From 15 July, 1965 to August, 1968 the Department of Linguistics, University of Kerala conducted an Intensive Survey of the Malayalam Dialect spoken by Ezhava/Tiiyas throughout Kerala.
In scope and implementation it was a huge venture in which the Researchers were fully involved: such a Survey has not been attempted anywhere in india for any Indian language.
Many European languages especially German, French etc, had intensive surveys conducted in their countries by Researchers when funds were made available. The Survey in those countries, though systematic was covered by one or two researchers only. But in Kerala this Survey involved half a dozen trained Linguists and to a great extent, the Survey was detailed and thorough. In 1974 all details on the Survey were published. Soon the book was exhausted. We are trying to print that introductory volume also.
This volume of 293 maps based on the Malayalam forms with their variations now see light of day.
The Council of Direction felt it as its duty to publish the valuable findings of the Survey.
The present Head of the Department of Linguistics in the Kerala University, Dr.N.Rajendran and the Vice Chancellor and Syndicate of the Kerala University generously permitted the publication of the maps. Such a valuable work prepared in 1969 if not printed will crumble to pieces and a future generation of researchers could not refer to the findings collected after strenuous field work.
The University Grants Commission, New Delhi and the University of Kerala shared the expenditures for the Survey Project
T.Velavan, C. Roy, P'Somasekharan Nair and R.V.K. Thampuran [Research Assistants) worked in two Districts each in Kerala, GK Panikkar, Lecturer helped in eliciting forms in the field and later in arranging the frequency list. CJ Roy and B.Gopinathan Nair prepared the maps. Of the five Research Assistants T.Velavan, P.Somasekharan Nair and R.V.K. Thampuran passed away at an early age. Our sadness in losing them is overwhelming.
An extensive coverage for a single Community spread throughout Kerala in 921 Panchayats has been completed only for Malayalam among the Indian languages. This gives a sense of elation and I thank the U.GC, the University of Kerala and the Researchers referred to above for their unstinted cooperation in this venture which will stand the test of time for many decades to come.
M/s. Dawn Press, Thiruvananthapuram undertook the printing of the Dialect Survey Maps and did the job with care and identification. We are thankful to them.
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