Languages of Kerala

The major languages of Kerala comprise Malayalam, Tamil and English. The ethnic minorities speak various Adivasi languages. The southernmost state of India - Kerala - speaks Malayalam. It is the language of over 35000,000 people. As a Dravidian language, Malayalam has its own alphabet and grammar. This language of Kerala has evolved from Sanskrit and also uses several Tamil words. The idiom of Malayalam adapts words from other Indian states and English. The languages of Kerala are rich in all literary genres. Outside Kerala, Malayalam is taught also in other states as well as in the USA.

Malayalam is the official language of Kerala. It has three regional dialects and numerous smaller ones. The language differs along the margins of caste. It can also be categorized on the basis of the formal, literary and the colloquial tongues. The languages of Kerala have a series of retroflex consonants which are enunciated with a roll of the tongue; this occurs for the t, d, and n sounds. Malayalam has a written tradition dating back to the 13th century. It uses the Rod script - the Koleluttu - which is derived from the Tamil writing system. The Grantha script is also used. Malayalam is one word that describes Kerala.

Of the other languages of Kerala is Tamil, the only living and classical language of the world. It heralds the languages of the Dravidian family. It is spoken by Tamils in Kerala, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore. The ordinary version of modern Tamil is used both in the spoken language and in writing. However, the Tamil language has undergone significant changes in recent times, and one who does not know the higher forms of it, has problems encountering it. The third most popular language of Kerala is English. The ethnic minorities of the state speak the Adivasi languages.