Tulu

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A language of India

ISO 639-3
tcy
Alternate Names
Tal, Tallu, Thalu, Thulu, Tilu, Tullu, Tuluva Bhasa
Autonym
ತುಳು‎ (Tulu), ತುಳು ಭಾಷೆ‎ (Tuḷu bhāṣe)
User Population

1,850,000 (2011 census).

Location

Karnataka state: Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts; Kerala state: Kasargod district; scattered in other states.

Language Maps
Language Status

5* (Developing).

Classification
Dravidian, Southern, Tulu
Dialects

Northwest Tulu (Mangalore, Udipi), Northeast Tulu (Belthangadi, Kerala), Southwest Tulu (Kasaragod, Manjeswara), South Central Tulu (Bantwal, Puttur), Southeast Tulu (Sullia Subrahmanya), Brahmin Tulu, Common Tulu.

Language Use

Also use English [eng]. Also use Hindi [hin]. Also use Kannada [kan]. Also use Marathi [mar]. Used as L2 by Korra Koraga [kfd], Kudiya [kfg].

Language Development

Literacy rate in L2: 80%–83% in Dakshina Kannada [kan] for Udupi districts. Literature. Periodicals. Radio. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. NT: 1847–2000.

Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Tulu
Writing

Kannada script [Knda]. Tulu (Tigalari) script [Qaau], philosophical texts and religious verses are sometimes written in this script.

Other Comments

Hindu, traditional religion.