French is one of the very few languages which is taught almost in every country on the globe. However, there are many people who have migrated to France. USA, Australia, New Zealand, and other European countries from India in search of greener pastures. People from Karnataka especially Bengaluru, the IT hub of India are not an exception. This has resulted in many organizations taking up the responsibility of promoting the Kannada language in these countries.
Kannada is a south Indian, Dravidian language that is primarily spoken in the state of Karnataka and to a certain extent in some bordering states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamilnadu, etc. It has a rich history with texts found from the ninth century and is also tagged as a classical language by the government of India.
When people move to other countries, they learn the language of that country to gel with the local community and for better survival. However, it is important to stay in touch with the native language because only through the native language can one keep their rich culture and traditions alive. Thus, for Kannada-speaking people living in France, it is extremely helpful to learn the language and promote it.
Is learning Kannada outside of France useful?
Now, let us understand if it is useful to learn Kannada language outside of France. First of all for the second and the third generations of Kannada speaking families that have settled in France or other European countries, knowledge of the language helps them connect with their roots in India easily and ensures that they enjoy their stay, even for a short span of time in Karnataka especially with their extended families or grandparents.
For others who are not native speakers of Kannada, but move to Karnataka to study the various forms of art and literature which the state is famous for, learning Kannada can be a boon. This is because though Bengaluru is a cosmopolitan city with people managing conveniently with English and Hindi, people in rural areas or the more interior places of Karnataka may not understand them. In such cases, Kannada is very handy for interaction with the locals.
Organizations like Kannada Development Authority established by the state government of Karnataka and Kannada Balaga are promoting the language in many other countries through short term spoken language courses that can help an individual learn the basics of the language and be able to communicate to a certain extent.
There are many online language learning platforms like Multibhashi as well that help you learn Kannada through your native language or English. So whether you are residing in France and would like to learn Kannada for the love of it or for your next stay in Karnataka in India, finding the right resources is not very difficult these days.
Learning a new language while you stay in a country or move out for temporary or permanent reasons has many benefits both academic and communicative.
Finally,
Kannada may not be as prominently studied and used as English, French, or Spanish, but is definitely a beautiful and poetic language that can give you all the benefits of learning a foreign language whether in France or any other country. Nothing comes close to understanding culture in its own language. Thus, without thinking much about whether it is useful to learn Kannada outside of France or not, just go ahead and start learning because it can help you in many ways.
