Page Type: languageKodava | Ethnologue

KFA ISO 639-3

Kodava

ಕೊಡವ‎ (Kodava) Autonym

A language of India

ISO 639
kfa
Alternate Names
Coorg, Coorgi Kodava, Kadagi, Khurgi, Kodagu, Kotagu, Kurja, Kurug
Autonym
ಕೊಡವ‎ (Kodava)
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 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.

Also Spoken in

Map

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