Latest news with #non-Kannada
News18
12 hours ago
- General
- News18
Why It's ‘Kannada' For Karnataka & ‘Kannad' For North? ‘1st Language Interference' Explained
Last Updated: There has been a significant row over non-Kannada speakers' inability to speak the local language fluently. The simmering language debate in Karnataka has taken a new turn, this time, over the pronunciation of South Indian languages. A common point of contention is the frequent mispronunciation of 'Kannada" as 'Kannad," which has irked many locals. Even Kannada star Kiccha Sudeep joined the conversation, saying, 'Just like Hindi cannot be called Hind, Kannada cannot be Kannad." But the question remains. How did the phrase 'Kannad' come into existence? According to a recent discussion with linguists in Deccan Herald, many believe it's a result of 'first language interference", where a speaker's native language influences their pronunciation and usage of other languages. Why Do People Pronounce Kannada As Kannad? Meti Mallikarjuna, a linguist, professor and researcher at Kuvempu University, spoke to the outlet, explaining how linguistic structures are different for different languages, including Kannada and Hindi. 'While Kannada and other Dravidian languages are largely based on vowels, which means the words end with a vowel, languages like Hindi end with a consonant sound," he added. As a result, those unfamiliar vowel-ending languages are likely to struggle with the correct pronunciation and end up mixing it with a consonant sound. The linguistic expert went on to cite a few examples, showing the difference between the pronunciation in Hindi and Kannada, such as pustak-pustaka (book), ganith-ganitha (mathematics) and chintan-chintana (think). Likewise, DN Shankara Bhat, another linguist, stated how speakers make certain changes in pronunciation when they borrow more from other languages. 'The structure of the borrowed word may be different from what the speaker is exposed to in their primary language. This is the reason why North Indians refer to our language as Kannad," he added. Noting that the mispronunciation of Kannad is not necessarily wrong, as such adjustments are common, Bhat went on to share how English speakers have a distinction between alphabets but Indians do not. Sahiba, an academician and former Kannada professor, explained how pronunciation issues prevail among Tamil speakers as well when they converse in Kannada using Tamil grammar. 'The grammatical rules of the primary language are deeply rooted everywhere. Many speakers are only able to adapt to the grammar of a second language while speaking it is as much as their own primary language," she explained. Linguistic experts continued to emphasise that the variations in mispronouncing languages might not be deliberate, as not everyone is aware of it, and they have nobody to correct them. Despite being a common issue with speakers from all parts of the country, many within the state of Karnataka are still seen as being targeted for not speaking Kannada fluently or mispronouncing words. It reflects how language politics have been unfairly affecting those with limited access to linguistic support. First Published:
News18
24-05-2025
- General
- News18
‘18 Yrs In Bengaluru But...': Man's Friend Called Kannadigas Biased. Netizens Give ‘Cut Tie' Option
The ongoing Kannada language row in Karnataka has ignited a major debate, particularly in Bengaluru, a city known for its multicultural population. The internet is divided, with some advocating for non-Kannada speakers to learn the language as a gesture of respect towards local culture. Others, however, argue that such expectations are impractical in a multilingual country like India. The debate has quickly extended beyond state borders, sparking strong opinions on language, identity and inclusivity. With no major resolution to the issue, a Bengaluru resident has revealed how his friend has strongly refused to learn Kannada, even after being in the city for about 18 years. Taking to X, Prajwal Bhat stated that the female friend has particularly called out Kannadigas to be 'biased," prompting Bhat to limit interactions with her.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Tamannaah's brand ambassadorship sparks protest
Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited The appointment of Tamannaah Bhatia as the brand ambassador of(KSDL), with a hefty Rs 6.2 crore paid for a two-year promotional contract, has sparked controversy. Several pro-Kannada activists have expressed strong objections and even staged a protest outside KSDL on and Medium Industries Minister MB Patil said that Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited, a symbol of Karnataka's pride and cultural identity, must be guided by market dynamics and competitive strategy when it comes to business decisions. Responding to criticism over the appointment of actress Tamannaah as brand ambassador, the minister clarified that the decision was taken based on expert recommendations and should not be viewed to media persons on Friday, Patil defended the move amidst backlash that a non-Kannada ambassador undermines the brand's local ethos. 'As someone from the Vachana tradition, I hold deep respect for Kannada, Kannadigas and Karnataka. I also admire local artists. But in matters of business, competitiveness must take precedence,' he said. Since taking charge of the department, Patil noted, KSDL's production has grown by 40% without any major investment in company has seen a 15% growth in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector, outpacing competitors like Godrej (11%), Hindustan Unilever (9%), ITC (8%), and Wipro (7%). 'Our goal is to increase KSDL's turnover to Rs 5,000 crore in the next three years. If that happens, we may even require a Hollywood celebrity as our brand ambassador. I hope we reach that level,' he finalising Tamannaah, the company approached top Kannada-speaking actresses such as Deepika Padukone and Rashmika Mandanna. Others considered included Sreeleela, Pooja Hegde, and Kiara Advani. However, many were either already committed to other beauty and skincare brands or unavailable for the next two years. Given Tamannaah's pan-India appeal and her massive social media following of 28 million, she was selected to lead KSDL's branding efforts. Patil also revealed that KSDL recently launched 21 new products and is now preparing to enter the fragrance segment.
