Udupi: A national workshop on ‘Coastal Kannada Dialects’ organised by Central Institute of Indian Languages of Mysore, with Central HRD ministry, and RG Pai Research Centre for Southern regional languages, disclose that there were several dialects of  Kannada quite varying, on west coast in Kanara district, with changes in grammar and even words.

These dialects had a pinch of medieval linguistic features, coming out of a cauldron of ever-changing history. Kannada had influenced Telugu, Tulu and even Konkani languages.

He referred to a project ‘Bhasha Mandakini that provides the visual information of past and present Kannada language and culture.

There are dictionaries brought out in various languages. Dr. U P Upadhya of Tulu Dictionary Kannada helps children before they go to schools for studies.