Bhubaneswar, Aug. 1: A team of Odia authors is set to add a large number of colloquial words to the Odia lexicon after analysing them.

The words are used in specific regions of the state. With different terms used for many Odia words in almost every district, thousands that were not yet a part of the Odia lexicon will be added to it.

But not all are happy about the project that began under the auspices of the state department of culture about three years ago. Lexicographers and renowned linguists have criticised the methodology of the project and said the step would only harm the language.

Headed by Chandrashekhar Rath, a committee of authors and litterateurs have identified over 5,000 words for the new dictionary.

“The culture department had begun the initiative in 2009-2010. Once the members compiled the selected words, the draft was handed over to the Odisha Sahitya Akademi to be studied and make a final selection. This was to be given into print,” said noted author and president of the Akademi.

He said that after the analysis of the draft, the process of publishing and releasing of the updated dictionary would take around six months.

“The members have chosen words from north, south, coastal and mostly western Odisha. There are also a number of English and Hindi words that have been chosen but will be added in the next edition,” he said.

“If words from all over the country can be added to Oxford dictionaries to make communication simpler, why can’t we add words that have been in use for centuries but have not found a place in the Odia dictionary?” asked Hota.

A member of the team, Suvendu Mund, said this would help revive the words used in rural areas since these are not in use by people in urban areas, who dominate the language scene.

“There will be a wide number of synonyms of each word if we collect the term used for the word in different regions of the state. The step will help the Odia language grow,” he said.

Improper procedure and absence of any linguist or lexicographer in the committee has upset Odia language scholars.

While a renowned lexicographer, who did not want to be named, said it took him 17 years of research and survey to find 12,000 words for his dictionary, another reputed linguist, Debi Prasanna Pattanayak, said this work would not help the language.

“Today, those who have no idea about Odia as a language are considered experts. That is the sad state of affairs in our state. They should have at least concerned a lexicographer. I hope they will before publishing the new dictionary,” he said.

“They have earned the classical tag for Odia but such steps will only harm the language,” he added.