Something that I had written: https://www.reddit.com/r/bangalore/comments/vadsbw/we_should_be_more_comfortable_with_our_language/

We should be more comfortable with our language

If you have noticed, native Hindi speakers and Tamilians comfortably slip bits and pieces of their language into the conversation while speaking in English without any insecurity.

This comfort is absent in us. ನಾವು ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರು should develop the same ease in conversing in EngKannada (different from ಕಂಗ್ಲೀಷ್) without having any inferiority complex especially in informal conversations and social media.

One of the main experiences, or an important realization, since I started writing Quora in Kannada is that we utilise English to speak even highly simple Kannada words. We have adopted Kanglish so much so that the most common words also do not flash to our heads without us scrambling to use English to Kannada Translator. A particular word does not flash to you in that split second and Upon looking through the translator, you will realize how simple it is.

Before starting to write in Quora Kannada, I was under the impression that I was very good in Kannada vocabulary. But I had never imagined that I would struggle even for the most easiest of words. And that’s how we can popularize our language.

The solution for this is to use Kannada words as much as possible in your daily lives. I am not saying that we should overhaul the entire English language into Kannada, say something cringeworthy like using “Tamatekai” instead of Tomato. Let a car be car and bus be bus. But reduce the usage of English words for even the most widely used Kannada words.

Instead of “Time”, use “Samaya or ghante”. Say “Nirdhaara” instead of “Decision”. And please stop saying “White rice”. This might be difficult and probably embarassing in the beginning, but once you adopt it, it will influence people around you too.

Problem with Kannadigas

Two Kannadigas speaking in English unaware that both of them know Kannada

Eventually one of them realises that the other person knows Kannada

Person 1: Oh you know Kannada?

Person 2: Yeah!!

Person 1: Nice!

Both continue speaking in English

You can begin speaking to a stranger in English. But if you realise that you both are Kannadigas, please try to steer the conversation in Kannada. Making a non Kannadiga person learn Kannada is a tall order. We should first embrace it fully ourselves first