Cultural Resonance in Ornithonyms: An Analysis of Word-Formation Process in Cholanaikkan Tribes in Western Ghats, Kerala

Authors

  • Dr Lijisha AT CMN Post-Doctoral Fellow, Department of Linguistics, University of Kerala Pin- 695581 Author
  • Dr Sri Lakshmi KM Department of English and cultural studies. Christ University, Bangalore Author

Keywords:

Cholanaikkan tribe, Ethno-ornithology, Word-formation, Morphological analysis, Compounding, Dravidian family

Abstract

In the southernmost states of India resides one of the oldest aboriginal tribes named Cholanaikkan. This tribe is enriched with traditional knowledge and culture. The paper attempts to overlook the ethno-ornithological word formation in Cholanaikka language, a Dravidian sub-group language.  According to the Census of India (2021), the tribe has a total population of 409. Through the morphological analysis of word formation process, the paper discusses namely, compounding and onomatopoeic word-formation. The paper analyses the Nouns formed as a result of endocentric and exocentric compounds based on their semantic criteria. 

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Published

2025-02-25

Issue

No. 35 (2023): ISHAL PAITHRKAM

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Articles

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