kannda

Kannada is a Dravidian language spoken primarily in the Indian state of Karnataka and by Kannada-speaking communities in neighboring states and around the world. It is the official language of Karnataka and, along with several other languages, one of the 22 scheduled languages of India. Native Kannada speakers number around 50 million, with a larger total when second-language speakers are included. In 2011, the Government of India designated Kannada as a classical language in recognition of its ancient literary tradition.

Kannada is written in the Kannada script, an abugida descended from the ancient Brahmi family and related to other scripts of the region. The language features rich inflection and is primarily subject–object–verb in order.

The earliest Kannada literature dates to the 9th century, with Kavirajamarga (c. 850) often cited as the first major work. The three gems of classical Kannada—Pampa, Ponna, and Ranna—made lasting contributions in the medieval period. Later poets and reformers expanded prose and poetry in both religious and secular themes. In modern times Kannada has an active literary scene and a strong presence in education, media, and film, with the Kannada cinema industry known as Sandalwood.

Dialectally, Kannada varies by region, with major varieties such as Mysuru, Bengaluru, and coastal forms. It is used as the medium of instruction in many schools and as a language of public administration in Karnataka. The Kannada-speaking population also maintains a sizeable global diaspora.