Kodava

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A language of India

ISO 639-3
kfa
Alternate Names
Coorg, Coorgi Kodava, Kadagi, Khurgi, Kodagu, Kotagu, Kurja, Kurug
Autonym
ಕೊಡವ‎ (Kodava)
User Population

114,000 (2011 census). Ethnic population: 200,000. 100,000 in Kodagu District; 100,000 in Karnataka District and major cities.

Location

Karnataka state: Bengaluru (Bangalore), Dakshina Kannada (Mangalore), Kodagu (Coorg), and Mysuru (Mysore) districts. 50% live outside of Kodagu district in Karnataka state.

Language Maps
Language Status

5* (Developing).

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

Historically there were 2 dialects, north and south. More recently, migration, intermarriage, and ethnic resurgence have contributed towards a single dialect in Kodagu (2020 N. Samuvel). 66% intelligibility of Malappuram [pcg]. Lexical similarity: 72% with Malappuram Paniya [pcg].

Language Use

Vigorous. L1 of Airi, Male-Kudiya, Meda, Kembatti, Kapal, Maringi, Heggade, Kavadi, Kolla, Thatta, Koleya, Koyava, Banna, Golla, Kanya, Ganiga, and Malaya. Home, community, religion. Most also use Kannada [kan]. Many also use English [eng]. Also use Malayalam [mal]. Used as L2 by Kudiya [kfg].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: More than 95% in Kannada [kan]. Literature. Newspapers. Radio. TV. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 2021.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kodava
Writing

Kannada script [Knda].

Other Comments

A symbol of identity. ‘Kodagu’, situated to the west. Northern variety has emerged as standard and is used in Kodava literature (Rajyashree 2001). Hindu, traditional religion.