Gtaʼ language
The Gta language is a language spoken by the Didayi people of India. It is notable for its sesquisyllabic phonology and vigesimal numeral system.
Demographics
Gta is spoken by 3,000 people primarily in Malkangiri district, Odisha as well as adjoining areas of Koraput district.Ethnologue reports the following locations.
- Odisha : Kudumulgumma block and Chitrakonda block of Koraput district and Malkangiri district, south of Bondo Hills; some in Khairput block
- East Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh
Classification and Dialects
Gta has two main varieties, namely Plains Gta and Hill Gta.
Grammar
Nouns
Nouns in Gtaʔ ordinarily have two forms, one a free full form, the other a bound short form. These latter occur only when the noun is compounded with some other stem for derivational 9 purposes, and are hence labeled "combining forms". Combining forms occurring with verb stems can be echoed independently of the verb stems; those occur? ring with noun stems either remain intact or change at par with the main stems.Examples
Type 1: sur-cu to fry in oil > sur-ca, sur-ci, sar-ca, s?r-cf, sar-cu.
gag-bo? to tie onto the head
gag-ba?, gig-bT?, gag-bT?, gTg-ba?, gig-bo?.
"tur-t?a to graze cattle >
tar-ti, t?r-ti, tar-t?a, t?r-t?a.
Type 2: kula-re kinsman >
ka I a-re, k?I i-re.
sari-ja paddy flower >
sara-ja, s?ri-j?, si ri-ja.
ra-ko peacock feather >
bara-ka, bir?-k?, bir?-ko.
ult-so mango wood >
ala-sa, ?l?-sf, ala-so, Mi-so.
huQ-be baby bear >
har?-ba, h?tj-b?, harj-be, h?n-be.
Echo Formation
Rules of FormationRule# 1. Echo-words are formed by changing only the vowels of the base word.
Rule# 2. The echo-word must differ from the base word. The vowel of univocalic base words is reflected as either /a/ or /
Categories of Echo Forms
- A-forms, indicating gross variety;
- I-forms, indicating diminutive or tender variety ;
- U/a-forms, indicating variety different from a related category
- Partially changed forms, indicating inferior variety : a-forms, indicating grossness and ?-forms, indicating tenderness.
Numeral System
Gta' Numeral system | - |
1. muiŋ | 21. mũikuɽi muiŋ /ekustɔra |
2. mbar | 22. mũikuɽi mbar |
3. ɲji | 23. mũikuɽi ɲji |
4. õ | 24. mũikuɽi hõ |
5. malʷe | 25. mũikuɽi malikliɡˀ |
6. tur | 26. mũikuɽi turukliɡˀ |
7. ɡul | 27. mũikuɽi gukliɡˀ |
8. tma /aʈʈa | 28. mũikuɽi tomakliɡˀ / mũikuɽi tma |
9. sontiŋ /nɔʈa | 29. mũikuɽi sontiŋkliɡˀ |
10. ɡʷa / dɔsʈa | 30. mũikuɽi ɡʷa / tirisʈa |
11. ɡʷamiŋ / eɡaʈa | 40. mbarkuɽi / calistɔra |
12. ɡombar /baroʈa | 50. mbarkuɽi ɡʷa /pɔcas |
13. ɡoɲji /teroʈa | 60. ɲjikuɽi / saʈe |
14. ɡohõ /coudoʈa | 70. ɲjikuɽi ɡʷa / suturi |
15. ɡomal / pɔndrɔʈa | 80. ōkuɽi |
16. ɡotur / soloːʈa | 90. ōkuɽi ɡʷa |
17. ɡogu / sɔtroʈa | 100. malkuɽi /soetɔra |
18. ɡotma / aʈɾa | |
19. ɡososiŋ / unisʈa | |
20. ɡosolɡa /kuɽitɔra /kuɽeta |