Introduction-
First of all, I must congratulate you on learning about Kannada culture and its language, when the others are in a frenzy to learn foreign languages. It shows clearly that you have already crafted a niche for yourself! The Kannada language is written using the Kannada script, which is derived from the Kadamba script. There is tremendous Sanskrit influence over the language. The history of Kannada is conventionally divided into three parts- Old Kannada (6th to 13th century), Middle Kannada (14th to 18th century), and Modern Kannada (19th century to present). Middle Kannada has been significantly influenced by Sanskrit in terms of vocabulary, Grammar, and literary styles. Needless to say, while speaking about Kannada culture, it is difficult not to get into its history, literature, and eventually its language.
So, let’s dive deep into the process-
Modern Kannada and its requirements- As we all know that Bangalore is the big IT Hub with innumerable foreign companies and that is synonymous with engulfing opportunities. The local people of Karnataka are quite friendly and a lot of my friends who have shifted to Bangalore for work, have asserted that people love Bangalore not only because of the climate but also for the metropolitan culture, where they predominantly speak in Kannada and they speak very good English as well. Having said that, learning Kannada can help you settle quickly, make a lot of friends in an unknown territory plus you will not feel like an alien among your colleagues and bosses.
Kannada language and its culture- The oldest inscriptions found in the Kannada language go back to as far as the 5th century, however, Kannadigas (as popularly called) are found in the USA, UAE, UK, Australia, Singapore, and Sri Lanka to name a few. It is roughly estimated that almost 35 million people in the world speak Kannada. While writing for this content I came across an article that said the Karnataka Government is planning to have language tests in Kannada if people outside Karnataka apply for admission into different colleges and jobs. In fact, as per a survey, knowing the local language can not only make an inseparable part of the culture of Karnataka but also eases the administrative work.
Cultural dominance over the language- Throughout history we will find Kannada has been influenced by a variety of languages, mainly of Dravidian and Indo-European stock. The modern form of Kannada shows considerable influence of English and Portuguese too. Modern Kannada and its culture also break into finer dialects, predominantly cities in and around Bangalore and Mysore. Apart from Kannadigas, Karnataka is home to Tuluvas, Kodavas and Konkanis. This long history of Kannada has contributed immensely to the varied cultural heritage of the state.
Conclusion-
With the description above I hope that you will be impressed with the defining factor of Kannada culture and thereby quite naturally you may get inclined to learn about Kannada. Language learning has an array of purposes, for some it is a career and for others it is leisure! But one thing for sure, Kannada has a cosmopolitan approach and is indigenized – such a deadly combination can make Kannada a prized possession especially for those who are looking forward to a corporate career.
