Kumbaran
A language of India
| Population | 20,000 (2005 IJMF). |
| Region | Kerala state, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Malappuram districts; Palakkad, Trissur, Ernakkulam, Kannur; all states in peninsular India. |
| Dialects | Reportedly cannot understand Telugu [tel] on Wayanad District radio. Lexical similarity: 48% with Telugu. |
| Classification | Dravidian, Southern |
| Language use | Fairly vigorous in Wayanad District although Malayalam [mal] is used some in home and village. Positive attitude in Wayanad District. |
| Language development | Literacy rate in L2: below 50% in the 50+ age group in Kerala. |
| Comments | Kumbaran are a subcaste of Chettiars (or Adi Andhra) whose caste occupation is pottery or any work with mud or clay. Some Kumbaran are known as ‘Adi Andhra’ (a Scheduled Caste). Some in Kozhikode call themselves Kusavan. Kusavan caste also speaks Kumbaran. Potters by tradition (80%), farmers, coolies more recently. Hinduism mixed with traditional religion. |
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