Similarities
The Malayalam/ Tamil language and the Tulu language are closely related. Though traditionally and culturally Tulu Nadu was a part of Kerala, it became politically aligned with Karnataka under the influence of Kannada kings. Even the food, festivals, dress, customs, rituals and lifestyle of Tuluvas and Keralites are similar. For example, Tulu and Kerala regions practiced a matrilineal system of inheritance in the past. However, very few communities have remained matrilineal. Also, the rituals of these two groups are similar as in the case of Bhuta Kola for Tuluvas and Theyyam for Malayalees. Nairs and Bunts belong to the same cast. Like Bunts and Nadavas (and other Tuluva people) Nairs too follow their own form of inheritance called Marumakkathayam, which is “Aliya Santana”. Bunts have “Nayaranna bari” (bari = matriarchal lineage). The Malayalam spoken in the northern districts of Kerala and the Tulu spoken in the southern parts of Tulu Nadu are very similar. There are many Tulu and Malayalam words with the same meaning in both the languages.
Some of the examples of similarities that are seen in Kasaragod Tulu (general Tulu) and Malayalam are:
- Bolpu in Tulu means morning, the same as Vellupu in Malayalam meaning morning as well.
- Ponnu in Tulu meand girl, the same as Pennu in Tamil/Malayalam means girl.
- Chaavadi in Tulu and Tamil / Malayalam means : Lodging house.
- Paruthy in Tulu and Tamil/Malayalam means : Cotton.
- Oruthy in Tulu and Tamil/Malayalam means : Single girl.
- Kettu in Tulu and Tamil/Malayalam means : Tie.
- Poo in Tulu and Tamil/Malayalam means : Flower.
- Pacha in Tulu and Tamil/Malayalam means : Green.
- Tavid in Tulu and Malayalam means : Brown.
- Ari in Tulu and Malayalam means : Rice
- Puchha in Tulu means : cat, similar to Poocha in Malayalam means : cat
- Undutanda? in Tulu means - Had your food?. And, in Malayalam it is Unduvo?
- Aal in Tulu is Aval in Tamil/Malayalam means : She.
- Unlike Tuluvas in Karnataka, Tuluvas in Kerala can pronounce ZHA (Malayalam: ഴ) (Tamil: ழ),which is only seen in Malayalam and the Tamil languages.
- Like Malayalees and Tamils, Tuluvas of the region can also pronounce the letter RA, (Malayalam: ര) (Tamil: ர), which is present in the Malayalam and Tamil languages.
- The almost extinct Tulu script is very similar to Malayalam script.
Read more about this topic: Kasaragod Tulu
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