Odia grammar is the study of the morphological and syntactic structures, word order, case inflections, verb conjugation and other grammatical structures of Odia, an Indo-Aryan language spoken in South Asia.
Morphology
Morphology is the identification, analysis and description of the structure of morphemes and other units of meaning in the Odia language. Morphemes (called ରୁପିମ) are the smallest units of the Odia language that carry and convey a unique meaning and is grammatically appropriate. A morpheme in Odia is the most minuscule meaningful constituent which combines and synthesizes the phonemes into a meaningful expression through its (morpheme's) form & structure. Thus, in essence, the morpheme is a structural combination of phonemes in Odia. In other words, in the Odia language, the morpheme is a combination of sounds that possess and convey a meaning. A morpheme is not necessarily a meaningful word in Odia. In Odia, every morpheme is either a base or an affix (prefix or a suffix).
Nouns Nouns are those which are inflected by number, gender or case markers.
Number There are two types of numbers in Odia: singular- ଏକବଚନ ekabacana plural- ବହୁବଚନ bahubacana Singular denotes one and only one person or thing and the noun may be followed or preceded by singular specifiers or singular number markers. Plural which denotes number more than one person or thing, is formed by the addition of plural suffixes to the nouns which usually occur as singular.
The singular number markers occur as suffix: +Singular suffix Suffix Eg. Meaning ଟି ṭi କଲମଟି kalamaṭi pen ଟା ṭā ଝିଅଟା jhiaṭā daughter ଟିଏ ṭie ପିଲାଟିଏ pilāṭie child
The plural number occur with nominal forms as:
+No suffix- uncountable nouns Eg Meaning ଚିନି cini sugar ବାଲି bāli sand
+Plural suffix Suffix Eg. Meaning ମାନେ māne ଲୋକମାନେ lokamāne people ମାନ māna ଗ୍ରନ୍ଥମାନ granthamāna holy books ଗୁଡ଼ା guṛā (guḍā) ଭାତଗୁଡ଼ା bhātaguḍā boiled rice ଗୁଡ଼ାଏ guṛāe (guḍāe) ଫଳଗୁଡ଼ାଏ phaḷaguḍāe fruits ଗୁଡ଼ାକ guṛāka (guḍāka) ଚାଉଳଗୁଡ଼ାକ cāuḷaguḍāka rice ଗୁଡ଼ିଏ guṛie (guḍie) ଫୁଲଗୁଡ଼ିଏ phulaguḍie flowers ଗୁଡ଼ିକ guṛika (guḍika) ନଦୀଗୁଡ଼ିକ nadīguḍika rivers ଏ e ପିଲେ pile children ସବୁ sabu ଗାଁସବୁ gā̃sabu villages ଶ୍ରେଣୀ śreṇī ପର୍ବତଶ୍ରେଣୀ parbataśreṇī mountains ଯାକ ẏāka (jāka) ଘରଯାକ gharajāka houses
Gender There is no grammatical gender in Odia, instead gender is lexical. Though gender plays no major role in grammatical agreement between subject and predicate but it is accounted for in nominal inflections. There are three types of gender: masculine- ପୁଲିଙ୍ଗ puliṅga feminine- ସ୍ତ୍ରୀଲିଙ୍ଗ striliṅga common- ଉଭୟଲିଙ୍ଗ ubhayaliṅga neuter- କ୍ଲୀବଲିଙ୍ଗ klibaliṅga
+Different words for gender Male Meaning Female Meaning ବାପା bāpā father ମା mā mother ପୁଅ pua son ଝିଅ jhia daughter ଭାଇ bhāi brother ଭଉଣୀ bhauṇī sister ସ୍ୱାମୀ swāmī husband ସ୍ତ୍ରୀ strī wife ରାଜା rājā king ରାଣୀ rāṇī queen ଷଣ୍ଢ ṣaṇḍha bull ଗାଈ gāī cow
+Prefix Male Meaning Female Meaning ପୁରୁଷ ଲୋକ purusha loka male person ସ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଲୋକ stri loka female person ପୁଅ ପିଲା pua pilā male child ଝିଅ ପିଲା jhia pilā female child ପୁରୁଷ ଯାତ୍ରୀ purusha jātri male passenger ମହିଳା ଯାତ୍ରୀ mahiḷā jātri female passenger ଅଣ୍ଡିରା କୁକୁର aṇḍirā kukura male dog ମାଈ କୁକୁର māi kukura female dog ଅଣ୍ଡିରା ଛେଳି aṇḍirā cheḷi male goat ମାଈ ଛେଳି māi cheḷi female goat
