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Tulu language
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Thematic map of South Asia showing the distribution of Dravidian languages, with different regions shaded or marked to indicate where specific Dravidian languages and subgroups are spoken. Most languages are concentrated in southern and central India, with some northern outliers in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and eastern India. A key identifies the languages by number and subgroup, and striped areas indicate regions where several subgroups overlap. South Dravidian languages
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Tulu language

Written by
Bhadriraju Krishnamurti
Vice Chancellor emeritus, University of Hyderabad. Author of The Dravidian Languages and Comparative Dravidian Linguistics: Current Perspectives.
Bhadriraju Krishnamurti
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Britannica Editors
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
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History

Tulu language, member of the Dravidian language family, spoken in southern Karnataka state, India. Tulu has borrowed many words from the Kannada language, the official language of Karnataka, but they are not closely related. Tulu has a rich oral tradition, but little has been written in the language. In the early 21st century Tulu was spoken by some two million people.

Bhadriraju Krishnamurti The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica