A Linguistic Survey of the Malayalam Language in Its Own Terms

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This book is designed for researchers exploring Kerala's language, literature, history, and culture. It presents the grammar of Malayalam, integrating contemporary theoretical linguistics with grammatical frameworks established by 19th-century Malayalam grammarians, influenced by Old Tamil and Sanskrit. The approach is holistic, addressing regional language variations while detailing the standardized linguistic register. Sample sentences illustrating grammatical rules are primarily sourced from real speech. The reading selections include works by Vaikom Muhammad Basheer and Sooranad Ravi, providing insights into various facets of Kerala culture. Additionally, the book features three chapters on Old Malayalam morphology, illustrated by verses from classical texts like the U??un?lisande?am and the K???ag?tha, alongside regional literary traditions, including Teyyam songs and Arabic- and Jewish-Malayalam verses. This exposure enriches learners' understanding of Malayalam dialects and religiolects. The volume concludes with ten indices, including charts of kinship terms, verbal and nominal forms, a glossary, and bibliographical references. Overall, it invites a deeper engagement with Kerala's rich linguistic and literary heritage, both historical and contemporary.