The Untold Legacy of Malayalam Language Learning

We Malayalees are talkative about our state of Kerala named one of the ten Paradises Found by National Geographic Travelers. Owing to the diverse geography and overwhelming flora and fauna Kerala is remarkably celebrated for its rich cultural ethos, ethnic diversities, landscape, festivals, topography, sumptuous cuisines, lush vegetation and much more. Acquaintance with such diversity at a young age can implausibly help our kids get to know our native tongue Malayalam. It is the official language of Kerala with several varieties of slangs that are restricted to a particular group or context of people. As stated on the website of Language Information & Resources, there are twelve dialectical regions in Kerala namely the South Travancore, Central Travancore, West Vembanad, North Travancore, Cochin, South Malabar, South-eastern Palghat, North-western Palghat, Central Malabar, Wayanad, North Malabar and Kasargod. In all these dialectical areas, a wide variety of sub-dialects are spoken without any exception. Due to the sociocultural influences in the present era things are eventually changing. Still, we have words beyond dialectic boundaries though the writing standard remains the same. The constant exposure of live Malayalam words and phrases can assist them to find out the language even without being aware of its complexity and structure. You might know Malayalam is perhaps the only language in the world that is a palindrome when written in English. Malayalee kids living abroad may not necessarily have the facility for the acquisition of our native language which transports a lot of distinctive features.

In the words of philological experts, unlike other regional languages Malayalam that progressed from Middle Tamil between the 9th and 13th centuries is unique with its script, phonemes, and vocabulary. While it has some of the most complicated alphabets, along with distinct nasal tones, and a plethora of loan words from several foreign tongues like Arabic, Portuguese, Dutch, French, Persian, Hebrew, Aramaic or East Syriac, English, Indonesia etc. along with other Indian languages. Kids who learn Malayalam can help in terms of intellectual development resulting to excel socially as well as academically. Developed countries have already introduced programmes to promote the use of native languages via making it a part of the curriculum. Bilingualism and multilingualism in young people can add to the intellectual and academic capacity. More than reinventing our roots in the ancestries, these huge steps indeed help to protect, restore, and sustain our native language that is endangered. Consistent with some studies carried out by experts of language immersion programs in the US states that many children who are instructed in their native language tend to excel more and show interest in their education than other kids. It might be due to the personal baggage fostering a positive link for one’s culture besides education. Just like any others, children of immigrants may feel out of place and struggle to fit into their groups of people and places. Some parents instead of educating Malayalam would refrain from teaching the children how important it is to foster diversity. They are cutting links that connect kids to the cultural lineages.

Malayalam learning for kids of various age groups can assist them in keeping in touch with their own cultural roots together with fostering a sense of belonging. These days there are many language experts, enabling live Malayalam classes for kids to teach them the basic lessons in a fun based learning mode. Learning our own native tongue not only helps in reinventing personal connections, but also in several other ways. Getting used to such a complicated language like Malayalam will ease children to get hold of other tongues at great ease. Most online Malayalam tuition classes are conducted by giving groups as well as personalised coaching. This relieves in eliminating hindrances of Malayalam learning students to take lessons in the right manner. We have formal and informal styles of Malayalam however the formal style is used as a standard form – used in most writing, in radio broadcasting, television programs, and in public speaking. With the prominence of art, education, technological innovations, etc., slangs of Malayalam languages also got place in the mind of native folks. Movies are the first-hand influencer to bring the change. New generation movies or dramas extensively used these slangs to add hues to the narrative styles, panaches, and techniques. Online Malayalam teaching classes are conducted by linguist experts to help familiarise students with standard script along with basic colloquial terms. This would generate an effect on fresh learners of online Malayalam classes that subsequently persevere to save language from dying. It’s through our mother tongue we perceive things – an identity than the way of life. Thus, it’s vital to pass on the legacy of our children in the most appropriate manner to preserve our rich heritage. Let our children learn, adapt, and familiarise.