Linguist develops script for tribal languages

Hyderabad, Sept 5: A linguist in Andhra Pradesh has 'developed' a common script using English alphabets for over 200 languages spoken by tribals in the country.

Living with Koya tribals in the agency areas of Khammam for over four years, Ch Amara Varaprasad came out with the common script with 49 letters, including 34 consonants based on phonetics, he told reporters here yesterday.

A keen observer of tribals language and culture, he had initially developed a script for Koyas, Gonds and Lambadas and then came up with the common script for all tribal languages, Mr Varaprasad said.

He said he was going to start a school for the Lambada community in Vijayawada to help them learn through their mother tongue.

UNI