Malay

alam Malayalam is a language spoken in India, predominantly in the state of Kerala. It is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and was designated a Classical Language in 2013. Malayalam has the oldest literature amongst the Dravidian languages, with a history spanning around a thousand years. It is a member of the southern group of the Dravidian languages, and shows significant influence from both Tamil and Sanskrit. Malayalam is written in the Malayalam script, which is derived from the Grantha script. The script is also used to write Sanskrit in Kerala. Malayalam has its own independent writing tradition, which has been used for both literary and non-literary purposes. The earliest known Malayalam literature is from the 12th century CE, though there are claims that works in the language may have been written as early as the 9th century CE. The earliest known literary work in Malayalam is Ramacharitam, a poem written in the late 13th or early 14th century CE. Malayalam has a rich oral tradition, and many of its works, both literary and non-literary, are based on folk tales and oral traditions. This oral tradition is particularly strong in the genre of poetry, which has been popular in Kerala since the 12th century CE. Malayalam literature has been influenced by both Sanskrit and Tamil literature. The influence of Sanskrit can be seen in the use of Sanskrit words and phrases in Malayalam, as well as in the structure of Malayalam poetry. The influence of Tamil is evident in the use of Tamil loanwords in Malayalam, as well as in the themes and genres of Tamil literature that have been adopted by Malayalam writers. Malayalam has also been influenced by other Indian languages, such as Hindi and Bengali. In recent years, English has also become a significant influence on Malayalam literature. Malayalam is spoken by around 38 million people, predominantly in Kerala. It is also spoken in the neighboring states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, as well as in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep. Malayalam is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India, and is designated a Classical Language by the Government of India.