Each group prefers their own language variety. More than two-thirds of the Muthuvan people are Tamil Muthuvan. No dialectal differences were observed among Tamil Muthuvan villages. It is recommended
that a language development programme start out utilising the Tamil Muthuvan variety, as the Malayalam Muthuvan also understand it. However, such materials will need to be tested to see whether
they are acceptable for use by the Malayalam Muthuvan or if it will be necessary to adapt the materials further. Malayalam is the medium of education and script used in Idukki district. So it is possible that the
Malayalam script may provide a good starting point for an orthography to be used in Muthuvan literature production. A few Muthuvan settlements are found in Tamil Nadu, and it may be possible that the people
living in these settlements can utilise the same materials in Malayalam script.
7.1.2 For literacy work
The literacy rate of Muthuvan is lower than that of other tribes in Idukki district. There has been little local initiative towards becoming literate in Malayalam. The lack of quality educational facilities and
challenges in understanding a second language might be primary reasons for their low literacy rate. Although some of the men of the community have begun to enjoy opportunities for education, Muthuvan
women have little opportunity for it, and tend to be secluded in their society.
As a majority of the Muthuvan people are illiterate, a mother tongue literacy programme may be a helpful, yet challenging, initiative. The women of the community would benefit most from such a
programme. Because all education is currently in Malayalam, it may be attractive for literacy materials to be used as a bridge from the Muthuvan language into Malayalam.
7.2 Mannan
7.2.1 For language development
The Mannan subjects scored well overall in the Malayalam bilingualism testing. However, the scores may be misleading, as the tool that was used can only effectively measure lower levels of bilingualism.
Education and contact with outsiders are the primary factors that influence the degree of proficiency to which the Mannan speak Malayalam. Although educational opportunities and contact with outsiders has
been increasing, literacy rates remain low. Nonetheless, assessing the proficiency in Malayalam among the Mannan community would be worthwhile to do. A Sentence Repetition Test can discriminate at
higher levels of bilingualism, and would be a suitable tool to use in this situation. An SRT in Malayalam, however, does not exist, but its development is being planned.
The present trend of language use and attitudes of the Mannan people towards their mother tongue supports the possible continuation of their language. However, factors that may decrease the use of their
mother tongue in the future are the impact of education, the acceptance of inter-community marriage and the influence of Malayalam. The leaders of the Mannan community are supportive of language
maintenance, which may help avoid language shift to Malayalam. Based on all these factors, it is recommended that a vernacular language development project be initiated among the Mannan.
Minimal dialectical variation was reported by Mannan subjects. The speech of people in the Kovilmala area may be the most suitable for literature development, as it is a central area of Mannan, it is
the home of the Mannan king and is the location of the temple of their mother goddess, Kanchiyar Mutthi. Kumily may be the next most appropriate place as the wordlist from that location shows
comparatively high similarity with the wordlists from other Mannan villages, and the high language use was reported about the people of that area. The Malayalam script may be the most suitable for materials
developed in the Mannan language.
7.2.2 For literacy work
The 1991 census reported that the literacy rate among the Mannan is 35. It is likely that rates of functional literacy are even lower than that. Although the government has provided some basic
educational facilities in some areas, few Mannan students have been able to have full access to them. This is due to many reasons, including lack of finances and the challenge of comprehending lessons in another
language. Many Mannan students are at a disadvantage to their mother tongue Malayalam peers. In order to provide better opportunities for literacy to the Mannan community, the Literacy Mission
of Kerala is issuing a series of literacy books as bridge materials from the Mannan language to Malayalam. These materials have good potential to be effective tools to help their community. However, some people
have complained about errors in the books due to what is said to be an absence of careful analysis. The books show potential to be improved and used as part of a literacy programme. Thus a pilot literacy
project, using the mother tongue of the people as a bridge to becoming literate in the LWC, could be initiated. Such a project could investigate the possibility working together with the Literacy Mission of
Kerala for the benefit of the people.
7.3 Other tribal groups
