Definition

1. Noun:
   • A Dravidian language spoken in southern India: Kannada is a major language primarily spoken in the state of Karnataka, India. It has a rich literary history and is one of the oldest Dravidian languages.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • She is fluent in Kannada and English.
  • The ancient inscriptions were written in Kannada.
  • Learning Kannada helped him connect with the local community in Bangalore.

Advanced Usage

• "Old Kannada": Refers to the historical form of the language used from around the 6th to the 13th centuries, often found in classical literature and inscriptions.

  • Scholars study Old Kannada to understand the evolution of the language.

• "Kannada script": Refers to the distinct writing system used for the Kannada language.

  • The Kannada script is an abugida derived from the ancient Brahmi script.

Variants and Related Words

• Kanarese (n): An older, alternative name for the Kannada language or its people. (Note: "Kannada" is the preferred and more contemporary term.)

  • The term Kanarese is found in some historical texts.

• Kannadiga (n): A native speaker of Kannada or a person from Karnataka.

  • As a Kannadiga, he is proud of his linguistic heritage.

Synonyms

• Kanarese: (historical synonym for the language)

Related Phrases

• "Kannada literature": The body of written works in the Kannada language.

  • He is an expert in medieval Kannada literature.

• "Kannada film industry": Refers to the cinema produced in the Kannada language, often called "Sandalwood".

  • The Kannada film industry is known for its artistic and commercial movies.

Noun

1. a Dravidian language spoken in southern India