Kannada is one of the official languages of India spoken predominantly in the state of Karnataka. Like other Indian languages, Kannada refers to both the language and the people who speak it. So what is the word to refer to the Kannada language and Kannada people?
Kannada to refer to the language
The word ‘Kannada’ itself refers to the language spoken by Kannada people. Some key facts about the Kannada language:
- Kannada is a Dravidian language spoken by around 40 million people mainly in the state of Karnataka in southern India.
- It is one of the 22 official languages of India and the official and administrative language of the state of Karnataka.
- The written form of Kannada uses the Kannada script, which evolved from ancient Brahmic scripts such as Pallava and Bhattiprolu.
- Some of the earliest written inscriptions in Kannada date back to the 3rd century BCE.
- Kannada literature flourished under royal dynasties such as the Kadambas of Banavasi, the Western Chalukyas, the Rashtrakutas and the Vijayanagara Empire.
- Basavanna’s Vachana Sahitya in the 12th century and Kuvempu’s Sri Ramayana Darshanam in the 20th century are landmark works in Kannada literature.
- Kannada cinema, commonly referred to as Sandalwood, produces many movies each year in Kannada.
So in summary, the word ‘Kannada’ itself refers to the Dravidian language spoken in southern India, mainly in the state of Karnataka.
Kannadiga to refer to the people
The people who natively speak Kannada are referred to as ‘Kannadigas’. Some key facts about Kannadiga people:
- There are around 40 million Kannadiga speakers worldwide, mainly in the state of Karnataka.
- Kannadigas form the dominant ethno-linguistic group in Karnataka, making up around 65% of the state’s population.
- Many Kannadigas have migrated to other parts of India and across the world over the centuries for employment and business opportunities.
- Prominent Kannadiga communities exist in the USA, UK, Australia, Singapore, UAE and other countries.
- Some famous Kannadiga personalities are: Kuvempu, Masti Venkatesha Iyengar, DR Rajkumar, PV Narasimha Rao, Girish Karnad, Prakash Padukone, Rahul Dravid etc.
So in summary, the term ‘Kannadiga’ refers to the native speakers of the Kannada language or people who trace their ancestry to the state of Karnataka. Kannadigas form the main ethnic group in Karnataka.
Other Words for Kannada Language and People
There are a few other words and terms that are sometimes used to refer to the Kannada language and Kannadiga people. These include:
- Kannada Naadu / Kannada Nadu – Means ‘Kannada land’ or ‘Kannada country’, refers to Kannada speaking regions and people of Karnataka.
- Kannadathi / Kannadati – Means ‘Kannada woman’, refers specifically to Kannada speaking women.
- Kannadiga – Refers to a male Kannada speaker.
- Kannadaprabhu – An honorific used for revered Kannada personalities like founders of kingdoms.
- Kannadigaru – Plural for Kannadiga, used as a sign of respect.
- Kannada Gothilla – Phrase meaning ‘Don’t know Kannada’ used by non-Kannada speakers in Karnataka.
However, the most commonly used and generic words are simply ‘Kannada’ for the language and ‘Kannadiga’ for the people.
Conclusion
So in summary:
- The word ‘Kannada’ refers to the Dravidian language spoken predominantly in the state of Karnataka, India.
- The word ‘Kannadiga’ refers to the native speakers of the Kannada language or people who trace their ancestry to Karnataka.
- Other less common terms are also sometimes used like Kannadiga, Kannada Naadu, Kannadathi etc. But Kannada and Kannadiga are the most widely used generic terms.
The Kannada language has a rich history and culture associated with it. Kannadigas take great pride in their linguistic and cultural heritage. The state of Karnataka is home to many monuments and landmarks showcasing the glorified past of the Kannada speaking regions. From ancient stone carvings to modern literature and cinema, Kannada language has played a vital role in shaping the identity of Karnataka and its people.
Tables Related to Kannada Language
| Decade | Major Events in Kannada |
|---|---|
| 1900s | Emergence of Navodaya and Pragatishila literature |
| 1920s | Establishment of Kannada Sahitya Parishat |
| 1940s | Release of first Kannada feature film ‘Sati Sulochana’ |
| 1950s | Establishment of Central Institute of Indian Languages |
| 1960s | Pampa Award established to honor achievements in Kannada |
| 1970s | Emergence of Bandaya literary movement |
| 1980s | Kannada gains complete official language status |
| 1990s | Kannada University established in Hampi |
| 2000s | Launch of first Kannada internet satellite channel |
This table provides an overview of some of the major milestones in the development of written and spoken Kannada over the past century. Key events like literary movements, establishment of institutes and academies, cinema milestones and official recognition helped strengthen the foundations of the language and its promotion. The Kannada language has evolved greatly, especially in the written form, to adapt to modern contexts while keeping its ancient roots intact.
Geographical Spread of Kannada Language
| State/Region | Kannada Speaking Population |
|---|---|
| Karnataka | 38 million |
| Maharashtra | 1.4 million |
| Andhra Pradesh | 0.9 million |
| Kerala | 0.37 million |
| Tamil Nadu | 0.25 million |
| Goa | 0.10 million |
| Other | 0.13 million |
This table shows the spread of Kannada language across different states and regions of India. Karnataka accounts for the vast majority of Kannada speakers, while there are sizable populations speaking Kannada in the bordering states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Goa as well. The presence of Kannada speaking diaspora in other countries is not reflected in this table.
