Waddar language

Waddar
Native to	India, Nepal
Region	Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra
Ethnicity	Waddar
Native speakers	200,000 (2011 census)[1]
Language family	Dravidian Southern Southern II[2] Teluguic Waddar
Writing system	Telugu, Kannada, Devanagari
Language codes
ISO 639-3	wbq
Glottolog	wadd1237

Waddar, or Vadari, is a Dravidian language which belongs to the Telugu branch of its South-Central family, spoken among social caste of Waddars scattered over South India, and Sri Lanka especially in Karnataka, where it has a status of Scheduled caste. 200,000 people reported their languages as 'Vadari' in the 2011 census. Ethnologue treats it as separate Dravidian language closely related to Telugu, but without clear grounds. Waddars show their close relevance to Kaikadis.

References

1. "Abstract of speakers' strength of languages and mother tongues - 2011" (PDF). censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
2. Zvelebil (1990), p. 57.

Sources

• Zvelebil, Kamil (1990), Dravidian Linguistics: An Introduction, Pondicherry Institute of Linguistics and Culture, ISBN 978-81-8545-201-2
• Chandrashekhar Bhat. Ethnicity and Mobility: Emerging Ethnic Identity and Social Mobility Among the Waddars of South India. Concept Publishing Company, 1984.