Writing system Tamil script Glottolog None | Official language in India (Tamil Nadu) | |
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Native to Tamil Nadu - Kongu Region Language family Dravidian
Southern
Tamil–Kannada
Tamil–Kodagu
Tamil–Malayalam
Tamil languages
Kongu Tamil | ||
Kongu Tamil or Coimbatore Tamil (as common people call it) is the dialect of Tamil language that is spoken in Kongu Nadu, which is the western region of Tamil Nadu. It is originally known as "Kangee"` or "Kongalam" or "Kongappechu".
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Etymology
The name Kongu etymologically means 'border' in Sangam Tamil. Alternative theories seems to point at 'Ganga' as the source for the name. Gangeya (Kaangeyam) and Ganganadu are alternative historical names for the Kongu region.
Variations
The speciality of Kongu Tamil is the use of the alveolar ற - Tra/Dra (as in the English word track) instead of retroflex T/D (ட) of standard tamil. For example 'ennuDaya' (mine) of standard Tamil is pronounced enRa in the Kongu dialect. Additionally the use of guttural nasal (ங்) that sounds "ng" as in the English word Gang, is more prevalent in Kongu Tamil, leading to situations where the grammar of Kongu Tamil would not fit into the grammar of standard Tamil (as laid down in authoritative treatises like Tolkappiyam and Nannool). One of the examples is the use of ங் to end a word like வாங் "vaang", means 'come' expressed in a respectful tone, which in standard Tamil would be "vaanga".
Kongu Tamil also uses certain Tamil words that are unique to Kongu region and are not used in standard Tamil.
Areas spoken
The Tamil dialect is heavily influenced by Kongu dialect in Coimbatore district, Tirupur district and Erode district and in other parts of Kongu Nadu region districts: Karur district, Salem district, Nilgiris district, Namakkal district, Dharmapuri district, Krishnagiri district and Dindigul district.