A language acquires classical status in the course of history by virtue of its antiquity, influence on the civilization of a people, wealth of its literary creations and capacity to generate a value system that sustains nations. For the process of evolution of Malayalam as an independent language, Tolkappiyam (of 2nd century B.C.) grammar for Tamil-both eastern and western (Kerala) divisions provided the first evidences. Even in 2nd century B.C., the Kerala dialect of Tamil reflects the grammatical features of its own tendency to become a separate language. The dialects of the five Nadus of the Western area Kuttanadu, Kudanadu, Venadu, Puzhinadu and Karkanadu are marked for their special features which developed later in a huge scale and finally caused its separation from the Tamil of the Cholas and the Pandyas.
Even in the early Sangham works where the five tinais are mentioned, we see Kerala's language. The commentator of Tolkappiyam Ilampuranar speaks of the distinct features of the west coast dialects such as the dialects of Kuttanadu, Venadu, Karkanadu, Kudanadu and Puzhinadu. We see the early phase of our language in these dialects.
The script used by Malayalam writers has a longer history than that of the Telugu and Kannada scripts. It should be noted that Grantha Script was used for writing Sanskrit in South India after Southern Brahmi fell into disuse. Malayalam has got an antiquity of 2300 years.
The Sanskrit portion of the Vazhappally Copper Plate inscription of 8th century AD is written in old Grantha script. It was preserved only by Keralites who write Malayalam in this script. The language of the earliest inscriptions indicate decisive phonemic and morphemic changes which mark the differentiation of Malayalam.
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