Notes

A language grows by welcoming new expressions. But when native words already exist, replacing them with borrowed words can weaken the language. The difficult reality is that much of modern spoken Telugu relies heavily on non-Telugu vocabulary.

Usage or Telugu?

This is the first dilemma faced by anyone who wishes to learn or teach Telugu. Teaching everyday usage often means setting aside native Telugu words, while teaching native Telugu may require moving away from common usage.

Our approach is:

• Use Telugu words whenever they are still in common use.
• If a Telugu word exists but is no longer commonly used, present the Telugu word first and the commonly used borrowed word in parentheses.
• If no traditional Telugu word exists, use suitable Telugu coinages proposed by scholars such as S. Vem. Ramesh and Marripudi Balasubrahmanyam (Vachaspathi), with the commonly used borrowed word in parentheses.
• If none of these options is available, use the borrowed word that is already in common use.

Annamacharya’s keertanas are an invaluable treasure of Telugu literature, weaving together devotion, love, and wisdom.

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