In which countries is the Malayalam language spoken?
Malayalam is primarily spoken in India, in the state of Kerala, as well as in the neighbouring states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. It is also spoken by a small diaspora in Bahrain, Fiji, Israel, Malaysia, Qatar, Singapore, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom.
What is the history of the Malayalam language?
The earliest recorded attestation of the Malayalam language is found in the works of 9th century scholars such as Irayanman Thampi, who wrote the Ramacharitam. By the 12th century, this evolved into a literary language used in Sanskrit-based literature and prevalent in the southern parts of present-day Kerala.
Beginning around 14th century poets like Nammalwar and Kulashekhara Alvar used Malayalam for their devotional compositions. This early form of the language was distinct from both Tamil and Sanskrit. It also incorporated terms from other languages including Tulu and Kannada.
In the 16th century, Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan’s translation of the Ramayana and Mahabharata from Sanskrit to Malayalam further popularized the language. Over the next few centuries, writers composed works in various dialects of Malayalam. This led to the emergence of modern Malayalam which absorbed words from Portuguese, English, French, and Dutch.
Since then, Malayalam has become an official language in the state of Kerala and is used in all aspects of life, including education, government, media, and religion. It has also been used to create new literary genres, such as poetry, plays, and short stories, and continues to evolve in today’s world.
Who are the top 5 people who have contributed the most to the Malayalam language?
1. Ezhuthachan (also known as Thunchaththu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan) – First major poet of Malayalam language and credited with creating the foundation of modern Malayalam literature.
2. Kumaran Asan – One of the triumvirate poets of modern Malayalam literature. He is known for his works such as ‘Veena Poovu’, ‘Nalini’ and ‘Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala’.
3. Ulloor S Parameswara Iyer – A renowned Malayalam poet who is known for his first published work ‘Kavyaanushasanam’. He is also credited for bringing a modern outlook to Malayalam poetry.
4. Vallathol Narayana Menon – Also one of the triumvirate poets of modern Malayalam literature. He has written several classic works such as ‘Khanda Kavyas’ and ‘Duravastha’.
5. G Sankara Kurup – Known for his works such as ‘Oru Judha Malayalam’ and ‘Viswadarsanam’, he was the first winner of the Jnanpith Award for Malayalam literature.
How is the structure of the Malayalam language?
The Malayalam language is an agglutinative language, meaning that it has a high degree of affixation and a tendency to string together words or phrases to form new words. This feature makes it a highly expressive language, allowing a speaker to communicate complex ideas with fewer words than would be required in English. Malayalam has a V2 word order, which means that the verb is placed in the second position in a sentence, but this is not strictly enforced. There are also a number of other grammatical structures, such as participles and gerunds, that are found in the language.
How to learn the Malayalam language in the most correct way?
1. Start by downloading books and materials written in Malayalam. It’s easy to find free PDFs, ebooks, and audio files online.
2. Look for audio recordings of native Malayalam speakers. Listening to how native speakers pronounce the language is an important way to gain fluency.
3. Make use of language exchange websites like My Language Exchange or Conversation Exchange to practice speaking with a native speaker.
4. Take advantage of free online courses offered by universities like the University of Madras or Kairali Malayalam.
5. Consider enrolling in a class at a local language school or learning center.
6. Watch Malayalam films and television shows to get more exposure to the language.
7. Use flashcards to help remember important words and phrases.
8. Keep a notebook of new words and sentences you learn and review them often.
9. Talk to yourself in Malayalam as much as possible.
10. Finally, find ways to use the language in your daily conversations with friends and family.
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