The readers would observe that many of
the Tulu Place names may not convey, on the face of it, any specific meaning or
apparent meanings in the current language of the area. This situation is true to all nations of the
World. Original meanings may either undergo
changes or are lost completely. However, there are efforts worldwide to compile
data on place names and arrange them in the form of dictionary. “Onomasticon”
(fashioned after the word ‘Lexicon’) means a Dictionary of Place names.
Odd sounding names
A visitor to country-side may be fascinated
perforce by the odd sounding place names but he may not be aroused to know the
exact meanings or the origin of the name, unless the interpreted meanings are readily
available. Only a genuine interest to
explore the mystery of such place names could go a long way in deciphering the
meanings. Survey Maps show names of all
these geographical regions. But
surveyors or Government revenue officials are least interested in knowing the
origin of these place names. Borders and
lines change and also with names, befitting the exigency. Apparently, their interest is limited to allotting
Cadastral Survey Numbers.
Toponymical Processes
Gradual changes taking place in place
names are called toponymical processes, which affect the meanings. The processes, by which place names change,
include abbreviation, conflation, i.e. fusing together two things, convergence,
development in the parent language (but static in place names) and replacement
of the parent language. The latter can,
in particular, result in dramatic shifts in place names since the original
meaning (and often sounds) are not conveyed in the new language. The place name thus shifts to a new form,
considered convenient for pronunciation in the new language (Testimony: Changes in place names effected by colonial
rulers of India. One can observe some names, corrupted by Portuguese rulers,
are still current in Goa).
Interpretation Problem
Problems in deciphering meanings of place
names are many. Wikipedia lists
following seven problems:
(1) Language (e.g. Periodic change
over from old to new and political influence of other languages). (2) Element
Order in compound word (i.e. reversing of word elements.)
(3) Translation (e.g. In case
of Tulu, rendering words into Kannada – eg: Posodi to Hosabettu, Karyodi to
Karkala - or Sanskrit - eg. Odipu to Udupi).
(4) False analogy (e.g.
Anglicization of Tulu names for easy pronunciation. This is very well seen in British and
Portuguese colonies).
(5) Lost Region (eg. Kudar to Malpe, when original locations are lost to
sea).
(6) Confusion between elements
(e.g. Pairs of original elements can produce the elements in modern names –
Mangala+uru > Mangalore > Mangaluru.
(7) Multiple meanings (Some word stems or
elements may have many meanings – e.g. ‘Kar’ in Tulu).
Identity Marker
Life of settlers of an area is a history
- whether recorded or not. This can be
analysed by studying the socio-political situation, conditioned by
geography. Changes - affected by
languages, borders, political forces, social order resulting from faith and
assimilation - are the handiwork of events and geography. Genealogy becomes an admixture in the
conundrum of social, political and natural upheavals. Occupations change with human movements and/or
climatic conditions. Religion of one
region may thrive in another area, conditioning it to the geography and
environment of that area. Toponym
assumes the role of an identity marker, thereby enriching occupational
vocabulary of language of that area.
Reference:
-Hosabettu Vishwanath (Pune)
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