Kurumba, Mullu

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A language of India

ISO 639-3
kpb
User Population

26,000 (2004 survey). 25,000 in Wayanad; 1,000 in Gudalur of Nilgiri.

Location

Kerala state: Wayanad district, Sulthan Bathery and Vythiri sub-districts; Tamil Nadu state: Nilgiri district, Gudalur sub-districts, Cherangodu and Erumad villages, 10 hamlets.

Language Maps
Language Status

6a* (Vigorous).

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

None known. Lexical similarity: 89%–92% between Mullu Kurumba varieties in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, 73%–77% with Malayalam [mal], 56%–65% with Tamil [tam], 22%–36% with Kannada Kurumba [kfi], 29%–41% with other Kurumba languages.

Language Use

Use is declining. Home, village, religious services. Positive attitudes. Also use English [eng]. Also use Malayalam [mal].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 60%. Favorable motivation toward literacy. Grammar.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kurumba, Mullu
Writing

Unwritten [Qaax].

Other Comments

A Scheduled Tribe. Mullukuruman and Mullukurumbar are sometimes referred to as different tribes. Kuruman are in Kerala and Kurumbar in Tamil Nadu. Linguistically can be considered one group. Traditional religion, Hindu.