Konkani

Konkani is an Indo-Aryan language spoken primarily along the Konkan coast of India. It is the native language of communities in Goa, coastal Karnataka, and parts of Maharashtra, with smaller communities in Kerala and in diaspora around the world.

Classification and status: It belongs to the Western branch of the Indo-Aryan languages and is closely related to Marathi. Konkani is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India. Goa recognizes Konkani as its official language; in Karnataka it is recognized regionally and used in education and media in parts of the coast.

Writing systems: Konkani is written in multiple scripts, including Devanagari, the Kannada script, and the Latin alphabet. Historically, regional scripts have been used in various communities for local texts and communication.

Dialects and literature: The language has a number of regional varieties, with Goan Konkani and Canara Konkani among the best known. It has a long literary tradition dating to medieval times and continues in modern prose, poetry, and journalism.

Diaspora and culture: Large Konkani-speaking communities exist in the Gulf states, Europe, and North America, contributing to a vibrant media and cultural scene. Ongoing efforts aim to standardize teaching and preserve the language across scripts and dialects.