Thanjavur Marathi dialect: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Dialect of Marathi spoken by Thanjavur Maharashtrians}}
{{short description|Dialect of Marathi spoken by Thanjavur Maharathis}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}
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| states = [[India]]
| states = [[India]]
| region = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| region = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| speakers = 100,000
| speakers = 100,000{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}
| date = no date
| ref =
| familycolor = Indo-European
| familycolor = Indo-European
| fam2 = [[Indo-Iranian languages|Indo-Iranian]]
| fam2 = [[Indo-Iranian languages|Indo-Iranian]]
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| fam5 = [[Marathi Language|Marathi]]}}
| fam5 = [[Marathi Language|Marathi]]}}


'''Thanjavur Marathi''' ([[Marathi language|Marathi]]: तंजावूर मराठी), also commonly spelled as '''Tanjore Marathi''', is a dialect of [[Marathi language|Marathi]] spoken by [[Thanjavur Marathi people|Thanjavur Maharashtrians]] who migrated south, along with [[Shivaji]]'s half brother [[Venkoji]], to the areas surrounding the city of [[Thanjavur]] in [[India]], back in the 17th century.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ethnologue.com/language/mar|title=Marathi|website=Ethnologue|language=en|access-date=2019-01-04}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/marathi-identity-with-tamil-flavour-2790955/|title=Marathi identity, with Tamil flavour|date=2016-05-09|website=The Indian Express|language=en-IN|access-date=2019-01-04}}</ref>
'''Thanjavur Marathi''' ([[Marathi language|Marathi]]: तंजावूर मराठी), also spelled as '''Tanjore Marathi''', is a dialect of [[Marathi language|Marathi]] spoken by [[Thanjavur Marathi people]] who migrated south, along with Chhatrapati [[Shivaji]]'s half brother [[Venkoji]], to the areas surrounding the city of [[Thanjavur]] in [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]] back in the 17th century.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ethnologue.com/language/mar|title=Marathi|website=Ethnologue|language=en|access-date=2019-01-04}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/marathi-identity-with-tamil-flavour-2790955/|title=Marathi identity, with Tamil flavour|date=2016-05-09|website=The Indian Express|language=en-IN|access-date=2019-01-04}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
The history of [[Maratha]] rulers in South India possibly begins with [[Shahaji]]'s attempt at setting up an independent kingdom in the [[Deccan Plateau|Deccan plateau]] and his subsequent defeat in battle by [[Shahjahan]] around 1636. Shahaji made peace with Shahjahan and was posted in the deep south so as not to pose any challenge to [[Mughal Empire|Mughals]]. He finally became one of the top generals in the [[Adilshah]]'s army, accepting a Jahagir in his court, being based in [[Bangalur]] (Present day [[Bangalore]] in Karnataka). Shahaji had one sons by [[Jijabai]], [[Shivaji]]. He also had one son [[Venkoji]] (aka Vyankoji or Ekoji) by his second wife, Tukabai. Venkoji later ruled over the independent Maratha kingdom of [[Thanjavur]] which came to be known as the [[Thanjavur Maratha kingdom]]. [[Serfoji I]] Maharaja was one of the most famous Marathi kings of Tanjore.<ref>{{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927003724/http://www.sarasvatimahallibrary.tn.nic.in/Thanjavur/Maratha_Rulers/body_maratha_rulers.html#serfoji2|date=27 September 2007}}</ref>
The history of [[Maratha]] rulers in South India possibly begins with [[Shahaji]]'s attempt at setting up an independent kingdom in the [[Deccan Plateau|Deccan plateau]] and his subsequent defeat in battle by [[Shahjahan]] around 1636. Shahaji made peace with Shahjahan and was posted in the deep south so as not to pose any challenge to the [[Mughal Empire|Mughals]]. He finally became one of the top generals in [[Adilshah]]'s army, accepting a [[Jagir]] in his court, being based in [[Bangalur]] (Present day [[Bangalore]] in Karnataka). Shahaji had two sons by [[Jijabai]], [[Sambhaji Shahaji Bhosale|Sambhaji]] and [[Shivaji]] and one son [[Venkoji]] (aka Vyankoji or Ekoji) by his second wife, Tukabai. Venkoji later ruled over the independent Maratha kingdom of [[Thanjavur]] which came to be known as the [[Thanjavur Maratha kingdom]]. Maharaja [[Serfoji I]] was one of the most famous Marathi kings of Tanjore.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sarasvatimahallibrary.tn.nic.in/Thanjavur/Maratha_Rulers/body_maratha_rulers.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=10 February 2020 |archive-date=27 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927003724/http://www.sarasvatimahallibrary.tn.nic.in/Thanjavur/Maratha_Rulers/body_maratha_rulers.html |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>
 
