Kannada: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|Dravidian language}}

{{Other uses|Kannada (disambiguation)|Kanada (disambiguation){{!}}Kanada}}

{{Use Indian English|date=December 2020}}

{{Infobox language

}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M2uPAgAAQBAJ&q=Kannada&pg=PA84|title=The Territories and States of India|last1=Boland-Crewe|first1=Tara|last2=Lea|first2=David|publisher=Routledge|year=2003|isbn=9781135356255|pages=224–226}}</ref>

== Development ==

[[Pliny the Elder]], a Roman historian, wrote about pirates between [[Muziris]] and Nitrias ([[Netravati River]]), called Nitran by Ptolemy. He also mentions Barace (Barcelore), referring to the modern port city of [[Mangaluru]], upon its mouth. Many of these are Kannada origin names of places and rivers of the Karnataka coast of 1st century AD.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=78I5lDHU2jQC&q=ptolemy+nitran&pg=PA74|title=Some Early Dynasties of South India|last=Chattopadhyaya|first=Sudhakar|date=1 January 1974|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=9788120829411}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.muzirisheritage.org/history.php|title=Muziris Heritage Project}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=The Commerce between the Roman Empire and India|last=Warmington|first=E. H.|publisher=Cambridge University Press, 2014|year=1928|isbn=9781107432147|pages=112–113}}</ref>

An early ancestor of Kannada (or a related language) may have been spoken by Indian traders in [[Roman Egypt|Roman-era Egypt]] and it may account for the Indian-language passages in the ancient Greek play known as the [[Charition mime]].<ref name="Salomon1991">{{Cite journal |last=Salomon |first=Richard |date=1991 |title=Epigraphic Remains of Indian Traders in Egypt |journal=Journal of the American Oriental Society |volume=111 |issue=4 |pages=731–736 |doi=10.2307/603404| jstor = 603404}}</ref>

===Epigraphy===

Followed by [[B. Lewis Rice|B. L. Rice]], leading epigrapher and historian, K. R. Narasimhan following a detailed study and comparison, declared that the plates belong to the 4th century, i.e., 338&nbsp;AD.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 October 2021 |title=When ancient copper plates came to Kannada's rescue |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/spectrum/spectrum-statescan/when-ancient-copper-plates-came-to-kannadas-rescue-1045565.html |access-date=15 April 2022 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Rice |first=Lewis Benjamin |url=http://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.213548 |title=Epigraphia Carnatica Inscription In Kolar District Vol.10 |year=1912 |pages=111–114}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Rice |first=B. Lewis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8kIwswEACAAJ |title=Epigraphia Carnatica, Vol. 10: Inscriptions in the Kolar District (Classic Reprint) |date=10 February 2018 |publisher=1kg Limited |isbn=978-0-656-23957-3 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Rice |first=Benjamin Lewis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gKUDwQEACAAJ |title=Epigraphia Carnatica: [pt. 2]. Inscriptions in the Kolar district [Kannada text |year=1886 |publisher=Mysore Government Central Press |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Vagarnal |first=Avinasha |date=28 December 2021 |title=Ancient copper plates of Kannada older than Halmidi inscription are in Kolar - ಕೋಲಾರದಲ್ಲಿದೆ ಹಲ್ಮಿಡಿ ಶಾಸನಕ್ಕಿಂತಲೂ ಪ್ರಾಚೀನವಾದ ಕನ್ನಡ ಭಾಷೆಯ ತಾಮ್ರದ ಪತ್ರ! |url=https://vijaykarnataka.com/news/kolar/ancient-copper-plates-of-kannada-older-than-halmidi-inscription-are-in-kolar/videoshow/88542760.cms |access-date=15 April 2022 |website=Vijay Karnataka |language=kn}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Rice |first=Benjamin Lewis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sscUAAAAYAAJ |title=Epigraphia Carnatica: Inscriptions in the Kolar District |publisher=Mysore Government Central Press |year=1905 |pages=111–113 |language=en}}</ref> The Kannada Lion balustrade inscription excavated at the Pranaveshwara temple complex at Talagunda near Shiralakoppa of Shivamogga district, dated to 370&nbsp;AD is now considered the earliest Kannada inscriptions replacing the Halmidi inscription of 450&nbsp;AD.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/591046/kannada-inscription-talagunda-may-replace.html|title=Kannada inscription at Talagunda of 370 CE may replace Halmidi inscription as the oldest|work=Deccan Herald}}</ref> The 5th century poetic Tamatekallu inscription of [[Chitradurga]] and the Siragunda inscription from [[Chikkamagaluru]] Taluk of 500&nbsp;AD are further examples.<ref name="chikka">R. Narasimhacharya (1988), p. 6</ref><ref name="rice">Rice E. P. (1921), p. 13</ref><ref name="tamate">[[Govinda Pai]] in Bhat (1993), p. 102</ref> Recent reports indicate that the [[Halegannada|Old Kannada]] ''Gunabhushitana'' ''Nishadi'' inscription discovered on the Chandragiri hill, [[Shravanabelagola]], is older than Halmidi inscription by about fifty to hundred years and may belong to the period AD 350–400.<ref>{{cite news

