Kolami (, Northwestern Kolami/Southeastern Kolami) is a tribal Central Dravidian language spoken in Maharashtra and Telangana states of India. It falls under the Kolami–Naiki group of languages. It is the most widely spoken Central Dravidian language.

Classification

Kolami language has been classified as a Central Dravidian language. It is well known as a Dravidian language of Maharashtra state. Well influenced by South Central Dravidian languages like Telugu and Gondi, it is also a tribal Dravidian language. Kolami is the dialect of the Kolam tribal group.

The Kolami dialect differs considerably from the Gond language of the neighboring district. In some respects, Kolami is closely related to Telugu and in others to Kannada. The influence of the Bhilli language is felt as the communication in the surrounding area comes into contact. Some other points of similarity are also important like the Toda dialect of the Nilgiris and according to Dr. Grierson, linguistically speaking, the Kolami may be the remaining descendants of the Dravidian tribes, who either never participated in the development of the main Dravidian language or who never adopted Dravidian language.

Writing systems

Kolami language is written using Devanagari, and Telugu scripts for writing purposes.

Numbers

Verbs

Present tense

Characteristics

Kolami has a two-gender system, being either masculine or non-masculine. Kolami has developed aspirated stops, distancing itself from its ancestor Proto-Dravidian.

Phonology

Sample Text

The given sample text is Article 1 from the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

English

All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

Kolami

ऎल् मन्ककॆर् स्वातन्त्र्यमड् पुट्टॆन्दन् वन्नॆर्. मरि समानं मरि अधिकारङ्कुळन् समानम् अण्डर्. अवर् तर्कङ्कुळ् मरि विवेकंलड् सम्पन्नं मरि ऒक्कॊरिक्कॊवॆण्ट बन्धूत्वंलॆ भावनालड् आडन् पाजे।

ఎల్ మన్కకెర్ స్వాతంత్ర్యమనడ్ పుట్టెందన్ వన్నెర్. మరి సమానం మరి అధికారంకుళన్ సమానం అండర్. అవర్ తర్కంకుళ్ మరి వివేకంలడ్ సంపన్నం మరి ఒక్కొరిక్కొవెంట బంధూత్వంలె భావనాలడ్ ఆడన్ పాజే.

Romanisation

El mankaker svātantryamaḍ puṭṭendan vanner. Iṇi samānam iṇi adhikāraṅkuḷan samānam aṇḍar. Avar tarkaṅkuḷ iṇi vivēkanlaḍ sampannam iṇi okkorikkoveṇṭa bandhutvamle bhāvanālaḍ āḍan pājē.Also see Kolami Swadesh list on wiktionary.

References

Further reading