The language spoken by this community, also known as "''Thanjavur Marathi''", is a scholarly dialect far removed from the present-day [[Marathi language|Marathi]] – it is stuck in the 17th century and is old Marathi. There are an estimated 100,000 people who speak the dialect. The various dialects of the language since its establishment are [[Kumbakonam]] and Namdev, each mutually intelligible with the other. There is some admixture of [[Tamil language|Tamil]] and almost all Thanjavur Marathi speakers are fluent in Tamil. Recent mass migration of people to major cities has diluted the language and it is now mostly spoken exclusively at home or with older generations.<ref>{{YouTube|id=2MkDzN5759Q |title=Dakshini Marathi}}</ref>
 
== Vocabulary and Dravidian influence==
Tanjāvuri Marathi (TM) as spoken today can at best be described as a dialect of [[Marathi language|Marathi]].
It has a considerably smaller vocabulary. A quick estimate indicates that TM has around 4,000 words, as compared to over 40,000 words in Marathi.{{Citation needed|date=March 2011}} TM has several words which have since disappeared from or gone out of fashion/ usage in Marathi. In addition, several words and usages from the major languages of Southern India, (mostly Tamil) have got into TM. Despite these changes, almost all the words of TM exist as they are in Marathi. The major differences between TM and Marathi can be traced to pronunciation, inflection, syntax and grammar. Historically, TM took a totally different route in its evolution over the past 250 years, influenced by the Dravidian languages and customs. TM had hardly used [[devanagari script]]. Instead the archaic [[modi script]] was used by the early TM speakers. Usage of Modi script was given up gradually, until as of today, the dialect is left with no script. Without the benefit of a written reference standard, each succeeding generation of TM speakers is being bequeathed a dialect with ever-increasing degeneration in pronunciation and inflection. There is an urgent need to arrest this trend by introducing Devanagari or the Tamil script and standardizing the dialect, according to some people.<ref>{{YouTube|id=gEcXKO9OGWU|title=Dakshini Marathi-not standardised}}</ref>{{who|date=October 2020}}
Though it is believed by many that TM is influenced by [[Tamil language|Tamil]], it is actually an early form of Marathi that was spoken in [[Maharashtra]] three centuries ago. In [[Tamil Nadu]], it has remained insulated from the influence of 'related' languages and has therefore to a larger degree retained its original form. If the pure form of TM, as spoken by a few traditional families is taken into consideration, there are no [[Tamil language|Tamil]] words in it at all. Certain words such as ''kavāD'' for door, are used in Maharashtra not directly for door but in phrases like ''dnyānachi kawāDe ughaDi dzhāli'' (meaning 'The doors of knowledge opened.'), while ''kavāD'' is commonly used in Tanjore Marathi for 'door'.
The community which probably started the migration towards the South around the early 1600s with the movement of the Maratha armies towards the South, had managed to keep the language alive, is now fighting a losing battle. The grammar is remarkably like English where most objects are referred in the neutral gender. example ''kutra āla'' 'the dog came' is used for the male and female versions of the dog. Colloquial Marathi however refers to the masculine as ''kutrā ālā'' and to the feminine as ''kutri āli''. In modern age, Shri. Ananda Rao Vashisht has been writing about TM language, he has made great contribution in preserving TM language. His works on Tanjore Marathi are available in www.vishnughar.blogspot.com and www.vishnugharforum.blogspot.com. Also, Smt. Kamal Sridhar prof. At Stonybrook univ New York has written papers, she has been active on Facebook Tanjavur Marathi Group.{{fact|date=July 2020}}


==Scripts==
==Scripts==
Historically [[Modi script|Modi]], [[Devanagari]] and [[tamil script|Tamil]], [[Telugu script|Telugu]] scripts have been used to write this dialect as found in old historical documents.{{fact|date=July 2020}}
Historically [[Modi script|Modi]], [[Devanagari]], [[Telugu script|Telugu]] and [[tamil script|Tamil]] scripts have been used to write this dialect as found in old historical documents.{{citation needed|date=July 2020}}
 
