Dear friends,
In Goa kulatha is called 'kullid' (kuLid) and the decoction 'kulldam kald'
(kuLdAM kAld); 'kald' is from the Portuguese word for soup. It is a sure fire
medicine for stubborn colds, and was my mother's favourite in this regard. It
is also used as a general tonic for healthy people. It is still being used as
such in my house. I do not know the meaning of 'kaat' in Mangalore Konkani.
Or is it a corruption of the Goan 'kald'? The meaning I know in Goan Konkani
(catechu juice) does not fit here..
I always wondered why it is called 'horse gram' in English. Now Maurice D. has
cleared that. Thanks Maurice..
I had a hearty laugh on reading the word 'Godialle chonne' because this is a
literal translation of 'horse gram'; but when I read that the source is TSKK, I
calmed down because this research centre specialises in coining words by
translation from English, even for commonplace things. One example is 'ainnya
madd' (AiNya mAD) for palmyra (Borassus flabellifer) which is commonplace in my
region and goes by the Konkani name 'tattmadd' (tATmAD). In Gujarat, where
this tree yields toddy and neera, it is called 'tadd' (tAD) and the kernel of
its nuts is sold as 'taddgola' (tADgolA) in Mumbai. The Konkani names of most
commonplace things always bear some resemblance to their counterparts in
neighbouring languages. Therefore, I think we should look around before
rushing to translate English words.
Mog asum.
Sebastian Borges
On 26 Apr 2009 (message #6, GD 429), Maurice D <mmdme...@gmail.com> wrote:
This Indian Pulse is called Horse Gram in English and even now called
Kulthi in Hindi and is still known as 'kuLith' in Konkani. It is
boiled and fed to animals used for ploughing the rice fields, like
Buffaloes, oxen or even milking cows.(in the Kanara region buffaloes
were/are preferred over oxen pair to plough). I believe even now
horses are fed this pulse after boiling it thoroughly. British must
have observed this and called this pulse 'Horse Gram' In
Mangalore/Kerala, Buffaloe race called 'kambaLa' is famous even now.
This is grown after the first rice crop an secondary crop like 'Udid
dhal' and it's roots produce nourishing mineareals in the soil of the
field.
After boiling this pulse, the drained water was used to prepare a soup
dish (like 'rasam') by farming community who had buffeloes for
ploughing purpose. This soup or broth is called 'kuLta kaat'
Maurice D.
On 25 Apr 2009 (Message: #3 GD 427),
Venantius Pinto <venantius.pi...@gmail.com> wrote:
Dear Maria Josefa,
It would be Godialle chonne in Konknni. Godia=horse. I found this from Ms
Shilpa Salvi of TSKK--who btw, is a lovely woman. Hope these eamils were of
help. Bye now.
venantius
Goa
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