+Suffix Suffix Male Meaning Female Meaning ଆ ā ସଭ୍ୟ sabhya male member ସଭ୍ୟା sabhyā female member ଶିଷ୍ୟ śishya male student ଶିଷ୍ୟା śishyā female student ଦୁଷ୍ଟ dushṭa naughty(m) ଦୁଷ୍ଟା dushṭā naughty(f) ଆ ā(morpho-phonemicchange- ଅ a to ଇ i) ବାଳକ bāḷaka boy ବାଳିକା bāḷikā girl ଗାୟକ gāyaka male singer ଗାୟିକା gāyikā female singer ନାୟକ nāyaka actor ନାୟିକା nāyikā actress ଶିକ୍ଷକ śikshaka male teacher ଶିକ୍ଷିକା śikshikā female teacher ଈ i ପୁତ୍ର putra son ପୁତ୍ରୀ putri daughter ବୁଢ଼ା buṛhā old man ବୁଢ଼ୀ buṛhi old woman କୁମାର kumāra young boy କୁମାରୀ kumāri young girl ସୁନ୍ଦର sundara handsome(m) ସୁନ୍ଦରୀ sundari beautiful(f) ଦେବ deba god ଦେବୀ debi goddess ଈ i(morpho-phonemicchange- ଆ ā to ଈ i) ଟୋକା ṭokā boy ଟୋକୀ ṭoki girl ଛୋଟା choṭā lame(m) ଛୋଟୀ choṭi lame(f) ଈ i(morpho-phonemicchange- ଅ a to ଆ ā) କଣା kaṇā blind(m) କାଣୀ kāṇi blind(f) ସଳା saḷā brother-in-law ସାଳୀ sāḷi sister-in-law ଈ i(morpho-phonemicchange- ଆ ā to ରୀ ri) ନେତା netā male leader ନେତ୍ରୀ netri female leader ରଚୈତା racaitā author ରଚୈତ୍ରୀ racaitri female author ଣୀ ṇi ଚୋର cora male thief ଚୋରଣୀ coraṇi female thief ମୂଲିଆ muliā male labourer ମୂଲିଆଣୀ muliāṇi female labourer ଣୀ ṇi(morpho-phonemicchange- ଅ a to ଆ ā) ଠାକୁର ṭhākura god ଠାକୁରାଣୀ ṭhākurāṇi goddess ମାଷ୍ଟର māshṭara male teacher ମାଷ୍ଟ୍ରାଣୀ māshṭrāṇi female teacher ତନ୍ତୀ tanti male weaver ତନ୍ତୀଆଣୀ tantiāṇi female weaver ଡାକ୍ତର ḍāktara male doctor ଡାକ୍ତରାଣୀ ḍāktarāṇi female doctor ଣୀ ṇi(morpho-phonemicchange- ଅ a to ଉ u) ବାଘ bāgha tiger ବାଘୁଣୀ bāghuṇi tigress ଗଧ gadha male donkey ଗଧୁଣୀ gadhuṇi female donkey ଣୀ ṇi(morpho-phonemicchange- ଆ ā to ଉ u) ଚଷା cashā male farmer ଚାଷୁଣୀ cāshuṇi female farmer ଣୀ ṇi(morpho-phonemicchange- ଇ i to ଉ u) ମାଳି māḷi male gardener ମାଲୁଣୀ māluṇi female gardener ଭିକାରି bhikāri male beggar ଭିକାରୁଣୀ bhikāruṇi female beggar ନୀ ni ବନ୍ଦୀ bandi male prisoner ବନ୍ଦିନୀ bandini female prisoner ଧନା dhanā rich(m) ଧନିନୀ dhanini rich(f)
Case Case inflection is a common characteristic of inflectional languages and are also known as case markers or "ବିଭକ୍ତି" (bibhakti) in Odia. It is both syntactical and morphological in nature. The function of the case is to indicate the grammatical or semantic relationships between nouns and also between nouns and verbs in a larger syntactic structure. There are 8 types of cases in Odia: +Cases (ବିଭକ୍ତି) Case Names of cases in Odia Singular Plural Nominative କର୍ତ୍ତାକାରକkarttākāraka ∅ -ମାନେ, -ଏ -māne, -e Accusativeକର୍ମକାରକkarmakāraka -କୁ-ku -ମାନଙ୍କୁ-mānanku Dative ସମ୍ପ୍ରଦାନ କାରକsampradāna kāraka Genitive ସମ୍ବନ୍ଧ କାରକsambandha kāraka -ର-ra -ମାନଙ୍କର-mānankara Locative ଅଧିକରଣ କାରକadhikaraṇa kāraka -ରେ, -ଠାରେ-re, -ṭhāre -ମାନଙ୍କରେ, -ମାନଙ୍କଠାରେ-mānankare, -mānankaṭhāre Instrumental କରଣକାରକkaraṇakāraka -ରେ, -ଦ୍ୱାରା, -ଦେଇ-re, -dwārā, -dera -ମାନଙ୍କରେ, -ମାନଙ୍କଦ୍ୱାରା-mānankare, -mānankadwārā Ablative ଅପାଦାନ କାରକapādāna kāraka -ରୁ, -ଠାରୁ-ru, -ṭhāru -ମାନଙ୍କରୁ, -ମାନଙ୍କଠାରୁ-mānankaru, -mānankaṭhāru Vocative ସମ୍ବୋଧକ କାରକsambodhaka kāraka ହେ, ରେ, ହୋhe, re, ho
For Vocative case: Due to lack of synthetic inflectional morphemes, a vocative particle is used.
