasha
Intercation with others also affects it- Savarna
& others
Geographical location-Eg. Akkarmashi-
Maharashtra-Karnatak border
Changes with education and development-
Praman Bhasha
5. Eminent Critics have applauded its
contribution to Marathi language
Introduced many new words, phrases, idioms
& proverbs
The language of Dalit autobiographies is
regional. The autobiographies reveal many
strains of colloquial languages in Maharashtra
and along with colliquiality, means of
subsistence, village system, customs and
economic system are also reflected ( Jyoti
Lanjewar)
6. “In reality Dalit autobiographies have enriched
the vocabulary of Marathi language and also it
has enhanced the grandeur of different colloquial
languages.” (Phadke Bhalchandra)
Arjun Dangle has felt the need of a new
dictionary of Dalit words. (Dangle Arjun, Dalit
Sahitya : Ek Abhyas, p.21).
The Dalit writer wants to say something. His
rejection, protest and agony will be expressed in
his language. (Phadke Bhalchandra, Dalit Sahitya
: Vedana ani Vidroha, p.27)
7. The words (language component) can be
classified as follows :
Words in the colloquial language.
Words used in the rural sector
Words used by the nomadic tribes like
Kaikadi, Wadar and Pitali
Words used by the Dalits
Words in the Kaikadi language
Some English and other words
Hackneyed words/pronunciations
8. Problems begin with the titile- Baluta,
Akkarmashi, Dhor, Aaydaan etc
Prevalent dictionaries most of the time in vain
Words related with livelihood, occupations eg.
Baluta, Aaydaan,
Words associated with culture & traditions-
Melni, Chira Utaravine, dadhi lavane, Keech,
kavala shivane maand, malida, Rayrands ‘ukal’
‘tadtamasha’(p.54), ‘taralki’(p.59),
‘rakuli’(p.93),’takkya’ (p.37), ‘karani’ (p.44),
‘kakati’(p. 06), ‘lagir’(p.46), ‘vakut’ (p.3),
‘aabdari’(p.8) , and ‘kanig’(p.10) etc.
10. Names of flaura and fauna
Shembadi, chinchbilai, khirni and behadas, gokaru,
kavathes, nagfani, Umbri ,
Honorofics and social diexis- Johar maay baap
Mythical references-Eklavya, Aswathama,
Karna, Kunti etc
Phrases, idioms and proverbs- Potasathi sutala
dharun swrgala jato.
Kaal aala hota pan vel navati aali
Dena kusalancha ana jhavana musalanche
11. Muki radali haak na bomb
Gharat nahi dana aan male mhan Nana
‘jibhela haad haay ka?’ (p.58), ‘potala adhaar
zala’ (p.65), ‘gajarachi pungi vaajali tar vaajali
nahitar modun kadhali’ (p.78) , ‘gaavala
made zale tar tyachi lakde taku naye’ (p.88),
‘tya bai ekapat rahat asatil tar mee choupat
rahin’ (p.104), ‘yacha gaavachya bori ani yacha
gaavachya babhali’(p.135), ‘Mahar Mangana
khata yeina ani kutryala paani pita yeina’
(p.135)
12. Other caste specific words- Kaikadi words in
Upara, Kolhati words in Kolhatyache Por,
Telugu words (Uchalya), words used by
Mahars (Akkarmashi and Aamacha Baap), by
chambhars and Dhors (Mukkam Post and
Dhor)
Examples-Swadu, Swadaga, kalla, kurka, ulalal
Expletives and abusive language
13. Vijaya Joshi confesses that a middle class
reader is in a fix due to this language. There are
many incomprehensible words. She feels that a
glossary of these words would have proved
useful. She substantiates her point of view with
words such as ‘gudsa’, ‘kekati’ and ‘rakuli’.
Jadhav opines that white collared society is not
able to understand this language due to
differences or differentness of culture. He too
concurs with Joshi in pointing out the utility of
glossary.
14. Upara in Pune University
Sandhya Pande- Many cultural references and
other words
Santosh Bhoomkar: Formidable task & sense of
inadequacy
Narendra Jadhav- Boli Bhasha with colloquial or
cockney
Mahesh Elkunchwar- Oned regional language to
another vocabulary substitutes but not in a
foreign language like English
15. Collection & Compilation- Herculean Job
From Dalit Texts, Contact with Dalit writers,
activists, elders in different castes, sub- castes,
locales i.e. from the field
Classification-parts of speech, definition,
meaning, explanation,
Various exclamations, honorifics, expletives,
echo words, metaphorical and symbolic words,
connotations, newer connotations, obsolete
words, Cultural terms-explain in the style of
encyclopedia
16. In Bilingual Dictionary like this-
Defining lexical items- dialectal classification
Need to go beyond translation
Cultural words
Pronunciation