The oldest known existing record of Kannada poetry in ''Tripadi'' metre is the [[Kappe Arabhatta]] record of 7th century AD.<ref name="hal" /><ref name="poetry">Kamath (2001), p. 67</ref> ''[[Kavirajamarga]]'' by King Nripatunga [[Amoghavarsha]] I (850&nbsp;AD) is the earliest existing literary work in Kannada. It is a writing on literary criticism and poetics meant to standardise various written Kannada dialects used in literature in previous centuries. The book makes reference to Kannada works by early writers such as King [[Durvinita]] of the 6th century and Ravikirti, the author of the Aihole record of 636&nbsp;AD.<ref name="extinct_works6">Sastri (1955), p355</ref><ref>Kamath (2001), p90</ref> Since the earliest available Kannada work is one on grammar and a guide of sorts to unify existing variants of [[Kannada grammar]] and literary styles, it can be safely assumed that literature in Kannada must have started several centuries earlier.<ref name="extinct_works6"/><ref name="extinct_works5">{{cite web |title=History of the Kannada Literature-I |url=http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/kar/literature/history1.htm |author=Jyotsna Kamat |publisher=Kamat's Potpourri |work=Kamat's Potpourri, 4 November 2006 |access-date=25 November 2006}}</ref> An early [[Extant literature|extant]] prose work, the ''Vaḍḍārādhane'' (ವಡ್ಡಾರಾಧನೆ) by [[Shivakotiacharya]] of 900&nbsp;AD provides an elaborate description of the life of Bhadrabahu of [[Shravanabelagola]].<ref name="kavirajamarga">Sastri (1955), p356</ref>

