Paliyan

Print

A language of India

ISO 639-3
pcf
Alternate Names
Makkal, Malai Paliyar, Palani, Palaya, Palayan, Paliyar, Palleyan, Palliyar, Poliyar, Seramar, Tamil
Population

9,520 (2001 census).

Location

Kerala, Idukki district, Pirmed tahsil, Kumily, Vandanmedu, and Chakkupallam panchayats; Ernakulam and Kottayam districts; Tamil Nadu, Dindigul, Madurai, Ramanathapuram, Thanjavur, Pudukkottai, Tirunelveli, and Coimbatore districts; Karnataka.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a (Vigorous).

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

Mala Pulayan (Hill Pulaya, Karavazhi). Lexical similarity: 71%–75% with Tamil [tam], 62%–65% with Malayalam [mal], 79%–85% with Mala Pulayan [pcf].

Language Use

Speakers have high proficiency in Tamil [tam]. Some also use Malayalam [mal].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 44%–62% in Kerala, 50% for Hill Pulaya (2001 census).
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Paliyan
Other Comments

A Scheduled Tribe. Paliya and Mala Pulaya refer to L1 as Tamil [tam], though it differs from standard Tamil. Traditional religion, Hindu, Christian.