A grammar of the Teloogoo language

by Alexander Duncan Campbell

A

GRAMMAR

OF THE

TELOOGOO LANGUAGE,

COMMONLY TERMED THE GENTOO,

PECULIAR TO THE HINDOOS INHABITING THE NORTH-EASTERN PROVINCES

OF THE

INDIAN PENINSULA.

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By A. D. CAMPBELL,

OF THE

HONORABLE EAST INDIA COMPANY’S CIVIL SERVICE

ON THE

MADRAS ESTABLISHMENT,

MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF SUPERINTENDENCE

FOR THE

COLLEGE OF FORT St. GEORGE.

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THIRD EDITION.

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MADRAS:

PRINTED AT THE HINDU PRESS.

1849.

ADVERTISEMENT.

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Since the establishment of the College of Fort William by Marquis Wellesley, the labors of many distinguished individuals have added much valuable information to the knowledge before possessed of oriental literature, and afforded many facilities to the attainment of an improved acquaintance with the several dialects peculiar to the provinces immediately subject to the Supreme Government. A similar Institution (on a modified and less extensive scale) has more recently been established at Fort St. George, and may be expected, in course of time, to produce the same favorable results as regards the languages of the South of India; respecting which very little has as yet appeared before the public through the medium of the press, though the languages themselves had, even before the establishment of the College, been cultivated with considerable success by many individuals.

For the establishment of the College of Fort St. George, and for the encouragement afforded in many other respects to the advancement of the literature of Southern India, the Public are in a great degree indebted to Sir George Barlow; and the following is one of several works which owe their rise to this source.

The Author, having been nominated to a seat at the Board of Superintendence for the College, had frequent opportunities of observing the disadvantage under which the Teloogoo Students laboured, from the want of a work on the elements of that language. An attempt to remove this impediment was a duty which the author’s situation in some degree imposed; and actuated by this motive, as well as by a desire to rescue the Teloogoo from the undeserved neglect in which its great difficulty had involved it, and to extend among his countrymen the knowledge of a language spoken by a large portion of the native subjects of the British Government in the South of India, he proceeded to arrange the notes, on the native grammars of the language, which he had taken to assist his own studies, in the form which they have assumed in the following pages.

The manuscript, thus prepared, was submitted to the Government of Fort St. George, whose approbation it having been so fortunate as to obtain, the copy right was purchased on the public account, and the Right Honorable the Governor in Council was pleased to direct that the work should be printed at the College Press, whence it now issues to the Public.

Every first attempt to illustrate the principles of a foreign language is attended by peculiar difficulties; but to do justice to a language so highly cultivated as the Teloogoo required advantages to which the author makes no pretension: nevertheless he hopes that in essential respects, the work will not be found deficient. He does not expect that it will remove all the difficulties which have hitherto opposed the acquisition of the Teloogoo: if, by enabling the European Student to overcome the chief obstacles in his way, it lightens his labour, and facilitates his access to that eminence which all should endeavour to attain who seek distinction in the public service, the author’s utmost wishes will be accomplished: at some future period, perhaps, the track which he has opened may be followed by others possessing more ability and leisure than himself, who, correcting those errors into which he has fallen, may give to the world improved works, on one of the most useful and polished languages of India.

TO HIS EXCELLENCY

THE RIGHT HONORABLE FRANCIS RAWDON HASTINGS,

EARL OF MOIRA, K. G.

GOVERNOR GENERAL AND COMMANDER IN CHARGE OF INDIA.

⁠&c.⁠&c.⁠&c.

MY LORD,

In dedicating to your Lordship the following elementary work, in elucidation of the principles of one of the most ancient, useful, and elegant languages of India, permit me, most respectfully, to express my grateful acknowledgements for the honor which it derives, from being permitted to appear under the sanction of so illustrious a name.

Public utility, the chief object of this work, constitutes also its chief claim to the patronage of a Statesman whose liberal and enlightened mind deems nothing beneath its notice which may be calculated, however remotely, to promote the interests of the Great Empire intrusted to his care. If, by diffusing among the civil and military servants on the Coast a more extended knowledge of the language of Telingana, and an improved acquaintance with the character, customs, and manners, of the fine race of men who inhabit that country, the work here presented to your Lordship should contribute in any degree to the convenience of individuals, to the service of the Government, or to the security and happiness of its subjects, I shall have the satisfaction to reflect that, however imperfect its execution, it will not have proved altogether unworthy of the distinguished patronage with which it has been honored.

I have the honor to be,
⁠My Lord,
⁠with the greatest respect,
⁠your Lordship’s obliged and
⁠very obedient humble servant
⁠A. D. CAMPBELL.

Sections 

• Introduction
• Note to the Introduction
• Chapter First
• Chapter Second
• Chapter Third
• Chapter Fourth
• Chapter Fifth
• Chapter Sixth
• Appendix