Page Type: languageKannada | Ethnologue

KAN ISO 639-3

Kannada

ಕನ್ನಡ‎ (Kannaḍa) Autonym

A language of India

ISO 639
kan
Alternate Names
Banglori, Canarese, Havyaka, Kanarese, “Madrassi” (pej.)
Autonym
ಕನ್ನಡ‎ (Kannaḍa)
Population
58,500,000 in India, all users. L1 users: 43,500,000 in India (2011 census). L2 users: 15,000,000 (2011 census). Total users in all countries: 58,644,310 (as L1: 43,644,310; as L2: 15,000,000).
Location:
Mainly Goa and Karnataka states; Andhra Pradesh state: Anantapur; Maharashtra state: Latur district; Tamil Nadu and Kerala states; small border areas of last 4 states.
Language Status
2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Karnataka (1950, Constitution, Schedule VIII).
Classification
Dravidian, Southern, Tamil-Kannada, Kannada
Dialects
Bellary, Bijapur, Gulbarga, Kumta, Aine Kuruba, Jeinu Kuruba, Nanjangud. About 20 dialects; Badaga [bfq] may be one.
Typology
SOV; postpositions; noun head final; gender (masculine/feminine/neuter); case-marking (7 cases); verb affixes mark person, number, gender of subject; tense and aspect; causatives; 22 consonants, 20 vowels, 2 diphthongs; non-tonal; light stress on first syllable.
Language Use
Used as L2 by Alu Kurumba [xua], Bellari [brw], Holiya [hoy], Irula [iru], Jennu Kurumba [xuj], Kannada Kurumba [kfi], Kodava [kfa], Kota [kfe], Kudiya [kfg], Lambadi [lmn], Mudu Koraga [vmd], Paniya [pcg], Ravula [yea], Tamil [tam], Tulu [tcy], Vaagri Booli [vaa].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 60%. Literacy rate in L2: 60%. Fully developed. Bible: 1831–2000.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Kannada
Writing
Braille script [Brai]. Kannada script [Knda], primary usage. Nandinagari script [Nand], no longer in use.
Other Comments
Hindu, Muslim.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Kannada
User Population
9,700 in Australia (2016 census).
Language Status
Unestablished
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of Australia
Language Name
Kannada
User Population
3,970 in Canada (2016 census).
Language Status
Unestablished
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of Canada
Language Name
Kannada
User Population
59,000 in Malaysia (2021 Joshua Project). , based on ethnicity.
Language Status
Unestablished
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of Malaysia
Language Name
Kannada
User Population
1,040 in New Zealand (2013 census).
Language Status
Unestablished
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of New Zealand
Language Name
Kannada
User Population
22,000 in Singapore (2018 J. Leclerc).
Language Status
Unestablished
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of Singapore
Language Name
Kannada
User Population
48,600 in United States (2015 census).
Location
Scattered.
Language Status
Unestablished
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of United States

Map

Location: Mainly Goa and Karnataka states; Andhra Pradesh state: Anantapur; Maharashtra state: Latur district; Tamil Nadu and Kerala states; small border areas of last 4 states.