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Kolami

Kolami
Kolāmi
कॊलामि, కొలామి
'Kolāmi' in Devanagari alphabet (top) and Goykanadi alphabet (center) and Telugu alphabet (bottom)
Native to	India
Region	Maharashtra, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh
Ethnicity	239,583 Kolam (2011 census)[1]
Native speakers	128,451, 54% of ethnic population (2011 census)[2]
Language family	Dravidian Central Kolami–Naiki Kolami
Writing system	Devanagari Telugu script Goykanadi
Language codes
ISO 639-3	Either: kfb – Northwestern Kolami nit – Southeastern Kolami (Naiki)
Glottolog	nort2699

Kolami (Northwestern Kolami/Southeastern Kolami) is a tribal Central Dravidian language spoken in Maharashtra and Telangana states of India. It falls under the Kolami–Naiki group of languages. It is the most widely spoken Central Dravidian language.

Sathupati Prasanna Sree has developed a unique script for use with the language.^{[citation needed]}

Classification[edit]

Kolami language has been classified as a central dravidian language. It is well known as dravidian language of Maharashtra state. Well influenced by south central dravidian languages like Telugu and Gondi. It is also a tribal Dravidian language. Kolami is the dialect of the Kolam tribal group.

The Kolami dialect differs considerably from the Gond language of the neighboring district. In some respects, Kolami is closely related to Telugu and in others to Kannada. The influence of the Bhilli language is felt as the communication in the surrounding area comes into contact. Some other points of similarity are also important like the Toda dialect of the Nilgiris and according to Dr. Grierson, linguistically speaking, the Kolami may be the remaining descendants of the Dravidian tribes. who either never participated in the development of the main Dravidian language or who never adopted Dravidian language.

Writing systems[edit]

Kolami language is written using Devanagari, Goykanadi and Telugu scripts for writing purposes.

Numbers[edit]

First ten numbers[edit]

Characteristics[edit]

Kolami has a two-gender system, being either masculine or non-masculine. Kolami has developed aspirated stops, distancing itself from its ancestor Proto-Dravidian.

Phonology[edit]

Sample Text[edit]

Also see Kolami Swadesh list on wiktionary.

References[edit]

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