Malavedan

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A language of India

ISO 639-3
mjr
Alternate Names
Malai Vedan, Malavetan, Towetan, Veda Bhasha, Vedans, Vettava Bhasha
Population

Total population unknown. 6,190 in Kerala, 6,410 in Tamil Nadu (2001 census). Ethnic population: 12,600 (2001 census).

Location

Kerala, Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Kollam, and Trivandrum districts; Tamil Nadu, Kanniyakumari, Madurai, Dindigul, Nilgiris, Salem, and Tirunelveli districts.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b (Threatened).

Classification
Dravidian, Southern, Tamil-Kannada, Tamil-Kodagu, Tamil-Malayalam, Malayalam
Dialects

Vetan, Vettuvan. Lexical similarity: 64%–68% with Malayalam [mal], 48%–52% with Tamil [tam].

Language Use

Dying out in Idukki District, replaced by Malayalam [mal]. Home, village in Pathanamthitta district. Positive attitudes in Pathanamthitta district. Bilingualism in Malayalam [mal] widespread in Kerala.

Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 67%–78% for Kerala, 56% for Tamil Nadu (2001 census).
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Malavedan
Other Comments

A Scheduled Tribe. Traditional religion, Hindu.