Population 180,000 (2000).
Region
Tamil Nadu, Theni District, Kambam Valley;
Dindigul District, Sirumalai,
Senkuruchi Hillocks & Palani.

Coimbatore District, Pollachi,
Western Fields & Western Gate Hills;

Dharmapuri, Vellore, Chingalpattu.

Salem districts;

Karnataka; Andhra Pradesh.

Alternate names

Canarese, Korambar, Kuramwari, Kuremban,
Kuruba, Kuruban, Kurubar, Kuruman,
Kurumans, Kurumar, Kurumba, Kurumban,
Kurumbar, Kurumbas, Kurumvari, Kurubas
Kuruma, Palu Kurumba, Southern
Non-standard Kannada.

Dialects
Coimbatore, Dharmapuri, Pudukottai.

Classification
Dravidian, Southern, Tamil-Kannada,
Tamil-Kodagu, Kodagu.

Language use
Home. All ages. Few use Tamil [tam] or
Standard Kannada [kan].

Language development
Younger generation over 80% literate,
older generation less. Radio programs.

Writing system
Tamil script.

Comments

Reportedly 3 groups of Gowda: Okkili, Anuppa, and Kurumba, which may be languages or dialects of one language. Sometimes referred to as Alu or Palu Kurumba, but is a different language from Alu Kurumba [zua] in the hills. Kurumba and Kuruman are different Scheduled Tribes. Agriculturalists; pastoralists; urban workers. Hindu.