Definition

Noun: 1. A Dravidian language: Kota is a language belonging to the Dravidian language family. It is spoken by the Kota people, an indigenous community residing in the Nilgiri Hills of southern India.

Usage Notes

• "Kota" is a proper noun referring specifically to this language and its speakers. It is typically capitalized.
• It is used as a singular noun when referring to the language as a whole (e.g., "Kota is spoken...").
• When referring to the people, the plural form "Kotas" or "Kota people" is often used.

Examples

• Language:
  • Kota is one of the smaller Dravidian languages.
  • Linguists are studying the grammatical structure of Kota.
  • The preservation of Kota is important for cultural heritage.

Advanced Usage

• Ethnolinguistic Context: The term is used in anthropological and linguistic studies to describe both the language and the distinct ethnic group that speaks it.
  • The research paper compared the phonology of Kota with other South Dravidian languages.

Variants and Related Words

• Kotas (n.): The plural form referring to the people of the Kota community.
  • The Kotas have a unique tradition of music and craftsmanship.
• Dravidian (adj./n.): Pertaining to the large language family of South Asia to which Kota belongs, or a speaker of a language from this family.

Synonyms

• Kota language: The full, explicit name for the language.

Notes on Different Meanings

• This entry defines "Kota" specifically as a proper noun for a Dravidian language and its people. It is distinct from other uses, such as "kota" as a common noun meaning "fort" in several Indian languages (e.g., Hindi, Marathi) or as a place name for various cities.

Noun

1. a Dravidian language spoken by the Kota
2. a member of the Dravidian people living in the Nilgiri Hills in southern India