Official Language in the State of Karnataka

Andreas · Jul 13th, 2004, 19:43

Hello everybody!

What is the national state language in Karnataka and most commonly used in schools?

Andreas

ashish0608 · Jul 13th, 2004, 19:50

yes it is kannada, but most people in Bangalore and other big cities would understand hindi and some also english.

Here is a map of india with language and religion info.

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middl..._lang_1973.jpg

PS: please delete another post on the same subject

Andreas · Jul 13th, 2004, 20:22

I'm going to Bangalore in a few months for volunteering and thought I should learn a bit of useful phrases etc and wouldn't want to learn the wrong language.

Children in school in ages four to 16, what language do they normally speak? Hindi?

Thank you!

beach · Jul 13th, 2004, 20:47

The vast majority talks Kannada.

There are at least 5 regional dialects within this state. You need not have to worry about all that.

For you English is the best bet. And if you want to learn the local language try Kannada.

Hindi is not a commonly used language in Karnataka. But Bangalore is Cosmopolitan (a sophisticate term to explain any mess in the city) and many Indian languages are spoken here including Hindi in large numbers.

I’ve seen kids at Bangalore talking (chanting) fluently in VC++, Java, C++ and Delphi as well

Lone_Ranger · Jul 14th, 2004, 07:57

In Bangalore again there are areas where Kannada is hardly spoken. A very cosmopolitan city and somewhere I read only 40% of Bangaloreans can speak Kannada now.

Anyway English and Hindi are widely spoken so you should be ok with those. Autorickshaw guys may understand Kannada. Urdu, very similar to Hindi also works at some areas..and Tamil can work with some people as well.

Sorry for confusing..bottom line - you should be ok with English if you are going to stay in proper Bangalore!

edwardseco · Jul 14th, 2004, 08:39

In the north many understand Marathi and periodically there is some chauvinist movement in Maharashtra to annex regions..

Andreas · Jul 15th, 2004, 00:15

Actually I will be staying in the surroundings of Bangalore. But I'm sure English will work as it does in the rest of India.

I have been trying to find a language book with common Kannada phrases, but it seems to be very difficult to find one.

However I will give it another go and thank you all for your replies! I honestly appreciate it!

I'll get back if I need any more help or feeling totally lost in the jungle!

Merchant · Jul 15th, 2004, 00:18

Yeah, Tamil is big, too.

Andreas · Jul 15th, 2004, 00:24

The reason for asking is because I will be teaching young children in rural schools and the person I am in contact with says they are not too good at English yet. This is why I think it would be necessary for me to learn the language to make things easier, specifically for them.

Any suggestions?

Tomi · Jul 15th, 2004, 01:26

I understand that if you go west of Bangalore, near the coast (say, close to Mangalore), you might also find Konkani spoken that far south.

-m2- · Jul 15th, 2004, 01:33

why don't you ask the person you are in contact with what would be the best language to learn -- we would be just guessing.

Andreas · Jul 15th, 2004, 22:27

I spoke with them and they said the languages they would recommend me to learn are Kannada, Tamil and Hindi, especially if I will be volunteering with inmates. All I need to do is to find language books somewhere.

Has anyone got any suggestions on any good books?

Andreas · Jul 15th, 2004, 22:31

I've done a search at my local book store on the net. I found Hindi and Urdu by Rough Guides and Kannada-English Dictionary by Bucher. Are these any good?

Andreas · Jul 15th, 2004, 22:39

Plus some others! I'll get back once I have made a few choices.

federica · Jul 16th, 2004, 00:20

Hi Andreas!

I don't know from where you are in Switzerland, but if it's the German part, try "Hindi Wort für Wort" from Kauderwelsch-Reise-KnowHow. It's good for the first steps. There is also an Urdu version which I don't like personally, anyway, it's almost the same language. And they have a Tamil version too. Plus CDs. The problem is mostly the pronunciation.....so it's not bad to have a CD or tape.
You can find a lot on the net, for example http://www.learntamil.com/

Jul 13th, 2004, 19:43	#1
Andreas ¿Bailamos? Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Suecia Posts: 123	Official Language in the State of Karnataka Hello everybody! What is the national state language in Karnataka and most commonly used in schools? Andreas

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Jul 13th, 2004, 19:50	#2
ashish0608 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Delhi Posts: 353	yes it is kannada, but most people in Bangalore and other big cities would understand hindi and some also english. Here is a map of india with language and religion info. http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/middl..._lang_1973.jpg PS: please delete another post on the same subject

Jul 13th, 2004, 20:22	#3
Andreas ¿Bailamos? Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Suecia Posts: 123	I'm going to Bangalore in a few months for volunteering and thought I should learn a bit of useful phrases etc and wouldn't want to learn the wrong language. Children in school in ages four to 16, what language do they normally speak? Hindi? Thank you!

