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Editorial and Historical Notes

This concluding section of the OER edition provides additional materials that illuminate the linguistic features, historical setting, and scholarly significance of Rev. Hermann Gundert’s Malayalam and English Dictionary (1872). These notes help readers situate the dictionary within the broader development of Malayalam lexicography and nineteenth‑century language scholarship.

The Back Matter also outlines the editorial principles followed in preparing this digital edition, including decisions related to transcription, Unicode normalization, orthographic consistency, and the treatment of historical spellings. Where relevant, references to primary sources and related grammatical works are included to support further study.

Acknowledgements

The preparation of this Open Educational Resource edition of Rev. Hermann Gundert’s Malayalam and English Dictionary (1872) has benefited from the work of many individuals and institutions committed to the preservation and study of Malayalam language history.

The editor gratefully acknowledges the contributions of the Basel Mission archives and the custodians of public‑domain materials that made the original text accessible for digital scholarship. Appreciation is also extended to scholars of Malayalam linguistics and lexicography whose research continues to illuminate Gundert’s legacy.

Special thanks are due to the open‑source communities whose tools—ranging from text‑processing utilities to digital‑publishing platforms—have enabled the creation of a clean, structured, and reusable edition for learners, teachers, and researchers.

Sources & Further Reading

The following works provide historical, linguistic, and scholarly context for understanding Gundert’s dictionary and its place in Malayalam lexicography:

  • Gundert, Hermann. Malayalam and English Dictionary. Mangalore: Basel Mission Book & Tract Depository, 1872.
  • Gundert, Hermann. A Grammar of the Malayalam Language. Mangalore: Basel Mission Press, 1859.
  • Bailey, Benjamin. A Dictionary of English and Malayalam. Cottayam: CMS Press, 1846.
  • Menon, A. Sreedhara. A Survey of Kerala History. Kottayam: DC Books.
  • Varma, A.R. Raja Raja. Keralapanineeyam. A foundational work on Malayalam grammar and linguistic structure.
  • Scholarly articles on nineteenth‑century South Indian lexicography, language contact, and missionary linguistics.
  • Studies on the Basel Mission’s contributions to printing, education, and linguistic documentation in Kerala.

This list is not exhaustive; it is intended as a starting point for readers who wish to explore the linguistic, historical, and cultural background of Gundert’s work.