Kannada

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A language of India

ISO 639-3
kan
Alternate Names
Banglori, Canarese, Havyaka, Kanarese, “Madrassi” (pej.)
Autonym
ಕನ್ನಡ‎ (Kannaḍa)
User Population

58,500,000 in India, all users. L1 users: 43,500,000 in India (2011 census). L2 users: 15,000,000 (2011 census). Total users in all countries: 58,644,310 (as L1: 43,644,310; as L2: 15,000,000).

Location

Mainly Goa and Karnataka states; Andhra Pradesh state: Anantapur; Maharashtra state: Latur district; Tamil Nadu and Kerala states; small border areas 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], Bellari [brw], 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%. Taught in primary and secondary schools through grade 5 and as subject thereafter in Karnataka state. Fully developed. Bible: 1831–2000.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kannada
Writing

Braille script [Brai]. Kannada script [Knda], primary usage. Nandinagari script [Nand], no longer in use.

Other Comments

Hindu, Muslim.

Also spoken in:

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