Kanikkaran

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A language of India

ISO 639-3
kev
Alternate Names
Kanikkar, Kannikan, Kannikaran, Kannikharan, Malampashi
User Population

19,000 (2007). Ethnic population: 19,000.

Location

Kerala state: Ernakulam, Koliam, Kozhikode, and Trivandrum districts, Nedumangadu and Neyyattinkara sub-districts; Tamil Nadu state: Kanniyakumari and Tirunelveli districts.

Language Maps
Language Status

6b (Threatened).

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

None known. Lexical similarity: 71%–80% between Kanikkaran varieties in Kerala, 67%–71% between Kanikkaran in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, 66%–75% with Malayalam [mal], 59%–65% with Tamil [tam].

Language Use

Almost all in Kerala are shifting to Malayalam [mal], but those in Tamil Nadu use L1. Some of all ages. Also use English [eng]. Also use Malayalam [mal]. Also use Tamil [tam].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 71%–80% in Kerala, 59%–68% in Tamil Nadu (2001 census). Grammar.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kanikkaran
Other Comments

Traditional religion, Hindu.