167Table 5.3 Solega ka:ḍu terms and the primary features used to defi ne them (as determined from
the transcripts presented in the text)
Ka:ḍu type English gloss Primary defi ning feature
‘Macro’ terms
male ka:ḍu Highland forest Elevation
tho:pu ka:ḍu Highland forest Elevation
na:ḍu ka:ḍu Plains vegetation Elevation
beṭṭaga:ḍu Mountain forest Elevation
maṭṭaga:ḍu Flatland forest Elevation/ topography/ wildlife
‘Local’ terms
oḍḍuga:ḍu Boulder fi eld Geology
eḷa:vuga:ḍu Early fallow Human action (agric.)
oṭṭuga:ḍu Late fallow Human action (agric.)/
vegetation
benda ka:ḍu Ash bed Human action ( fi re)
aḷḷa ka:ḍu Riverine forest Hydrology
koḷḷa ka:ḍu Valley forest Topography
bo:rega:ḍu Slope forest Topography
hoḍe ka:nu ka:ḍu Gorge forest Topography
guḍḍega:ḍu Hill forest Elevation/ topography
dimba ka:ḍu Flatland forest Elevation
saṇṇa ka:nu ka:ḍu Shola forest Elevation/ vegetation
bo:ḷiga:ḍu Hilltop grassland Elevation/ topography/ vegetation
orrega:ḍu Foothills vegetation Elevation/ vegetation
kutarega:ḍu Plains vegetation Elevation/ vegetation
begga:ḍu Waste forest Lack of utility
doḍḍa ka:nu ka:ḍu Evergreen forest Vegetation/climate‘macro’ terms ( male , tho:pu and na:ḍu ) overlap with the highland/lowland distinction
that is so salient to considerations of Solega identity. The one exception in this respect
is maṭṭaga:ḍu ‘ fl atland forest ’, which also has a wildlife feature associated with it.
Again, this is to be expected, for the danger posed by elephants in such locations
(Extract XXIV) is something the Solega are constantly aware of.
5.5 Landscape/Forest Terms and Seasonality
In many of the landscape/forest term explanations presented above, there seems to
be a strong element of seasonality which, to an extent, shapes Solega perceptions of
these landscapes, and determines the time and manner in which the Solega may
utilize the resources contained therein. The terms guḍḍega:ḍu ‘ hill forest ’ and
maṭṭa:ga:ḍu ‘ fl atland forest ’ are, for instance, frequently contrasted, as animals such
as elephants are more likely to be found in the latter landscape type during the dry
season. As a result, the Solega may only safely gather yams in the hill forests during
this time, even though this food source is also quite plentiful in the fl atland forest.
5.5 Landscape/Forest Terms and Seasonality