| Title | ತುಳು (Tuḷu) / (Tuḷu - Tigalari)Tulu (Tulu Nadu)Tuḷu Tulu |
|---|---|
| Description | Tulu (Tuḷu) is a major Dravidian language spoken in Tulu Nadu (coastal Karnataka and northern Kerala). Known for its rich oral epic tradition (*Pāḍdana*) and the unique ritual performance art of *Bhuta Kola* (Spirit Worship), Tulu has a distinct identity separate from its neighbors Kannada and Malayalam. While often written in Kannada script today, it historically employed the **Tulu-Tigalari** script (a sister to Malayalam script). Tulu is linguistically significant for its highly developed morphological system (including a "communicative" case) and for preserving Proto-Dravidian features. It is one of the five major Dravidian languages (along with Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam). |
| Alternate Names & Variants | Native Names: ತುಳು Tuḷu Indic Names: Tulu English Names: Tulu Alternate Names: Tuluva Tula |
| Language ID | INHF-LNG-0367956168-03:00:12:07:01:26-TULU |
| URI | |
| API URL | https://inheritage.foundation/api/v1/aat/languages/tulu |
| Language Family | Dravidian(South Dravidian I (Koraga-Tulu)) |
| Status | Vulnerable / Culturally Vibrant |
| ISO Codes | ISO 639-2: tulISO 639-3: tcy |
| Glottolog Code | tulu1258 |
| Wikidata URI | |
| Regions | Tulu Nadu Dakshina Kannada Udupi Kasaragod |
| Time Periods | Medieval (1159 CE - present) Modern Tulu |
| Dynasties | Alupa Dynasty (Ruled Tulu Nadu for 1000 years) |
| Script Associations | Tulu-Tigalari Kannada Malayalam |
| Related Languages | Kannada Malayalam Kodava Koraga |
| Literary Works | Sri Bhagavata Kaveri Devi Mahatmyam (Tulu translation) Paddanas (Oral Epics) |
| Inscription Types | Stone Inscriptions Copper Plates Palm Leaf Manuscripts |
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