The Hindu
23-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Yaduveer flays choice of Tamannaah Bhatia as brand ambassador for Mysore Sandal
The controversy surrounding the appointment of actress Tamannaah Bhatia as the brand ambassador of Mysore Sandal soap has further escalated with MP for Mysuru Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, who is also the scion of the erstwhile royal family, expressing his indignation over it. The decision of the Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL) to appoint Ms. Bhatia as the brand ambassador triggered protests, with activists questioning the need for a non-Kannadiga actress to promote the product, which is a household name in Karnataka. Mr. Yaduveer said the decision of the government defied logic and was not only irresponsible but also insensitive. Mr. Yaduveer, who described KSDL as a legacy institution, said it was established in 1916 by Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar and is a source pride for Karnataka and its people. 'Mysore Sandal Soap is not just a product; it is a part of our cultural identity and household heritage, especially for Kannadigas, who have supported and used these products for decades,' said Mr. Yaduveer in a post on X. To now appoint a non-Kannada actress as the face of this historic brand and to reportedly pay her over ₹6 crore is nothing short of unacceptable, he said, pointing out that if appointing a brand ambassador was indeed a necessity, talented Kannada artists who reflect the spirit and pride of Karnataka could have been chosen, Mr. Yaduveer added. 'After failing to deliver on its guarantee schemes and withholding thousands of crores from the people, the Congress government must now refrain from appointing a non-Kannada actress as the brand ambassador. I strongly urge the State government to immediately cancel this appointment and save ₹6.2 crore of public money,' Mr. Yaduveer said.
India Today
23-05-2025
- Business
- India Today
‘If this language nonsense…', says founder on shifting firm from Bengaluru to Pune
An entrepreneur announced his plans to shut his Bengaluru office and relocate operations to Pune following the language row that reared up again in Karnataka recently. The post and the intent comes following a viral video that showed a State Bank of India (SBI) official refusing to speak to a customer in Kannada. Kaushik Mukherjee, in a post on social media platform X, said the move stemmed directly from his team's concerns about regional language dispute. 'This idea was mooted by the staff themselves,' he wrote. 'I agreed to their POV (point of view).'advertisementHe said his team raised concerns about language-related hostility following the video from an SBI branch in Anekal taluk, Bengaluru. 'If this language nonsense is to continue, I do not want my non-Kannada speaking staff to be the next 'victim',' Mukherjee said in his tweet. His statement reflects growing anxiety among professionals working in Karnataka, particularly those not fluent in the local language. The widely circulated video from SBI's Suryanagar branch in Bengaluru's Chandapura area shows a manager repeatedly refusing to speak Kannada with a customer. She can be heard arguing, 'Do I have to speak in Kannada? Is it mandatory? Where is it written? Show me the rules.'advertisementAfter the video caused public outrage, the SBI in a statement announced the official had been transferred. The incident also drew immediate political attention. BJP MP Tejaswi Surya called the manager's conduct 'unacceptable' and insisted that fluency in Kannada be mandatory for customer-facing roles in the state. 'Banks working in Karnataka should serve customers in Kannada. Period,' he said, adding that he had raised the issue with central Minister Siddaramaiah also weighed in, condemning the bank manager's actions and supporting the State Bank of India's decision to transfer her. 'The matter may now be treated as closed,' he said in a statement on the transfer, Kannada organisations staged protests outside the bank branch, demanding stronger action against the manager. A new video of the same staffer surfaced online on Thursday, this time showing her apologising in Kannada. IN THIS STORY#Karnataka#Bengaluru