Kannada works from earlier centuries mentioned in the [[Kavirajamarga]] are not yet traced. Some ancient Kannada texts now considered extinct but referenced in later centuries are ''Prabhrita'' (650&nbsp;AD) by Syamakundacharya, ''Chudamani'' (Crest Jewel—650&nbsp;AD or earlier) by Srivaradhadeva, also known as Tumbuluracharya, which is a work of 96,000 verse-measures and a commentary on logic (''Tatwartha-mahashastra'').<ref name="extint_works">The seventeenth-century Kannada grammarian Bhattakalanka wrote about the ''Chudamani'' as a milestone in the literature of the Kannada language (Sastri (1955), p355)</ref><ref name="extinct_works1">{{cite web |title=History of the Kannada Literature – I |url=http://www.kamat.com/kalranga/kar/literature/history1.htm |author=Jyotsna Kamat |publisher=Kamat's Potpourri |work=Kamat's Potpourri, 4 November 2006 |access-date=25 November 2006}}</ref><ref name="extinct_works2">Narasimhacharya (1988), pp 4–5</ref> Other sources date ''Chudamani'' to the 6th century or earlier.<ref name="dandin">6th century Sanskrit poet Dandin praised Srivaradhadeva's writing as "having produced [[Saraswati]] from the tip of his tongue, just as [[Shiva]] produced the [[Ganges]] from the tip of his top knot" (Rice E.P., 1921, pp.25–28)</ref><ref name="god2">Rice, B.L. (1897), pp.&nbsp;496–497</ref> An inscription of 1128&nbsp;AD quotes a couplet by the famous Sanskrit poet Dandin (active 680–720&nbsp;AD), highly praising Srivaradhadeva, for his Kannada work Chudamani, as having "produced Saraswati (i.e., learning and eloquence) from the tip of his tongue, as Siva produced the Ganges from the tip of his top-knot." Bhattakalanka (1604&nbsp;CE), the great Kannada grammarian, refers to Srivaradhadeva's Chudamani as the greatest work in Kannada, and as incontestable proof of the scholarly character and value of Kannada literature. This makes Srivaradhadeva's time earlier than the 6th-7th century AD.<ref name="archive"/> Other writers, whose works are not extant now but titles of which are known from independent references such as Indranandi's "Srutavatara", Devachandra's "Rajavalikathe",<ref name=":5" /> Bhattakalanka's "Sabdanusasana" of 1604,<ref name="extinct_works6" /> writings of Jayakirthi<ref name=":7">Chidananda Murthy in Kamath (1980), p. 50, 67</ref> are Syamakundacharya (650), who authored the "Prabhrita", and Srivaradhadeva (also called Tumubuluracharya, 650 or earlier), who wrote the "Chudamani" ("Crest Jewel"), a 96,000-verse commentary on logic.<ref name="extinct_works6" /><ref name="dandin" /><ref name="god2" /><ref>Mugali (1975), p. 13</ref> The ''Karnateshwara Katha'', a eulogy for King [[Pulakesi II]], is said to have belonged to the 7th century;<ref name=":7" /> the ''Gajastaka'', a lost "ashtaka" (eight line verse) composition and a work on elephant management by King [[Shivamara II]], belonged to the 8th century,<ref name="early_works3">Kamath (2001), p50, p67</ref> this served as the basis for 2 popular folk songs ''Ovanige'' and ''Onakevadu,'' which were sung either while pounding corn or to entice wild elephants into a pit ("''Ovam''").<ref name=":7" /><ref name="google"/><ref>Sahitya Akademi (1987), p. 248</ref> The ''Chandraprabha-purana'' by Sri Vijaya, a court poet of emperor [[Amoghavarsha I]], is ascribed to the early 9th century.<ref name=":5" /> His writing has been mentioned by Vijayanagara poets Mangarasa III and Doddiah (also spelt Doddayya, c. 1550&nbsp;AD) and praised by Durgasimha (c. 1025&nbsp;AD).<ref name="extinct_works4">The author and his work were praised by the latter-day poet Durgasimha of AD 1025 (R. Narasimhacharya 1988, p18.)</ref> During the 9th century period, the Digambara Jain poet Asaga (or Asoka) authored, among other writings, "Karnata Kumarasambhava Kavya" and "Varadamana Charitra". His works have been praised by later poets, although none of his works are available today.<ref name=":6" /> "Gunagankiyam", the earliest known prosody in Kannada, was referenced in a Tamil work dated to 10th century or earlier ("Yapparungalakkarigai" by Amritasagara). Gunanandi, an expert in logic, Kannada grammar and prose, flourished in the 9th century AD.<ref name=":5" /><ref name="dandin" /> Around 900&nbsp;AD, Gunavarma I wrote "Sudraka" and "Harivamsa" (also known as "Neminatha Purana"). In "Sudraka" he compared his patron, Ganga king Ereganga Neetimarga II (c. 907-921&nbsp;AD), to a noted king called Sudraka.<ref name=":5" /><ref name="early_works3" /> Jinachandra, who is referred to by Sri Ponna (c. 950&nbsp;AD) as the author of "Pujyapada Charita", had earned the honorific "modern Samantha Bhadra".<ref>Benjamin Lewis Rice (1985), p xv</ref> Tamil Buddhist commentators of the 10th century AD (in the commentary on ''Neminatham'', a Tamil grammatical work) make references that show that Kannada literature must have flourished as early as the BC 4th century.<ref name="greek_roman">{{cite web |title=The place of Kannada and Tamil in India's national culture |url=http://www.intamm.com/journalism/ta-jour3.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070415154722/http://www.intamm.com/journalism/ta-jour3.htm |archive-date=15 April 2007 |author=K. Appadurai |publisher=INTAMM|access-date=25 November 2006}}</ref>

