Yerukala language

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‘Yerukula’ language, derived from Dravidian languages, is mainly spoken by the Yerukala tribe. This language is also called as ‘Kurru basha’ or ‘Kulavatha’. This language is derived from Dravidian languages, mostly Telugu and Tamil. Yerukala language is linguistically close to Ravula and Irula. Lexical similarity among varieties ranges from 53% to 81%; In case of Irula, it varies from 33% to 38%; In case of Ravula, it varies from 28% to 45%; In case of modern Tamil, it varies from 27% to 45%.

According to the 1991 census, there are 63,133 Yerukala language speakers

The only book on the Yerukala language published so far is Yerukula Dialect by G. Srinivasa Varma, Dept. of Linguistics, Annamalai University, 1978. This book is available at most of the good public libraries.

Some of the language terms, mostly relations.

English	Kurru	English	Kurru	English	Kurru
Father	Aava	Father's Father	Jejaava	Father's Mother	Jeji
Mother	Amma	Mother's Father	Tata	Mother's Mother	Ammamma
Son	Momu	Elder Brother	Berannu	Younger Brother	Thenbhi
Daughter	Maga	Elder Sister	Berukka	Younger Sister	Thangisee
Grand Daughter	Pethi	Grand Son	Pyathu	Father's Sister	Atta
Elder Sister-in-law	Nanga	Younger Sister-in-law	Merchenchi	Uncle	Mama

Now yerukalas have a script of their own. Yerukala language will no longer be called a Dialect. From today on it is a language.

Gunna Ramakoteswara Rao, an unemployed Arts graduate residing in Bahujan Nagar of KADAPA, designed 36 alphabets and grammar in Yerukala script. Moving in proximity with Yerukalas, a nomadic tribe, he learnt to speak their language but was astounded to know that they had no script to write. He took up the task and prepared the script for the dialect. "Taking Telugu, Hindi and English alphabets as the base, I designed 36 alphabets in Yerukala script and grammar while taking care that they did not appear to be a replica of existing ones in any of the south and north Indian languages", Ramakoteswara Rao said.