Pronouns Pronouns are classified both notionally and morphologically.
Personal pronouns are of two types: Direct case- used for Nominative case Oblique case- used with case inflections (Accusative, Instrumental, Dative, Ablative, Genitive, Locative)
+Personal Pronouns Person Case Pronoun Singular Pronoun Plural 1st Direct I ମୁଁ We ଆମେଆମେମାନେ Oblique Me, My, Mine ମୋ- Us, Our, Ours ଆମ-ଆମମାନଙ୍କ- 2nd Direct You ତୁ (informal)ତୁମେ (formal)ଆପଣ (honorific) You ତୁମେମାନେଆପଣମାନେ (honorific) Oblique You, Your, Yours ତୋ- (informal)ତୁମ- (formal)ଆପଣଙ୍କ- (honorific) You, Your, Yours ତୁମମାନଙ୍କ-ଆପଣମାନଙ୍କ- (honorific) 3rd(distal) Direct He/She ସେ They ସେମାନେ Oblique Him/Her, His/Hers ତା- (informal)ତାଙ୍କ- (formal) Them/Their/Theirs ସେମାନଙ୍କ-
Adjectives +Adjectives Adjective type Eg. Meaning adjective ଭଲ ପୁଅ good boy ନାଲି ଫୁଲ red flower adjective(numeral)-specifier ଦଶଟି ଫୁଲ ten flowers ପାଞ୍ଚଟା ଗାଁ five villages ଜଣେ ଛାତ୍ର a student ଦଶ ଜଣ ଶିକ୍ଷକ ten teachers adjective(numeral)-quantity/measure ପାଞ୍ଚ କିଲୋ ପରିବା 5 kg vegetables ଦଶ ଲିଟର ତେଲ 10 ltr oil adjective adjective ଅତି ବଡ଼ ଘର very big house ଭାରି ସୁନ୍ଦର ପିଲା very beautiful child adverb adjective ଧୀର ମିଠା କଥା soft sweet talk compound adverb କାନ୍ଦ କାନ୍ଦ ମୁଁହ crying face ହସ ହସ ଭାବ smiling appearance adverb verbal noun ଧୀର ଚାଲି slow walking ଚଞ୍ଚଳ ଖିଆ quick eating
+Derived Adjectives Type Adjective type Noun/Verb Eg. Meaning Suffix noun-ā ରୋଗ ରୋଗା ଲୋକ ill person ଦକ୍ଷିଣ ଦକ୍ଷିଣା ପବନ southern wind verb-ā ଶୁଣ ଶୁଣା କଥା heard matter ଜାଣ ଜଣା ଖବର known news noun verb-ā ଚାଉଳ, ଧୋ ଚାଉଳ ଧୁଆ ପାଣି rice-washed water ଲୁଗା, କାଚ୍ ଲୁଗା କଚା ସାବୁନ୍ cloth washing soap verb-i ଗୁଣ ଗୁଣି ଲେକ good person ଦାମ୍ ଦାମି ଜିନିଷ costly thing
Postpositions Postpositions used with Inflections: The postpositions which occur with nominal forms and function as both morphological and syntactic markers. They are added to the nominal stems formed by noun-genitive case markers.