==Dialects==

{{Main|Kannada dialects}}

Ethnologue also classifies a group of four languages related to Kannada, which are, besides Kannada proper, [[Badaga language|Badaga]], [[Holiya language|Holiya]], [[Kurumba language|Kurumba]] and [[Urali language|Urali]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Kannada|url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/books/lsi/lsi.php?volume=4&pages=701#page/404/mode/2up|website=The Record News|publisher=DSAL, Chicago}}</ref> The Golars or Golkars are a nomadic herdsmen tribe present in [[Nagpur district|Nagpur]], [[Chandrapur district|Chanda]], [[Bhandara district|Bhandara]], [[Seoni district|Seoni]] and [[Balaghat district|Balaghat]] districts of [[Maharashtra]] and [[Madhya Pradesh]] speak the Golari dialect of Kannada which is identical to the Holiya dialect spoken by their tribal offshoot Holiyas present in Seoni, Nagpur and Bhandara of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. There were around 3,600 speakers of this dialect as per the 1901 census. Matthew A. Sherring describes the Golars and Holars as a pastoral tribe from the [[Godavari River|Godavari]] banks established in the districts around Nagpur, in the stony tracts of [[Ambagarh Chowki|Ambagarh]], forests around Ramplee and Sahangadhee. Along the banks of the [[Wainganga River|Wainganga]], they dwell in the Chakurhaitee and Keenee subdivisions.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sherring |first=Matthew A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U2lehroNx1oC |title=Hindu Tribes and Castes: As Represented in Benares ; with Illustrations |publisher=Thacker |year=1879 |pages=113–114 |language=en}}</ref> The Kurumvars of Chanda district of Maharashtra, a wild pastoral tribe, 2,200 in number as per the 1901 census, spoke a Kannada dialect called Kurumvari. The Kurumbas or Kurubas, a nomadic shepherd tribe were spread across the [[Nilgiris]], [[Coimbatore district|Coimbatore]], [[Salem district|Salem]], [[Vellore district|North]] and [[South Arcot District (Madras Presidency)|South Arcots]], [[Trichinopoly District|Trichinopoly]], [[Tanjore District (Madras Presidency)|Tanjore]] and [[Pudukkottai district|Pudukottai]] of Tamil Nadu, [[Kadapa district|Cuddapah]] and [[Anantapur district|Anantapur]] of [[Andhra Pradesh]], [[Malabar District|Malabar]] and [[Kingdom of Cochin|Cochin]] of [[Kerala]] and [[South Canara]] and [[Kodagu district|Coorg]] of [[Karnataka]] and spoke the Kurumba Kannada dialect. The Kurumba and Kurumvari dialect (both closely related with each other) speakers were estimated to be around 11,400 in total as per the 1901 census. There were about 34,250 Badaga speakers as per the 1901 census.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grierson |first=George A. |year=1906 |title=Linguistic Survey of India |url=https://dsal.uchicago.edu/books/lsi/lsi.php?volume=4&pages=701#page/404/mode/1up |access-date=14 May 2022 |website=dsal.uchicago.edu |publisher=Government of India |pages=362–406}}</ref>

* [[George M. Moraes]] (1931), The Kadamba Kula, A History of Ancient and Medieval Karnataka, Asian Educational Services, New Delhi, Madras, 1990 {{ISBN|81-206-0595-0}}

* {{cite book |last=Varadpande|first=Manohar Laxman|title=History of Indian Theatre|orig-year=1987|year=1987|publisher=Abhinav Publications|isbn=978-81-7017-221-5}}

==External links==

* {{cite web |url=http://inscriptions.whatisindia.com |title=Indian inscriptions-South Indian inscriptions, Vol 20, 18, 17, 15, 11 and 9, Archaeological survey of India, What Is India Publishers (P) Ltd }}

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{{Karnataka topics}}

[[Category:Languages attested from the 5th century]]