Kannada

Print

Primary tabs

A language of India

ISO 639-3
kan
Alternate Names
Banglori, Canarese, Havyaka, Kanarese, Madrassi
Population

37,700,000 in India (2001 census). L2 users: 9,000,000 in India. Total users in all countries: 46,739,040 (as L1: 37,739,040; as L2: 9,000,000).

Location

Mainly Karnataka and Goa; Maharashtra: Latur district; Andhra Pradesh: Anantapur; Tamil Nadu and Kerala; numerous small areas on borders of last 4 states.

Language Maps
Language Status

2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Karnataka (1950, Constitution, Schedule VIII).

Classification
Dravidian, Southern, Tamil-Kannada, Kannada
Dialects

Bellary, Bijapur, Gulbarga, Kumta, Aine Kuruba, Jeinu Kuruba, Nanjangud. About 20 dialects; Badaga [bfq] may be one.

Typology

SOV; postpositions; noun head final; gender (masculine/feminine/neuter); case-marking (7 cases); verb affixes mark person, number, gender of subject; tense and aspect; causatives; 22 consonants, 20 vowels, 2 diphthongs; non-tonal; light stress on first syllable.

Language Use

Used as L2 by Alu Kurumba [xua], Holiya [hoy], Irula [iru], Jennu Kurumba [xuj], Kannada Kurumba [kfi], Kodava [kfa], Kota [kfe], Kudiya [kfg], Lambadi [lmn], Mudu Koraga [vmd], Paniya [pcg], Ravula [yea], Tamil [tam], Tulu [tcy], Vaagri Booli [vaa].

Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 60%. Literacy rate in L2: 60%. Fully developed. Bible: 1831–2000.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kannada
Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Kannada script [Knda], primary usage.

Other Comments

Hindu, Muslim.

Free Views Left: