Alternate Names: Makkal, Malai Paliyar, Palani, Palaya, Palayan, Paliyar, Palleyan, Palliyar, Poliyar, Seramar, Tamil
Dialects: Mala Pulayan (Hill Pulaya, Karavazhi). Lexical similarity: 71%–75% with Tamil ,, 62%–65% with Malayalam ,, 79%–85% with Mala Pulayan ,.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 9,520 (2001 census).
Language Use: Speakers have high proficiency in Tamil [tam]. Also use Malayalam [mal].
Language Development: Literacy rate in L2: 44%–62% in Kerala, 50% for Hill Pulaya (2001 census).
Nation of Origin: India
Other Comments: A Scheduled Tribe. Paliya and Mala Pulaya refer to L1 as Tamil ,, though it differs from standard Tamil. Traditional religion, Christian, Hindu.