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| कोंकणी koṃkaṇī (Amchigale} (Devanāgarī),koṃkaṇi | |
| Native to | India |
| Region | Konkan |
| Native speakers | 7.5 million (including 3.5 million speakers of Goan) |
| Language family | Indo-European |
| Writing system | Devanāgarī, Latin alphabet and Kannada abugida |
| Language codes | |
| ISO 639-2 | kok |
| ISO 639-3 | Variously:kok – Konkani (generic)knn – Konkani (specific)gom – Goan Konkani |
Konkani (Devanāgarī: कोंकणी koṃkaṇī) is derived from the Sanskrit language, and includes a significant vocabulary derived from various Dravidian languages. It started as a vernacular of Sanskrit, with the inevitable introduction of new words and phrases. It has been relatively free of influence of other language with the exception of words from the Portuguese (particularly in areas of Goa), some Kannada and Marathi.Konkani is a dialect of Marathi language but few don't agree to this.
The Konkani language is spoken widely in the Konkan region consisting of Goa, south coastal Maharashtra, coastal Karnataka and Kerala, each region having a unique dialect and pronunciation style. The language was brought to these areas by Hindu Konkani speakers fleeing the Portuguese inquisition of Goa during the early years of Portuguese rule. To this day the temple of the Kula Deva (Family Deity) of most Konkani people living outside Goa, can be found within Goa. In areas controlled by the Portuguese during the inquisition (~1560 - 1774), all temples were destroyed by the Portuguese and churches built over them. Konkanis smuggled their deities across the Zuari River into what was then territory ruled by the Adil Shah of Gulbarga. There the temples were maintained in small wooden shacks. After Goa's independence in 1961, Konkanis returned to Goa in large numbers and rebuilt their temples.
Konkani is written in a number of scripts. The dominant ones are Devanagari and Roman, which originated during the Portuguese rule. The Kannada script is used amongst the Konkani population of Karnataka. Malayalam script is used by the expatriate Konkani community, centred around the city of Cochin in Kerala state. In recent years, many of these communities have started producing publications in the widely-known Devanagari script as well as the Roman.
The Konkani language had been in danger of dying out — the progressive Westernisation of the Indian subcontinent (including the strong Portuguese influence in Goa from the 16th century) has resulted in English being widely spoken among Catholics, while local influence has led to Marathi being widely adopted by Konkani Hindus living in coastal Maharashtra. This trend was arrested in 1985 by a strong Konkani movement in Goa that had broad support from both religious groups. Konkani is now widely spoken in Goa, and is the official state language. It has since been given official language status in the Indian Constitution.
The first known printed book in Konkani was written by an English Jesuit priest, Thomas Stephens, and entitled Doutrina Christam (The Doctrine of Christ) (1622). As part of the Portuguese Inquisition, attempts were made to systematically destroy all aspects of Konkani culture. This included temples, which were also the repositories of written scriptures and other works. The present lack of any pre-Portuguese Konkani literature points to the unmerciful destruction of the Konkani heritage. That the language itself survives the more than 400 years of alien subjugation attests to the resilience of nomadic Konkani people.
See also
- Konkani people
- Languages of India
- List of national languages of India
- List of Indian languages by total speakers
External links
- North American Konkani Youth Forum
- GSB Konkani User group
- All you want to know about GSB Konkani (Updated Daily*****)
- The Roots of Konkani
- The Origins of the Konkani Language
- Information on the 2006 North American Konkani Convention
- Konkani Heritage and Culture
- GSB World
- GSB Konkanis
- Learn Mangalorean Konkani online
- GSB Kerala
- Konkani Catholics Blog, The
- Kamat's Potpourri
- Konkani Word Processor: Madhyam
- Discussion Group for Konkani Catholics
- Ethnologue report for Konkani
- Learn Konkani online
- Thomas Stevens Konknni Kendr, Goa
- Lyrics of Konkani Songs
- History of Mangalorean Konkani Christians
- Mother Tongue blues by Madhavi Sardesai
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