Prominent Kannada Literature Genres
| Genre | Description |
|---|---|
| Vachana Sahitya | Revolutionary form of rhythmic writing by 12th century Shivasahana poets |
| Sangatya | Metrical poetry with prosody |
| Tatva | Traditional Didactic literature |
| Kumara Vyasa Bharata | Celebrated 14th century Kannada version of the Mahabharata |
| Dasa Sahitya | Bhakti literature pioneered by 15th century Haridasa poets |
| Manteswamy Phala Shruthi | 16th century predictive palm-reading text by Manteswamy |
| Navodaya and Pragatishila | Progressive 20th century genres |
This table provides an overview of some of the most prominent literary genres and works in the history of written Kannada. The literature reflects important cultural, social and philosophical themes prevalent at various points in time. The diverse celebrated works enriched the language immensely.
Honors and Recognition for Contributions to Kannada
| Name of Honor | Description |
|---|---|
| Pampa Award | Annual award for achievements in Kannada literature |
| Nadoja Award | Lifetime achievement award for contributions to Kannada |
| Rajyotsava Award | Second highest civilian honor of Karnataka state |
| Karnataka Ratna | Highest civilian honor of Karnataka state |
| Nrupatunga Award | Annual award for promoting Kannada culture |
| Honorary Doctorates | Honorary doctoral degrees recognizing contributions |
Karnataka has established various civilian awards and honors to recognize excellence in Kannada literature, arts, culture and education. The Pampa and Nadoja awards are exclusively for Kannada contributions. The Rajyotsava and Karnataka Ratna awards cover all fields but have been awarded to many Kannada luminaries. Honorary doctorates have also recognized stellar Kannada icons.
Usage of Kannada Language on the Internet
The adoption and usage of Kannada language on the internet has been increasing steadily over the past two decades. Here are some key indicators of the online presence and usage of Kannada:
- As of 2016, there were approximately 47 million Kannada language internet users, accounting for nearly 3% of internet users worldwide.
- Google search supports Kannada script and provides search results in Kannada.
- Wikipedia has over 11,000 articles in Kannada language as of 2023.
- Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms allow users to post content in Kannada.
- Microsoft Windows and Apple iOS include native support for rendering Kannada script.
- There are dedicated news, entertainment, music and devotional websites and apps in Kannada.
- Online dictionaries and translation tools enable real-time translation to and from Kannada.
- Unicode standard includes necessary glyphs and code points to fully support encoding of Kannada characters.
While English remains the dominant language online, increasing internet penetration in Karnataka and support for vernacular languages has boosted the adoption of Kannada on digital platforms. Efforts to create more web resources in Kannada will help increase the utility and relevance of the language in online contexts.
Importance of Preserving and Promoting Kannada Language
Here are some reasons why preserving and promoting the Kannada language is important:
- Cultural heritage – Kannada represents an integral part of Karnataka’s identity and living link to its past.
- Unifying force – Acts as a unifying factor for Kannadigas from diverse backgrounds.
- Ancient wisdom – Safeguards ancient literary works and traditional knowledge.
- Ethnic pride – Strengthens community spirit and ethnic pride of Kannadiga people.
- Human diversity – Upholds linguistic diversity and pluralism against erosion by dominant languages.
- Official status – Needed for effective governance and public communication in Karnataka.
- Economic drivers – Provides jobs and growth opportunities in language-linked industries.
- Global outreach – Increases international awareness about Karnataka’s history and culture.
A language is an integral part of a community’s identity. For millennia, Kannada has been the reverberating voice of Karnataka’s culture and people. Safeguarding its vitality by promoting literature, arts, education, media and other avenues will ensure that this ancient language continues to thrive in the 21st century and beyond.
Trends and Future Trajectory of Kannada Language
Here is an assessment of the likely future trajectory of the Kannada language based on current trends:
- Continued growth in number of speakers – Rising population in Karnataka will drive growth.
- Greater online presence – More digital content and social media activity in Kannada.
- Increased use in higher education – More Kannada-medium colleges and universities.
- Strong local film/TV industry – Thriving entertainment sector producing Kannada content.
- Official language status retained – Will remain sole official language of state government.
- Ongoing creation of new literature – Literary output in all traditional and modern genres.
- Improved technical lexicon – Neologisms and new vocabularly for science and technology.
- Greater international reach – Through growth of Kannada diaspora worldwide.
However, some challenges confront the language in the long run. Urbanization, dominance of English in higher education and employment, immigration patterns and continued marginalization of local languages in central government domains pose risks of gradual decline. But proactive promotion of Kannada and its ubiquitous presence in all spheres of community life will likely enable it to flourish in the future.
Conclusion
Kannada is an ancient Dravidian language which serves as an emblem of Kannada identity and culture. ‘Kannada’ refers to the language spoken by roughly 40 million people predominantly in the state of Karnataka, while ‘Kannadiga’ refers to the native speakers of the language. Though regional variations exist, standard written and spoken Kannada have been enriched by centuries of diverse literary works ranging from devotional hymns to revolutionary poetry. Kannada enjoys official language status and continues to have a strong presence in academia, mass media, popular culture, administration and online platforms. Dedicated efforts to promote education, literature, films/TV and other avenues in Kannada are imperative to ensure the language adapts to modern contexts while preserving its historical essence and vibrancy.