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Tulu language

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Tulu
Tulu
Native toIndia
RegionCoastal Karnataka and parts of northern Kerala. (historically known as Tulu Nadu)
Native speakers
1,949,000 (1997 survey)[1]
Kannada script, Tigalari
Language codes
ISO 639-2dra
ISO 639-3tcy

Tulu is a Dravidian language of India with fewer than two million speakers, known as Tuluvas. Most Tuluvas live in the districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi in the west of the state of Karnataka. It is also spoken in the Kasaragod taluk of Kerala. The original written script of the language, similar to Malayalam script, is rarely used today. It is normally written in the Kannada script now.

Geographic distribution

There are indications in a few Malayalam works that the region stretching from the Chandragiri river, now part of the Kasaragod district of Kerala, to Gokarna, now part of Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka, was called Tulu Nadu.[citation needed] However, the present day Tulu linguistic boundary is confined to Dakshina Kannada and the Udupi district. Northern Kasaragod, Dakshina Kannada and the Udupi district (except Kundapur) are the major Tulu cultural regions.

Tuluvas have a saying: "Oorudu nanjaanda paarad badkodu". A loose translation would be: "If it's tough at home; run away and survive". Tuluvas are true to this character and have migrated to other places in great numbers. Mumbai and Thane in Maharastra state has a sizable population of Tuluvas. Tulu is widely spoken in the Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts of Karnataka state. Efforts are also being made to get Tulu included in the list of national languages of India[2].

Script

19th century German missionaries used the Kannada script to transcribe Tulu works, but it soon fell out of use. Tulu is mostly written in the Kannada script since most people study Kannada in schools. Attempts are being made to revive the original script Tulu Script. Tulu Script is similar to Malayalam script

Mandara Ramayana is a modern epic written in Tulu by Mandara Keshav Bhat.

Some inscriptions in Tulu languages may be found in and around the village of Barkur.

Tulu Films

Tulu has small film industry, with an average of about one Tulu film being released in a year. These movies are played in movie theatre all around South Canara and Udupi Districts. The first Tulu film was Yenna Thangadi (My Sister) released in 1971. The latest Tulu flick is Kadala Mage (Son of the sea) released 2006. Some of the more popular films released are Koti Chennaye, Bollidota, Bisatti Babu, Adrushtavanthedi, Bangaar Patleru, and Satya Volundu.

No. Year Film Translation
1 1971 Ennatangadi My Sister
2 Daredha budadhi
3 Pagetta Puge Fumes of Revenge
4 Bisatti Babu' Knife Babu
5 Koti Chennaiia
6 Kaasdaya Kandane Wealthy Husband
7 Udalda Todar
8 Yaan Sanyasi aape I Will Become a Saint
9 Bayya mallige Dusk Jasmine
10 Yer malthina tappu Whose mistake was it?
11 Saaviradorti saavithri Saavithri - the one in a Thousand
12 Inquilab zindabad
13 Tulu naada siri The richness of Tulu land'
14 Sangama saakshi Proof of Union
15 Nyaayogaad enna baduku My life is for Justice
16 Bollidota
17 Kariyani kattandi kandane
18 Bhagyavatemdi Lucky lady
19 Badkera budle Let Live
20 Daareda seere
21 Raathri pagel Day & Night
22 Pettayi pili Injured Tiger
23 Badkomji kavite Life is a Song
24 Satya olumdu Where's the truth?
25 1991 Bangar patler Gold hearted Patel
26 Badk da bille Value of Life
27 1993 September 8 The eight day of September
28 Kaala Time
29 Maribale Evil Trap
30 Omte edjast malpi Please adjust a Bit
31 2005 Suddha The Cleansing Rites
32 2006 Kadala Mage Son of the Sea

The language

The paucity of literary works has rendered the precise dating of the origin of this language very difficult. It is considered to be the oldest Dravidian language by some scolars.

Spoken Tulu changes as we move from South to North. There is a common perception that there are only two Tulu dialects, namely Shivalli and Common. But a study of the language and pronunciation suggests there are four distinct dialects of this language: Shivalli, Jain, Common, and Tribal.

Brahmin dialect
Spoken by Tulu Brahmins ( Sthanika Brahmins and Shivalli Brahmins ). [3]
Jain dialect
Spoken by the Jains in the northern part of Tulu Nadu.
Common dialect
Spoken by the majority of people of Tulu Nadu; the dialect of commerce, entertainment and art.
Tribal dialect
Spoken by tribal people; closely resembles the Common dialect.

Tulu is not taught in schools. Schedule 8B of the Constitution of India does not recognize it as an official language.

References

  1. ^ http://www.ethnologue.com/show_language.asp?code=tcy Ethnologue
  2. ^ http://www.yakshagana.com/tulu-recog.htm
  3. ^ http://tuluver.com

See also


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