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Abstract

The danger of language degeneration is a gnawing threat for the cultural heritage that any language brings along with it. Hence efforts are being made towards revitalization in order to revive the exuberance of the language. Tulu is a Dravidian language spoken in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kasargod districts of Karnataka. According to UNESCO’s categorization of the endangered languages, Tulu language of Tulunad falls in the first category called ''Vulnerable". This is due to the external influences domineering the Tulu language. If an awakening among the indigenous speakers of Tulu language to save the language does not take place at this stage, then the language reaches the second stage which is categorized by UNESCO as "Endangerment". The external influences such as colonization, globalization, modernization, migration of natives, superiority of English language and advancement of technology are some of the external forces overriding the development of Tulu language. Hence efforts are being made towards revitalization of Tulu language by the indigenous speakers of Tulunad. This paper makes an attempt to provide a birds’ eye view of the history of endangered Tulu language and tries to encompass the revitalization measures adopted by the linguists, the government policies and the interested natives who have realized that the revival of the rich culture of Tulu language can be done only through the revival of the indigenous language. 

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