+Postpositions used with Inflections Postpositions Meaning Postpositions Meaning ଉପରେ up ପରି like ମଧ୍ୟରେ between ଭଳି like ଭିତରେ in ପ୍ରତି per head ତଳେ under ଜଗୁଁ because of ପାଖରେ near ହେତୁ because of ବଦଳରେ instead of ନେଇ by ନିକଟରେ near ଦ୍ଵାରା by ଠାରୁ from ଦ୍ୱାରା by ସକାସେ for ପାଇଁ by ନିମନ୍ତେ for ଠାରେ at ପରିବର୍ତ୍ତେ instead of ରୁପେ like
Indeclinable Postpositions: Those which do not have inflected suffixes, function as indeclinables.
+Postpositions as Indeclinables Postpositions Meaning Postpositions Meaning ଭଳି like ପରି like ହେଲେ then ସବୁ all ସହିତ with ସଙ୍ଗେ with ନିମନ୍ତେ for ସାଥେ with ମଧ୍ୟ also ଅନ୍ତେ then ସହ with ଜାକ all
Classifiers When a noun is enumerated, it takes a group of morphemes called classifiers.
When the number denotes 'one', then the structure of the phrase: classifier-numeral noun Eg- ଜଣେ ପିଲା – one child
When the numeral is more than 'one', then the structure is: numeral classifier noun Eg- ଦୁଇ ଜଣ ପିଲା – two children
Classifiers have two types- qualifiers- used for count nouns.
Nouns which occur with ଗୋଟା,ଗୋଟି or its variant -ଟା,-ଟି
Eg- ଗୋଟିଏ ପିଲା – one child, ଦୁଇଟି ପିଲା -two children ଗୋଟିଏ ଘର – one house, ଦୁଇଟି ଘର – two houses
Other types of count nouns of human and non human forms include- ଜଣେ ପିଲା – one child ଖଣ୍ଡେ ଲୁଗା – one piece of cloth ଗୋଛାଏ କାଠ – one bundle of wood ଫାଳେ କାଠ – a half piece of wood ଗଦାଏ କାଠ – one heap of wood କିଲେ କାଠ – one kilo of wood ଫୁଟେ କାଠ – one foot of wood ବସ୍ତାଏ କାଠ – one sack of wood
quantifiers- used for mass nouns
Nouns which occur with ମେଞ୍ଚା
Eg- ମେଞ୍ଚାଏ କାଦୁଅ – a lump of mud
Verbs
Inflection Verbs in Odia are marked for a combination of tense/mood, aspect, person, and number. In the progressive and perfect aspects, aspect is marked on the verb (with the progressive in -u- and the perfect in -i-), while all other information is marked on the auxiliary ach/thā. The overall order is stem + aspect + auxiliary + tense/mood + person/number. For example, khā-u-thā-nt-ā means "he/she would have been eating."
Odia has 5 tenses/moods: the habitual (no suffix), the imperative (no suffix), the past (with the suffix -il-), the conditional (with the suffix -ant-), and the future (with the suffix -ib-). These 5 tenses use the auxiliary th(ā) when in the perfect or progressive aspects. There are also the Present Perfect and the Present Progressive, which use the auxiliary (a)ch. These are then followed by a personal suffix, depending on person, number, as well as the tense: +Personal Suffixes on Odia verbs by tense/mood Person Number Tense/mood HabitualPast/conditionalFutureImperativePresent Progressive/Perfect 1st Singular -e -i -i -ẽ-i Plural inclusive -e -e -a N/A-ePlural exclusive-u-u-u-ũ-u 2nd Singular -u -u -u -Ø-u Plural -a -a -a -a-a 3rd Singular -e -ā -a -u-i Plural -anti -e -e -antu -anti When preceded by ā, the conditional suffix -ant becomes -ānt- or -nt-. Otherwise, the auxiliary thā becomes th before a vowel.
Negation Any finite verb can be negated by adding nāhĩ afterwards. In the Present Progressive and Present Perfect, nāhĩ or the suffix n with personal agreement may replace the auxiliary, as in kar-u-n-i/kar-u-nāhĩ "I am not doing." Other verbs in the Progressive or Perfect aspects may be negated by adding na- before the auxiliary, as in dekh-i-na-thi-li.
Causatives The causative in Odia is formed by the suffic ā at the end of a stem. An ā in the root then changes to a.
See also Odia language Odia script Odia literature
References
Bibliography
John Beames, A comparative grammar of the modern Aryan languages of India: to wit, Hindi, Panjabi, Sindhi, Gujarati, Marathi, Oriya, and Bangali. Londinii: Trübner, 1872–1879. 3 vols.
Further reading