Q. Consider the following statements:
1.Madhika language is spoken by Kattunayakan community.
2.Madhika language does not have its own script.
3.As per UNESCO, any language spoken by less than 10,000 persons is considered “potentially endangered”.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Explanation –
Statement 1 is incorrect. Madhika language is spoken by the Chakaliya community. It is a blend of Telugu, Tulu, Kannada, and Malayalam. It is largely influenced by Havyaka Kannada, an old form of Kannada. Chakaliya community have a nomadic origin. They worship gods like Thiruvenkatramana and Mariamma. They have migrated to northern Malabar from the hilly regions of Karnataka centuries ago. Initially they were given the S.T. status, but later they were brought under S.C. category. They were considered untouchables.
Statements 2 and 3 are correct. Madhika is an unwritten language, meaning it doesn’t have a formal writing system. This lack of a script contributes to the challenges of preserving the language. As per the UNESCO, languages spoken by fewer than 10,000 speakers are considered “potentially endangered.”
Source: Forum IAS
