Kannada language
Kannada, commonly known as Kanarese, is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by the people of Karnataka in the southwestern region of India. Linguistic minorities also speak the language in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala, Goa, and Kannadigas abroad. The language had roughly 43 million native speakers by 2011. Kannada is also spoken as a second and third language by over 12.9 million non-native speakers in Karnataka, which adds up to 56.9 million speakers. It is one of India’s scheduled languages and the official and administrative language of the state of Karnataka. Kannada was the court language of some of South and Central India’s most powerful empires, such as the Chalukya dynasty, the Rashtrakuta dynasty, the Vijayanagara Empire, and the Hoysala Empire.
Writing system :
The language uses forty-nine phonemic letters, divided into three groups: swaragalu (vowels – thirteen letters); vyanjanagalu (consonants – thirty-four letters); and yoga vaahaka galu (neither vowel or consonant – two letters: anusvara and visarga. The character set is almost identical to that of other Indian languages. The Kannada script is almost entirely phonetic, but for the sound of a “half n” which becomes a half m. However, the number of written symbols is far more than the forty-nine characters in the alphabet because different characters can be combined to form compound characters (ottakshara). Each written symbol in the Kannada script corresponds with one syllable instead of one phoneme in languages like English. The Kannada script is syllabic.
Some tips to learn the Kannada language :
1.Watch Kannada movies with subtitles.
With Kannadiga films, you have an opportunity to hear people having a natural dialogue in the language. Turning on English subtitles will help you understand what’s going on and what the characters are saying. If you want to learn the script, you can turn on subtitles in the Kannada script to hear the words being spoken.
Avoid using English subtitles as a crutch. Remember that translation is an interpretation of the words’ meaning, not literally what the characters are saying.
Even if you pick up some new phrases from a movie, be cautious about the context in which you use them until you understand the whole meaning of the phrase.
2.Check out the news in Kannada.
You can find news programs on tv and the internet in Kannada. Not only can these programs help you learn the language, but they can also help you stay informed about events happening in your city.
If you see coverage of an event that you already know about, you can use your understanding of the situation to improve your listening or reading comprehension.
3.Listen to Kannada radio stations.
You should be able to pick up radio stations broadcasting in Kannada and playing Kannadiga music. The repetition of music lyrics is a good way to learn a language.
Listening to Kannadiga music also gives you some insight into the values and culture of the native people of the area.
Get out there, learn about these different genres and find some songs that you love. Once you find a piece, you cannot stop singing, and by singing it, you will improve your pronunciation and vocabulary.
4.Speak Kannada with native speakers at every opportunity.
You might ask “neevu kannada maataadteera?” This means “Do you speak Kannada?” If they say “howdhu” (yes), continue to speak to them in Kannada, even if they reply in another language. you may find that local Kannadigas are more inhibited about speaking Kannada in public and may be reluctant to converse with you in their native language. However, if you let them know that you’re interested in learning the language, they might become more open.
5.Use polite and respectful words with people when you talk to them.
As in any culture, being courteous and respectful will endear you to strangers. People will also be more willing to help you with your speaking skills and be more patient with your halting Kannada if you mind your manners when talking to them. Some polite words and phrases to remember include:
Kshamisi (sorry/excuse me)
Dayavittu (please)
Dhanyavad (thank you)
parvagilla bidi (you’re welcome)
So basically, what you have to do is to immerse yourself in the Kannada language.
And follow the tips which are provided above.
Also, you can enroll with Multibhashi to be perfect in the Kannada language.
ALL THE BEST!!
