Kanglish (Kannada: ಕಂಗ್ಲಿಷ್ ISO 15919: kaṁgliṣ) is a term used to refer to the macaronic language of Kannada and English. It is basically Kannada, with borrowed English words. Kanglish is of recent origin, having begun to develop in the mid-1990s.
Etymology
The word "Kanglish" is a portmanteau of the names of the two languages Kannada and English, and was first recorded in 1993. Other less common terms are Kannalish (recorded from 2000), Kannadlish (2006), and Kanlish (2009).[1]
Kanglish has become an important medium of communication in the Indian state of Karnataka.
Features
Kanglish has some distinguishing features with regard to the nature of words borrowed from English. One of this is the addition of the suffix -u at the end of the word, as in heart-u, life-u, car-u, etc.
The phonology of the word is also modified to suit the phonetic structure of Kannada. For example, the word "sir" is usually rendered as sār or sār-u.
Examples
- Yēnu samācāra, sār(u)?
- What's the matter, sir?
- Helō, ṭifin āyitā?
- Hello, have you had your tiffin?
- Svalpa mūv māḍi.
- Just move a bit.
- Svalpa brēk hāki.
- Please apply the brake.
- Yāva mūvi hākidāre?
- Which movie is playing?
- Yēnu ḍākyumeṇṭari nōḍtāidirā?
- What documentary are you watching?
- Yēnu kelasa māḍtāidirā kampyūṭar-ada Varḍ-inalli?
- What work are you doing in Word in the computer?
References
- ^ Lambert, James. 2018. A multitude of ‘lishes’: The nomenclature of hybridity. English World-wide, 39(1): 27. doi:10.1075/eww.38.3.04lam
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