Amongst various vernacular languages prevalent in the Indian heartland, Kanauji is worth to note. It is widely spoken amongst six million people in the Kanauj region of Uttar Pradesh. Apart from it, numerous people of states like Kanpur, Farrukhabad, Etawah, Hardoi, Shahjahanpur, Pilibhit, Mainpuri, Auraiya districts speak this beautiful Kanauji language. Other alternative names for Kanauji are Kannauji, Bhakha, Braj, It belongs to Indo Aryan family and various sub groups are Central zone and Western Hindi.
Kanauji has got a close relation to one of the most prominent languages of India, namely Hindi. Opinions differed regarding its origin. Some linguists believe it to be a recognized dialect of Hindi language. There are others who think Kanauji to form a distinctive group , better known as `Western Hindi language` .
Kanauji is rich in its dialects. Two significant dialects include Tirhari and Transitional Kanauji. The latter has close link with both `standard Kanauji and Awadhi`. Tirhari is also believed to be a variety of Braj Bhasha. The variety spoken in Kannauj and Farrukhabad is considered the pure form. What is most interesting to note is the fact that between all the dialects of Kanauji , word borrowing constitutes of eighty four to ninety seven percent . Not only that, almost seventy two to seventy six percent of words belongs to Bundeli language. Seventy to seventy eight percent of words are being taken from Braj Bhasha and also from Hindi , words borrowed percentage is eighty three to ninety four.
In the year 1977, Voegelin and Voegelin, has conducted a special survey, which concludes that there are 6,000,000 Kanauji speakers. Some acclaimed that Kanauji has a close linkage with Hindi. The language has acclaimed recognition as first language. According to the census of the year 2001, its development as a second language has increased the literary rate to almost sixty.
