Recorded on 27th July, 2022
This system of transliteration for the Kodava thakk and published in her book, A Place Apart – Poems from Kodagu, in 2022.
a – katti-knife
ā – kāraṇa-ancestor
e – netti-forehead
ē – bēlë-fields
i – bōḍitë-invoke/implore
ī – nīrë-water
o – kokkë-beak
ō – tōḍë-stream
u – naḍu-centre
ū – mūndë-three
æ – manæ-house
ǣ – pǣṭæ-market
ë – kāḍë-forest
ē̈ – kē̈ḷi-fame
ü – nindü-I stood
ṻ – nṻla -long
ŏ – pŏḷæ -river
ō̆ -kō̆mbaræ -room
ï -birïnji -reveal
ī̈ – ī̈ṭi -lance
ai -kaiyalæ -verandah
ou -toundari -accountant
b bāḷæ -banana
c-chotë -defeat
d -indë -today
ḍ -pōḍi -fear
g –gōḷë -bad condition
h –hara -siva
j –jari -waterfall
k –kupya -man’s dress
l -eli -mouse
ḷ -bāḷë -live and prosper
m –mandë -community grounds
n –nammæ-festival
ṇ -ëṇṇæ-oil
ñ -kuñi-child
p –pūv -flower
r -bīra -hero
s -kasta -difficulty
ṣ –ṣiva -siva (not used in kodava)
t –tōlë -skin
ṭ -nōṭë -look
v -svarga -heaven
y –yajna -worship
Bacharanianda Ranu Appanna is a retired lecturer and writer, with a deep knowledge of Kodava language and culture. She is part of the expert Advisory Committee that worked on the Karnataka Kodava Sahithya Academy’s publication. Welcome to Kodava Thakk, published in 2022. She is the author of several books in Kodava takke, and has worked in close collaboration with her husband, Bacharanianda P Appanna, on all his published works in the Kodava language.