Evolution of Malayalam Language

There’s a lot that goes into the history and evolution of the Malayalam language spoken by more than 35 million people worldwide. It is the principal language of the state of Kerala, the union territories of Lakshadweep Islands (Laccadivon) on the west coast of India, and Puducherry (Mahe district). It is also used by bilingual groups in neighboring parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The native language Malayalam, one of the 22 official languages of India once thought to be a branch of old Tamil lingered in the glooms for a long time before obtaining liberation in the 10th century. In this digital age, several online Malayalam tuition platforms move and inspire people to comprehend and get to know the language delightfully. The beauty of learning Malayalam online just at the convenience of your home is indeed a boon more than a lane that takes you to the next level. It not only makes a person think out of the box but it adds a new window of exploration. There exist three regional dialects aside from a variety of minor dialects. Besides, there are some linguistic differences along classes, especially castes, and lines. Due to the influences, the language attained diglossia, a divide between formal, literary language, and informal speech. Owing to the similarity of syntax and vocabulary several experts believed that the language descended from Tamil.

As a language of scholastic learning and administration, Malayalam was greatly influenced by Tamil. The irresistible inroads made by the Brahmins into the ethnic, and cultural life of Kerala expedited the integration of many Indo-Aryan elements into our native tongue Malayalam. Malayalam has a sequence of retroflex consonants (/ḍ/, /ṇ/, and /ṭ/) made by twisting the tip of the tongue back to the roof of the mouth just like any other Dravidian language and uses subject–object–verb word order. It has a nominative-accusative case-marking pattern. Sanskrit, which was widely used in ancient times also has had a significant influence on Malayalam. It is derived from the Grantha script, which in turn is derived from Brahmi, and known as Koleluttu (Rod Script) which has letters to epitomize the whole corpus of sounds from both Dravidian and Sanskrit. An epic poem Ramacharitam, probably penned in the 12th or 13th century, is one of the earliest Malayalam poems. The great Indian epics such as the Mahabharata and Ramayana were translated into Malayalam in the years that followed. Aside from popular pattu (song) literature of predominantly sensual poetry created in the Manipravalam (ruby coral) style, a melange of Malayalam and Sanskrit thrived in the succeeding years. Subsequently, after the nineteenth century, Malayalam literature exploded and several excellent poems along with other literary genres were inscribed in this period.

While Tamil and Sanskrit took turns establishing their authority, the third type of Malayalam arose and endured pure Malayalam which now comprises 53 letters including 20 long and short vowels and the rest consonants. This was the traditional stream of lullabies, wedding songs, and dirges that lasted for generations and ultimately formed the wellspring of Malayalam literature. Syrian Christians are influenced by other languages like English, Syriac, and Latin, and Muslim components from Urdu and Arabic can also be traced to the third type of Malayalam.  Its vocabulary has several words borrowed from Sanskrit, English, and Portuguese. As language is the roadmap to one’s culture, taking online Malayalam classes should be done by fixing an eye on the historical imprints and evolution. Just like any other language, our native tongue also undergoes changes and evolutions. A new style of the script was familiarised in 1981, which helped in reducing the number of characters radically. Though natives find it very easy to speak, read, write, or understand the Malayalam language, it is difficult for an NRI (non-resident Indian) to comprehend due to the dissimilar script and style of writing. The addition of new words through the process of borrowing or invention as well as the drift of meaning and falloffs all contribute to change of language across time and it’s very inevitable. Learners of online Malayalam tuition classes should be able to accept these changes while acquiring a native tongue. Constant attention can make the language learning process a delightful and meaningful process.