==Speakers==
The community or the social group which speaks this dialect is now spread over most of Southern India and elsewhere. Tanjavur District in Tamil Nadu can no longer lay claim to having the largest number of the community with it. It is estimated that less than 35% of the TM speaking population now lives in Tanjavur. The vast majority of TM speakers who live elsewhere have no connection with Tanjavur.
Its deceptive similarity to the [[Saurashtra language]] suggests a common [[Indo-Iranian languages|Indo-Iranian]] root. The people's eventual assimilation into the [[Tamil people|Tamil]] community resulted in a unique culture which retains elements of both cultures and religious beliefs. Although members of this community have spread around some parts of the world today, the vast majority are still scattered in most parts throughout the Indian Subcontinent with a concentration in and around India, in [[Tamil Nadu]]. Most people of this community can trace their [[Kinship and descent|lineage]] back to the 17th century [[Maratha Empire]]. However, this community is spread across the entire South India from about Srikakulam in the Northeast of Andhra Pradesh, to Tirunelveli in the South of Tamil Nadu, to Tiruvananthapuram in Kerala to some parts of Southeast Karnataka. Divided by sects, the only common factor is the dying common language which the current generation is slowly losing to the local languages. In the modern age, there are very popular ethnic and cultural groups under the name of "Tanjavur Marathi Group" started by Shri. Ravi Shelvankar which has more than 1000 worldwide members on Facebook focused to integrate Tanjavur Marathi members worldwide, in trying to retain its identity, culture and dialect http://www.deshasthas.org (non-profit organization). The Mahratta Education Fund (MEF) is a non-profit organization working for the educational advancement and economic amelioration of the Tamilnadu Marathi speaking community. Towards this objective, MEF awards scholarships to deserving Tamilnadu Marathi speaking boys and girls to pursue their higher education. The Maharatta Education Fund was started in the year 1912 by a group of people headed by Sri E. Vinayaka Rao, with a view to bringing together the Tamilnadu Maharastrians.{{fact|date=July 2020}}


==Illustration==
==Illustration==
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| namaśkāra || namaskār||hello/greetings
| namaśkāra || namaskār||hello/greetings
|-
|-
| kaśa āhēnta/āhēsa/hāysa? || kase/kasa ahāt/āhēs/āhāt?||How are you?
| kaśa āyēnta/āhēsa/hāysa? || kase/kasa ahāt/āhēs/āhāt?||How are you?
|-
|-
|mī bēś hāy||mī ṭhīk āhē||I am fine
|mī bēś hāy||mī ṭhīk āhē||I am fine
|-
|-
|lai (pronounced as 'lie') bēś (pronounced as 'base') hāy (pronounced as 'haai')||khoop chhān āhē||(It) is very nice/beautiful.
|lai bēś hāy||khoop chhān āhē||(It) is very nice/beautiful.
|-
|-
|hōy ki nai?||hō kā nāhi?||yes or no?
|wōy ka nai ka?||hō kā nāhi?||yes or no?
|-
|-
|tumchya gharāt kewda pōri hāyt?||tumchya ghari kiti mulee āhēt?||How many girls are there in your house (at the moment)?
|tumchya gharānt kewda pōri hāyt?||tumchya ghari kiti mulee āhēt?||How many girls are there in your house (at the moment)?
|-
|-
|ghaṇṭā kewda jhālāy/hōlēy?||kitī wājalē?||What is the time?
|ghaṇṭā kewda jhālāy/hōlēy?||kitī wājalē?||What is the time?
|-
|-
|yejā/hecha mōl kewda ?||hyāchaa bhaav kaay?||How much is this for?
|yejā/hecha mōl kewda/kaya ?||hyāchaa bhaav kaay?||How much is this for?
|-
|-
|dāwa/ujwa pāṭīs||ḍāwyā/ujawyā bājū lā||toward left/right
|dāwa/ujwa pāṭīs||ḍāwyā/ujwyā bājū lā||toward left/right
|-
|-
|kemma/kevva panā||kadhihī||always,whenever
|kemma/kevva panā||kadhihī||always, whenever
|-
|-
|rāndhthēghar / sampakkholi||swayampāk ghar||kitchen
|rāndhthēghar / sampakkholi||swayampāk ghar||kitchen
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|kānkna||bāngdyaa||bangles
|kānkna||bāngdyaa||bangles
|-
|-
|dhādu?||pāthavu?|| should i send?
|pativuka?||pāthavu?|| should i send?
|-
|-
|Nankaar||NankhBhar||a little bit,small amount,a pinch
|Nankaar||NankhBhar||a little bit, small amount, a pinch
|-
|-
|Vijana||Pankha||Handfan
|Vijana||Pankha||Handfan
|-
|-
|Dhonda||Dagad||Large Stone
|Dhonda||Dagad||Large Stone
|}
==See also==
Native Tanjore Marathi speakers have begun to revive the language. Such efforts can be studied at a few websites mentioned herein-below.
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Link !! Contents
|-
| http://tanjavurmarathi.podomatic.com/ || A project to record the Tanjore Marathi language by the local speakers
|-
| http://vishnughar.blogspot.in/ || A project to collect the words from South Indian Marathi language and compile a dictionary
|-
| http://vishnugharforum.blogspot.in/ || A project to write in Tanjore Marathi dialect
|}
|}


