2 Bundeli dialects
The purpose of a dialect area study is to establish the extent of differences existing between speech varieties in a given geographic area. As discussed in section 1.4.1, in order to accomplish this objective,
a dialect area study was carried out throughout the Bundeli-speaking area in order to quantify the extent of difference through: 1 lexical similarity and 2 dialect intelligibility testing. For the procedures used
in analyzing lexical similarity, see appendix A, and for the procedures used in dialect intelligibility testing, see appendix C. In addition, results from the Preliminary Questionnaire relevant to dialect areas
are discussed below see also appendix G.
2.1 Results from preliminary questionnaire
2.1.1 Relationship between Bundeli speech varieties
The results from the sixteen preliminary questionnaires administered in Bundelkhand indicate some minor change in the dialect which usually occurs from ten to forty kilometers away from the village
under investigation. When asked, “Where do they speak the mother tongue, but so differently that not everything is understood?”, nine out of sixteen respondents said, “There is no such place.” Perhaps
significantly, all of the respondents who answered like that were from the Standard area, except one from Bhind district. However, when considering how large an area the respondents had in mind cf.
Question 2.4a, b, it appears that no one had the entire Bundelkhand area in view, but perhaps three or four surrounding districts. But for those in central Bundelkhand, there is apparently good inter-
intelligibility.
2.1.2 Relationship between Bundeli and other languages
There were five main languages of interest: beginning with Braj to the north, Bagheli to the east, Chhatisgarhi to the southeast, Marathi to the south and Malwa to the west.
3
While Kannauji was of interest also, no one had heard of it and could thus offer any opinions. Not all of these languages were
asked about at every point, but rather whichever ones were a neighbor to the point in question. For example, Malwa was only asked about in Shivpuri district, which is on the border of Bundeli and
Malwa.
4
2.1.2.1 Braj
Based on the answers to the Preliminary Questionnaire, there appears to be a relatively close relationship between Bundeli and Braj. Out of the eight sites where Braj was enquired about, everyone said they
understand Braj, even in Sagar district, which is the furthermost point from the center of the Braj-
3
Hindi was not asked about other than in relation to bilingualism.
4
Although ideally all of these languages could be asked about at each point, it usually happened that unless the language was nearby, the people would have no contact and therefore no opinion to offer. In interpreting the
answers therefore, it should be remembered that one would expect higher intelligibility between speech varieties from neighboring areas than if we were looking at the intelligibility of one of the surrounding languages with a
speech variety from the very center of Bundelkhand. For example, people in Shivpuri district would naturally have a better understanding of neighboring Malwa since Bundeli gradually merges with Malwa in that area than a person
from Chhatarpur, which is the center of Bundelkhand and where more pure Bundeli is spoken. So the answers given in Shivpuri regarding intelligibility with Malwa reflect a higher understanding than would be the case in
Chhatarpur.
The exception to all of the above is Braj. Many people have had contact with Braj since Mathura is a very popular pilgrimage site in the region. Thus, Braj was asked about at several points quite distant.
speaking area. Six out of eight respondents said that if they speak in Bundeli to a Braj speaker, the Braj speaker will understand. The other two said that the Braj speaker would understand a little. When asked
what language a Braj speaker would answer in if they spoke Bundeli, seven out of eight said Braj. When asked whether a Bundeli speaking woman can understand Braj the first time she hears it,
about half said yes. All said that children would not be able to understand a Braj speaker. Most thought children would have to be about twelve years old before they would be able to understand. When asked
if they sometimes had to use Hindi in order to understand when they were talking with a Braj speaker, five said yes, two said no.
How should these results be interpreted? Since most people have had some contact with Braj see footnote 5 it makes it a bit more difficult. Also, the domains of interaction are probably somewhat
limited and simple. But it appears that even though many said they understand and each speaks their own language when speaking to one another, normally indicating a relatively high intelligibility, there is
some difficulty in initial comprehension, and perhaps some ongoing difficulty since Hindi is sometimes still needed.
2.1.2.2 Bagheli
After Braj, Bagheli appears to be the next most closely related language to Bundeli. Bagheli was asked about at five points: in Chhatarpur Banaphari area, Damoh, Seoni, Chhindwara, and Panna districts, all
in the eastern part of Bundelkhand. Four out of five respondents said they could understand and be understood by a Bagheli speaker. Three said that a Bundeli woman could understand a Bagheli speaker
the first time she meets him and two said a child could. However, three also said that they sometimes need to use some Hindi to be understood when speaking with a Bagheli person. So, again the results are
somewhat mixed, indicating a degree of intelligibility, but certainly not complete.
2.1.2.3 Malwa
The relationship of “Bundeli”
5
and Malwa was investigated at only one point, in Shivpuri district bordering Rajasthan. The respondent indicated that he understood and was understood by Malwa
speakers, and that if he spoke “Bundeli,” the Malwa speaker would answer in Malwa. However, he said that both a “Bundeli” woman and child would have difficulty in understanding a Malwa speaker and that
he himself sometimes had to use Hindi as a medium for conversation in order to be understood by a Malwa speaker. Again this would indicate some relationship, but the extent is difficult to gauge.
2.1.2.4 Marathi
The relationship of Bundeli and Marathi was investigated at four points: In Chhindwara district CnC, Balaghat district BlG, Hoshangabad and northern Seoni district. In Chhindwara and Balaghat they said
they understood Marathi, but in Hoshangabad and Seoni they said they did not. In both Chhindwara and Balaghat they said that neither a “Bundeli” mother nor a child would be able to understand Marathi
upon initial contact. This would indicate a low level of intelligibility with Marathi for those districts not immediately adjacent to Maharashtra.
2.1.2.5 Chhattisgarhi
Chhattisgarhi was asked about in both Chhindwara CnC and Balaghat district BlG. In Chhindwara the respondents said they did not understand Chhattisgarhi, but in Balaghat they said they did. In Balaghat
district, they indicated a woman and child would have difficulty understanding Chhattisgarhi when they
5
The subjects interviewed did not consider their language to be Bundeli, but rather called it Chaurasi. The term Bundeli is being used rather generally in this respect.
first came in contact with it. This seems to point to difficulty in understanding for those districts not bordering the Chhattisgarhi area and even some difficulty for those that are.
2.2 Lexical similarity results
