Gilbert Lawrence ( Dec 13 ) asks:: ''Do we know the original names of the villages prior to the arrival of the Portuguese and the changes in their names ? '' Response: It is quite a valid point. I think I should not have used the word 'change' though I had subsequently corrected myself by saying "they altered village names." Here is a story I had heard during my school days.In the nineteen or the eighteen century a primitive survey of Goa was carried out by the Portuguese surveyors with the assistance from mestisso subordinates for whom konkani was a strange language. When a survey team reached Guirim they asked local villagers for the name of their village to which they replied Girvod`dea. The mestisso subordinate wrote down Guir but was at loss to understand 'vod`dea' so he simply said Sim,Sim, Guirim i.e. yes, yes it is Guirim' The following are a few examples how konkani names were twisted by the Portuguese surveyors. Salcete: Benaulim ( Banavle), Betalbalim ( Berpatte)l Cavelossim (Kelshe), Sernabatim (Shirbatte).Loutulim ( Lotle or Rotre)Telaulim ( Torale),Seraulim (Surale) Colva ( Kolleam). Ilhas : Agassaim ( Agashe ), Chorao ( Chodnea ) Jua (Zumvear) Ribandar (Raibondra) Bardez: Aldona ( Oidonnea) Arpora ( Adfaddea) Assonora ( Asnodea) Bastora (Bostodde) Calangute (Kongotte)
Antonio PS.Please Goanetters do correct konkani versions where necessary and please come out with more konkani village names for the benefit of other Goanetters.