001. Preface.

In submitting the present work to the Public, the Editor begs leave to offer some explanatory remarks.

1. The author of this Grammar is the Rev. H. Gundert, late of the Basel Evangelical Mission in Malabar and Canara. To acquaint himself with the character and religious views of the people, to reach and benefit the masses, to nourish the young Church by a sound literature and Christian lyrics, and to translate the Bible out of the original tongues, he read and studied thoroughly whatever he could get hold of in Malayalim Poetical and Prose writings, and embodied the result of his researches in a Malayalim Grammar and Dictionary, which latter work will D. V. appear ere long. For a quarter of a century Dr. Gundertert directed his chief energies to the accomplishment of this aim, continually enriching the materials of the Grammar even after he had left the country, so that this work can fairly claim to be considered a scrupulous exponent of the Malayalim language, in its ancient and modern dialects.

Dr. Gundertert edited a portion of this work at Tellicherry in 1851, carrying it as far as Section 552. 2 [old number 545. 2.]; and in 1860, when Inspector of Government Schools in Malabar and Canara, he published the First Catechism of Malayalim Grammar, which was corrected by himself and handed over by the Editor to his successor in office, Mr. L. Garthwaite, in 1865.

The want of a more complete Grammar for the Government Schools having been felt, Dr. Gundertert was repeatedly urged to finish the present work. Though burdened with literary and other labours at home, he not only carefully revised the above mentioned lithographed edition of 1851, but also carried the work on from Section 552. 2, to Section 69. Not finding time however to complete the whole, he sent the manuscript with necessary instructions to the Editor, in the begin ning of 1866.

When the lithographed portion was ready for the press, the Editor was asked to insert English headings similar to those in Rev. Mr. Würths Short Grammar of the ancient dialect of the Canarese Language. Alive to the difficulty of terminology, he reluctantly under took it, and this contributed to prevent the earlier completion of his editorial duties.

When about 150 pages of this book had been printed, the work was for some months brought to a standstill by the printing for the Government, of a new edition of the “First Catechism of Malayalam Grammar, in the revision and enlargement of which however the printed sheets of this larger Grammar did good service.

2. About the Grammar itself the Editor desires to make the following remarks:- It is arranged in three parts, viz: Orthography, Etymology, Syntax, with an Appendix on Rhetorical figures of speech and Compounds. Etymology comprises the Noun, Verb and Particle, the different uses of which are severally treated in the Syntax. To the Noun belong: Noun proper, Pronoun, Definite and Indefinite Numerals, Adjectives and Adjectival Participles. To the Verb belong: Adnounal and Adverbial Participles and Verbal Nouns, while under the head of Particles, Particles proper and Copulatives are treated. Some may be inclined to think that useless repetitions occur here and there, but on closer examination they will find that Forms (Etymology) and their several Bearings and Uses (Syntax) must materially differ and require a systematic repetition in order to give a clear insight into the structure of a language.

The Rules have not been laid down a priori, or derived from any existing Grammar, nor have the examples been improvised to fit the Rules, but the latter as well as the former are the result of a most scrupulous and careful perusal of Native Poetry, Prose writings, Judicial and other Government Papers as well as the common language. A list of the Granthams from which quotations have been made, is appended to the book. The Editor thus believes himself justified in hoping that this Grammar will be found in consistence with the modern philosophical and inductive treatment of linguistic works.

The English grammatical terms are taken from Latin, the mother of all European Grammars, and by far the greatest part of the Malayalim terms from the Sanscrit Grammarian Pāņini and his school. Some expressions have been borrowed from the Tamil Nannool and a few terms were coined under the force of circumstances. Special attention has been paid to Roots and Derivations, to the Verbs ആക, എൻക and a number of Auxiliary and Defective Verbs, as well as to Particles, the importance of which has not hitherto been sufficiently set forth.

3. The part which the present Editor has in this work is only of a secondary character. He had before him Dr. Gunderterts Manuscript in English with copious examples partly translated. Desirous to let the author speak as much as possible, he has given the headings more largely than originally intended, and could not withstand the temptation of quoting examples more copiously. This has been done to bear out the Rules and their exceptions, and thus to assist students and teachers. He hopes to have entered into the spirit of the work and to have treated the sequel as much as possible in accordance with the original plan. A few deviations and additions, which appeared called for, have been made with the assistance of other writings by the same author, and are so insignificant that the Editor would have desisted from putting his name to this work, had he not been anxious to save the author from any blame, for which he alone must be held answerable.

4. In conclusion the forbearance of the reader is asked for the many errors which have crept into the print. The scientific character of this work, requiring many uncommon and difficult combinations of letters, its novelty, the introduction of the final half u (്), the inter spersion of English, for some time the want of a good corrector, the distance of the Press from the residence of the Editor and similar difficulties, have each contributed its quota. Besides this the compositor numbered several subdivisions of Sections by mistake separately, and thereby threw the subsequent Sections and all the reference-paragraphs in them into confusion, by which some mischief has been done before it was noticed. If this work were not a Grammar where the most scrupulous accuracy is required, about two-thirds of the Table of Errata at the end of the book might have been dispensed with. Our readers are requested to be kind enough to correct their copies before use.

The Editor is fully conscious of defects and discrepancies, which it is hoped will be removed in a new edition.

E. Diez
B. Ev. Miss. Soc.
March 1868.