Paliyan

A language of India

Makkal, Malai Paliyar, Palani, Palaya, Palayan, Paliyar, Palleyan, Palliyar, Poliyar, Seramar, Tamil

9,520 (2001 census).

Karnataka state; Kerala state: Idukki district, Pirmed sub-district, Chakkupallam, Kumily, and Vandanmedu areas; Ernakulam and Kottayam districts; Tamil Nadu state: Coimbatore, Dindigul, Madurai, Pudukkottai, Ramanathapuram, Thanjavur, and Tirunelveli districts.

Language Status

6b* (Threatened).

Classification

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

Dialects

Mala Pulayan (Hill Pulaya, Karavazhi). Lexical similarity: 71%–75% with Tamil [tam], 62%–65% with Malayalam [mal], 79%–85% with Mala Pulayan [pcf].

Language Use

Also use English [eng]. Also use Malayalam [mal]. Also use Tamil [tam], with high proficiency.

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 44%–62% in Kerala, 50% for Hill Pulaya (2001 census).

Language Resources

OLAC resources in and about Paliyan