Koya

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A language of India

ISO 639-3
kff
Alternate Names
Kavor, Kaya, Koa, Koi, Koi Gondi, Koitar, Koyato, Koyi, Raj Koya
Population

362,000 (2001 census).

Location

Andhra Pradesh, south of Godavari river, adjoining districts north of the river; Odisha, Koraput district, Malkangiri subdivision; Chhattisgarh, Bastar district; Maharashtra.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

Classification
Dravidian, South-Central, Gondi-Kui, Konda-Kui, Manda-Kui, Kui-Kuvi
Dialects

Dorli (Chintoor Koya, Dor Koi, Dora, Dora Koi, Dorla Koitur, Dorla Koya, Korla), Jaganathapuram Koya (Godavari Koya, Gommu Koya), Malkangiri Koya, Podia Koya (Gotte Koya). Linguistic center is Chintoor. Malkangiri and Podia are more divergent. Separate from Northern Gondi [gno] and Southern Gondi [ggo].

Language Use

Some also use Telugu [tel], but proficiency is low.

Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 7%. NT: 1997–2004.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Koya
Writing
Devanagari script. Latin script, reportedly preferred by Koya leaders. Oriya script. Telugu script.
Other Comments

A Scheduled Tribe. Traditional religion, Hindu.