Kurumba, Jennu

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A language of India

ISO 639-3
xuj
Alternate Names
Jen Kurumba, Jennu Kurumba, Jennu Nudi, Kattu Nayaka, Naik Kurumba, Naikan, Nonstandard Kannada, Shola Nayakan, Ten Kurumba
Population

35,000 (IMA 1997).

Location

North Nilgiri Hills, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka border, east of Kerala border, Karnataka, Mysore and Kodagu districts; Kerala, Wayanad district.

Language Maps
Language Status

5 (Developing).

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

May or may not be the same as Jeinu Kuruba dialect of Kannada [kan]. Lexical similarity: 61%–83% among varieties called Jennu Kurumba, less than 60% with Betta Kurumba [xub] dialects.

Language Use

Positive attitudes. Low proficiency in Kannada [kan], Malayalam [mal], or Tamil [tam].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 46% in Tamil Nadu (2001 census). Attitudes favorable toward literacy.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kurumba, Jennu
Other Comments

’Jennu Kurumba’, honey shepherds. A Scheduled Tribe. Traditional religion, Hindu.