Malayalam Language

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Malayalam started its development as a separate language from the 13th century onwards. It is spoken as an official language of Kerala and Lakshadweep. ‘Vattezhuthu Script’ was the oldest script used for the Malayalam Language during the 9th century whereas the modern script evolved from the ‘Grandha Script ‘came into existence by the 16th century. 

It is one among the Dravidian languages, originated as a split from Tamil in the ancient times and became an independent language in the 9th century AD.

Also read: Languages of India

Today we have almost 38 million Malayalam language speakers. According to the 2011 census, we have 3,48,38,819 speakers of the language which is about 2.88% of the total population. 

Etymology of Malayalam

The word ‘Malayalam’ is split into two distinct words ‘Mala’ means ‘Hills’ and ‘Yalam’ means ‘Depths of the ocean’. So, it is referred to as a land of depth which lies between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. In short, the term ‘Malayalam’ means ‘a hilly region’.

The language of Malayalam is also known as Kerala Bhasha, Malayalim, Malayazhma, Malayanma, Malayampazha, and so on. It also had interpretation on Sanskrit words besides the Tamil language.

Malayalam alphabets

Origin of Malayalam

During the ancient times, most of the linguists, grammarians and scholars have put forward their own ideas about its origin where most of the views on the Malayalam language were mere ideas. But one of the most conservative ideas among them is that Malayalam originated from Sanskrit. 

Some scholars believe that Malayalam had its development from the ancient Prakrit. There are also certain tribes like the Paniyas. Yeravas and others who spoke Malayalam mixed with the Dravidian language and later it got transformed after years to become Malayalam.

Few other linguists and scholars are surprised even today how Malayalam and Tamil have certain similarity while many themes remain distinct. While some make an argument that Malayalam is the daughter of Tamil, there are also others who contend that Malayalam is the sister of Tamil language and the daughter of Dravidian language.

But in the present world, everybody is in unision on including Malayalam along with other languages like Tamil, Kotha, Kodak, Todak, and Kannada as they belong to the Dakshina Dravidian family. It’s a proven fact that Malayalam has close affinity with the Tamil language.

Similarity between Malayalam and Tamil

EnglishMalayalamTamil
CashKasuKasu
LabourerCooliCooli
GingerInchiInchi
Temporary shelter PandalPandal
TeakTekkuTekku

These words are similar because at one point in history Malayalam and Tamil had a common root. Then as mentioned above, between the 9th – 13th century Malayalam became an independent language, and at the same time, Malayalam and Tamil became different languages. 

Though Malayalam was spoken in huge masses in the state of Kerala, Tamil was received as a scholarly language in the western parts of Kerala. Gradually, as time rolled by, Malayalam rose to dizzy peaks to find a place in royal proclamations and documents to gain its popularity.

Malayalam language forms

Even today, there are different kinds of language forms that can be witnessed in modern Malayalam. Region vocation, caste, style and innumerable language forms still constitute the language. Through newspapers, radio, education, and study materials Malayalam fostered as a humane language form. Apart from that, geography, culture, caste and religion also contributed to Malayalam. 

Influence of other languages 

The language forms used by brahmins, nairs, ezhavas, harijans, Christians, and Muslims have also been discovered. Brahmins use most of the Sanskrit words in their language to a large extent, and it is also sparsely used by the marginalized sections. Christians spoke Malayalam along with English, Latin, Syriac, and Portuguese words. Muslims used Arabic and Urdu words.

Frequently Asked Questions

Malayalam originated in Kerala, India, and belongs to the Dravidian language family. It evolved from Middle Tamil around the 9th century CE as the region developed distinct cultural and linguistic traditions. Influenced by Sanskrit, Prakrit, and later Arabic and Portuguese, Malayalam grew into a rich language with its own script, literature, and unique regional identity.

No single person introduced Malayalam; it developed naturally over centuries. Emerging from Tamil during the 9th century, it became distinct as people in Kerala adopted unique speech patterns and vocabulary. Poets and scholars like Cherusseri Namboothiri and Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan later shaped Malayalam literature, with Ezhuthachan regarded as the “Father of Modern Malayalam” for standardizing written form.

The word “Malayalam” comes from two Dravidian words: “Mala” meaning mountain and “Alam” meaning region or place. Thus, Malayalam means “the language of the mountain region,” referring to Kerala’s geography between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. Over time, the term came to denote both the land and the language spoken by its people.

Before Malayalam became a distinct language, Tamil was the primary spoken and literary language in Kerala. Early inscriptions, poetry, and literature were in Tamil, reflecting shared Dravidian roots. By the 9th century, local dialects diverged from Tamil, influenced by Sanskrit and regional variations, eventually evolving into Malayalam as a separate language with its own grammar and script.