Page Type: languageMalasar | Ethnologue

YMR ISO 639-3

Malasar

A language of India

ISO 639
ymr
Alternate Names
Malayar
Population
7,760 (2001 census).
Location:
Karnataka state; Kerala state: Palakkad district, Chittoor and Palakkad sub-districts; Tamil Nadu state: Coimbatore district, Pollachi sub-district.
Language Status
6a (Vigorous).
Classification
Dravidian, Southern, Unclassified
Dialects
None known. Lexical similarity: 68%–74% with Tamil [tam], 79%–83% with Walayar Irula [iru], 77%–86% with Eravallan [era], 57%–61% with Malayalam [mal], 68%–75% with Mala Malasar [ima] (2004 survey); 52%–56% with Malaryan [mjq], 77%–82% between Malasar and Kollimalakkar, Kollimalakkar 80% with Malapulaya (2006 survey).
Language Use
Home, village, religion. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use English [eng]. Also use Malayalam [mal], especially in Kerala among the few with higher education. Also use Tamil [tam].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L2: 36% in Kerala, 22% in Tamil Nadu (2001 census).
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Malasar
Writing
Unwritten [Qaax].
Other Comments
Kollimalakkar call themselves Malasar but are different culturally, belonging to the Malayali tribe of Tamil Nadu. They migrated to Nelliyampathy area in Kerala for work many years ago. Traditional religion, Christian, Hindu.

Also Spoken in

Map

Location: Karnataka state; Kerala state: Palakkad district, Chittoor and Palakkad sub-districts; Tamil Nadu state: Coimbatore district, Pollachi sub-district.