Kannada is the official and administrative language of the state of Karnataka in the southwestern region of India. It is a Dravidian language and is spoken predominantly by the people of Karnataka. The Kannada language is also spoken by linguistic minorities in the states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala, and Goa, and by Kannadigas settled abroad.

It is one of the scheduled languages in India.

 The Kannada language is written using the Kannada script, which evolved from the 5th-century Kadamba script. Kannada has Sanskrit influence to a considerable degree. Influences of Prakrit and Pali languages can also be found in Kannada.

Kannada was the court language of some of the most powerful empires of South and Central India, such as the Chalukya dynasty, the Rashtrakuta dynasty, the Vijayanagara Empire, and the Hoysala Empire.

 The government of India has designated Kannada the status of ‘classical language of India’ based on the recommendations of the Committee of Linguistic Experts, appointed by the ministry of culture, along with Malayalam, Odia, Sanskrit, Tamil, and Telugu. In July 2011, even a center for the study of classical Kannada was established as part of the Central Institute of Indian Languages in Mysore to facilitate research related to the language. It is the language spoken in one of the IT hubs (Bangalore) in the country.

 

If you are a non-native learner of the Kannada language, where will you learn it from?

1.   Books for learning Kannada

Many books are available in physical stores as well as online for learning Kannada. Books vary in content or the lessons as per the level of a learner – there are Kannada books for beginners, basic level Kannada, Kannada for intermediate level learners, advanced level Kannada, basic to advanced Kannada learning, etc.

 

2.   Online language learning apps

Many ed-tech platforms have online apps of their own for providing their users with fun ways of language learning such as quizzes, lessons as short as 5-6 lines daily, etc.

 

3.   Podcasts and educational videos

Language experts upload videos and podcasts giving lessons and tips in language learning to their users or viewers, regularly. One may subscribe to such videos to receive regular notifications about the latest uploads.  

 

4.   Kannada storybooks for kids

Reading storybooks might seem to be a very silly idea to some. They must, however, remember that learning becomes as easy as it becomes fun and interesting. Then, why not learn with the help of interesting storybooks which have pictures and images to help beginners quickly understand what term stands for a particular professional, animal, object, place, etc.?  

 

5.   Kannada newspaper

Newspapers are one reliable source for learning correct spellings and the way of writing. One can trust newspapers for improving one’s writing skills in a language to a great extent.

 

6.   Kannada news channels

When one watches the news or listens to the news, one’s listening and comprehension skills develop drastically. The speed, tone, and sentence formation improve a lot.  

 

7.   Kannada magazines

One may enjoy reading magazines based on various subjects such as economy, sports, general subjects, fashion trends, food industry, etc. When learning takes place while enjoying the topics of one’s interest, it becomes easier.

 

8.   Weekly or monthly journals

When one follows a journal regularly, there develops a pattern in one’s learning. One gets to know the regular or latest updates and innovations taking place in a particular subject, say, in the field of science, technology, automobiles, gadgets, etc.

 

9.   Kannada shows with subtitles

Watching Kannada shows with subtitles will help one understand the meanings of words and sentences quickly. Actions are shown in a show help a reader of subtitles understand the words easily.

 

10. Talking with a native Kannada conversation partner

One may look for a native Kannada speaker to converse regularly with. Listening to someone’s speech on a daily basis and trying to reply, and ask simple questions is a way one can use to develop one’s speech.  

 

11. Online Kannada learning course

Last and the most trustworthy source for learning Kannada is a proper, systematic course taken from a Kannada language expert. Kannada can be learned from an expert without even having to travel to any place for attending classroom training.

 

How?

 Via online Kannada learning course! Online Kannada learning sessions conducted through the medium of audio-visual classes are an excellent way of learning the language. This assures one of perfection and fluency in one’s language skills as against learning by way of self-learning alone. One can listen to the pronunciations of a Kannada language instructor carefully, and improve one’s own pronunciations of Kannada words. Similarly, notes shared through the screen–sharing during the sessions are useful for learning how to write the Kannada script without errors. Questions pertaining to the lessons can be asked to the trainer right during the sessions, doubts can be cleared, and oral revision can be done right then. All this can be done right from the comfort of one’s home with only a smartphone or laptop, and internet connectivity at one’s service!

Hope we were able to help you in your journey of learning the Kannada language. If you know of any more resources, do mention in the comment box!

Keep learning!!! 

All the best!!!