Kurichiya

A language of India

ISO 639: kfh
Alternate Names: Kowohans, Kurichchan, Kurichchia, Kurichia, Kurichiyars, Kuruchans
Population: 29,400 (2004 survey). Ethnic population: 32,800 (2001 census).
Location:: Kerala state: Kannur, Kozhikode, and Wayanad districts, Mananthavady and Vythiri sub-districts in Wayanad.
Language Status: 6b* (Threatened).
Classification: Dravidian, Southern
Dialects: Kunnam, Wayanad. Lexical similarity: 60%–66% between dialects; Wayanad dialect 67%–71% with Malayalam [mal].
Language Use: Shifting to Malayalam [mal], more in Kunnam than in Wayanad dialect. All also use Malayalam [mal], but less than half with good proficiency. Also use English [eng].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L2: 68% (2001 census).
Language Resources: OLAC resources in and about Kurichiya
Writing: Malayalam script [Mlym].
Other Comments: A Scheduled Tribe. Consider themselves higher caste than Brahmin. An endangered language (Central Institute of Indian Languages). Further study is being done at Annamalai University. Hindu, Christian, traditional religion.

Location: Kerala state: Kannur, Kozhikode, and Wayanad districts, Mananthavady and Vythiri sub-districts in Wayanad.