Jul 13th, 2004, 20:47	#4
beach Lost in translation Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: India ! Posts: 2,233	The vast majority talks Kannada. There are at least 5 regional dialects within this state. You need not have to worry about all that. For you English is the best bet. And if you want to learn the local language try Kannada. Hindi is not a commonly used language in Karnataka. But Bangalore is Cosmopolitan (a sophisticate term to explain any mess in the city) and many Indian languages are spoken here including Hindi in large numbers. I’ve seen kids at Bangalore talking (chanting) fluently in VC++, Java, C++ and Delphi as well

Jul 14th, 2004, 07:57	#5
Lone_Ranger Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Santa Clara Posts: 5	In Bangalore again there are areas where Kannada is hardly spoken. A very cosmopolitan city and somewhere I read only 40% of Bangaloreans can speak Kannada now. Anyway English and Hindi are widely spoken so you should be ok with those. Autorickshaw guys may understand Kannada. Urdu, very similar to Hindi also works at some areas..and Tamil can work with some people as well. Sorry for confusing..bottom line - you should be ok with English if you are going to stay in proper Bangalore!

Jul 14th, 2004, 08:39	#6
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 3,924	In the north many understand Marathi and periodically there is some chauvinist movement in Maharashtra to annex regions..

Jul 15th, 2004, 00:15	#7
Andreas ¿Bailamos? Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Suecia Posts: 123	Actually I will be staying in the surroundings of Bangalore. But I'm sure English will work as it does in the rest of India. I have been trying to find a language book with common Kannada phrases, but it seems to be very difficult to find one. However I will give it another go and thank you all for your replies! I honestly appreciate it! I'll get back if I need any more help or feeling totally lost in the jungle!

Jul 15th, 2004, 00:18	#8
Merchant Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: New York Posts: 2,096	Yeah, Tamil is big, too.

Jul 15th, 2004, 00:24	#9
Andreas ¿Bailamos? Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Suecia Posts: 123	The reason for asking is because I will be teaching young children in rural schools and the person I am in contact with says they are not too good at English yet. This is why I think it would be necessary for me to learn the language to make things easier, specifically for them. Any suggestions?

Jul 15th, 2004, 01:26	#10
Tomi Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Cambridge, MA, USA Posts: 448	I understand that if you go west of Bangalore, near the coast (say, close to Mangalore), you might also find Konkani spoken that far south.

Jul 15th, 2004, 01:33	#11
-m2- . Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: . Posts: 1,577	why don't you ask the person you are in contact with what would be the best language to learn -- we would be just guessing.

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Jul 15th, 2004, 22:27	#12
Andreas ¿Bailamos? Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Suecia Posts: 123	I spoke with them and they said the languages they would recommend me to learn are Kannada, Tamil and Hindi, especially if I will be volunteering with inmates. All I need to do is to find language books somewhere. Has anyone got any suggestions on any good books?

Jul 15th, 2004, 22:31	#13
Andreas ¿Bailamos? Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Suecia Posts: 123	I've done a search at my local book store on the net. I found *Hindi and Urdu* by Rough Guides and *Kannada-English Dictionary* by Bucher. Are these any good?

Jul 15th, 2004, 22:39	#14
Andreas ¿Bailamos? Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Suecia Posts: 123	Plus some others! I'll get back once I have made a few choices.

Jul 16th, 2004, 00:20	#15
federica Maha Guru Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Bavaria Posts: 989	Hi Andreas! I don't know from where you are in Switzerland, but if it's the German part, try "Hindi Wort für Wort" from Kauderwelsch-Reise-KnowHow. It's good for the first steps. There is also an Urdu version which I don't like personally, anyway, it's almost the same language. And they have a Tamil version too. Plus CDs. The problem is mostly the pronunciation.....so it's not bad to have a CD or tape. You can find a lot on the net, for example http://www.learntamil.com/