Latest revision as of 04:45, 26 January 2026


Thanjavur Marathi
Native toIndia
RegionTamil Nadu
Native speakers
(undated figure of 100,000[citation needed])
Language codes
ISO 639-3–

Thanjavur Marathi (Marathi: तंजावूर मराठी), also spelled as Tanjore Marathi, is a dialect of Marathi spoken by Thanjavur Marathi people who migrated south, along with Chhatrapati Shivaji's half brother Venkoji, to the areas surrounding the city of Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, India back in the 17th century.[1][2]

History[edit | edit source]

The history of Maratha rulers in South India possibly begins with Shahaji's attempt at setting up an independent kingdom in the Deccan plateau and his subsequent defeat in battle by Shahjahan around 1636. Shahaji made peace with Shahjahan and was posted in the deep south so as not to pose any challenge to the Mughals. He finally became one of the top generals in Adilshah's army, accepting a Jagir in his court, being based in Bangalur (Present day Bangalore in Karnataka). Shahaji had two sons by Jijabai, Sambhaji and Shivaji and one son Venkoji (aka Vyankoji or Ekoji) by his second wife, Tukabai. Venkoji later ruled over the independent Maratha kingdom of Thanjavur which came to be known as the Thanjavur Maratha kingdom. Maharaja Serfoji I was one of the most famous Marathi kings of Tanjore.[3]

Scripts[edit | edit source]

Historically Modi, Devanagari, Telugu and Tamil scripts have been used to write this dialect as found in old historical documents.[citation needed]

Illustration[edit | edit source]

Examples of colloquial speech
Tanjore Marathi Standard Marathi(colloquial) Translation
namaśkāra namaskār hello/greetings
kaśa āyēnta/āhēsa/hāysa? kase/kasa ahāt/āhēs/āhāt? How are you?
mī bēś hāy mī ṭhīk āhē I am fine
lai bēś hāy khoop chhān āhē (It) is very nice/beautiful.
wōy ka nai ka? hō kā nāhi? yes or no?
tumchya gharānt kewda pōri hāyt? tumchya ghari kiti mulee āhēt? How many girls are there in your house (at the moment)?
ghaṇṭā kewda jhālāy/hōlēy? kitī wājalē? What is the time?
yejā/hecha mōl kewda/kaya ? hyāchaa bhaav kaay? How much is this for?
dāwa/ujwa pāṭīs ḍāwyā/ujwyā bājū lā toward left/right
kemma/kevva panā kadhihī always, whenever
rāndhthēghar / sampakkholi swayampāk ghar kitchen
bāsna bhāndee vessels
ruppēcha chāndīcha made of silver
kānkna bāngdyaa bangles
pativuka? pāthavu? should i send?
Nankaar NankhBhar a little bit, small amount, a pinch
Vijana Pankha Handfan
Dhonda Dagad Large Stone

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "Marathi". Ethnologue. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  2. ↑ "Marathi identity, with Tamil flavour". The Indian Express. 9 May 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
  3. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 10 February 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
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