Did the Indians agree on the division of Indian languages as Indo-Aryan and Dravidian based on their own unbiased study
seshadri sridharan
Indians need not agree on this, whether they agree it or not, it doesn't make any change Indo-Aryan Languages are different from Dravidian Languages.
It is not a biased study, if you do not believe then read old grammar books like Andhra-shabda-chintamani.
Ok, let us start from “Andhra Sabdha Chintamani”, it is one of the Oldest available Telugu grammars written in Sanskrit language a thousand years ago. (See 1000 years ago, leave Britishers even Muslim Kingdoms were not there in South India.)
Poet Nannayya garu divided it like this:
He says,
“Sanskrit has 50 letters, Prakrit has 40 letters while Telugu has 36 (षट्त्रिंशत् /Shatrimshat) letters.”
While modern Telugu uses 56 letters to facilitate loan words from Sanskrit and other Languages.
Pure Telugu letters according to Nannayya garu:
Vowels: అ ఆ ఇ ఈ త ఊ ఎ వ ఐ ఒ ఓ ఔ అం అః
Consonants: క గ చ జ ట డ ణ త ద న ప బ మ య ర ల న స హ ళ
ఙ and ఞ occur as nasal sounds.
Modern Linguists like Bhadriraju Krishnamurthi agree with this, but small changes, he concludes only 34 letters based on Prachinaadhrasasanamulu (Ancient Andhra Inscriptions), he removes some letters like అః and add native letters like ఱ, ఴ.
Nannayya called the unique words in Telugu like this:
He says, Telugu has Chaturvidha (Four types of words.) words.
- Tajja → Loan words from Sanskrit converted to Telugu sound rules.
Ex: Chandhra - ChanduruNdu, Surya - SuriyuNdu. - Sama → Direct Sanskrit Loan words.
Ex: Prema, Santhosham, etc. - Desya → Native words used by native People. (Pravaahini)
Ex: Amma, NaaYina, TammuNdu, Atta, etc. - Gramya → Native words that has Varna Dosham.
He wrote Sandhi/Joining grammar rules for Desya words in his book, Telugu Sandhulu (Desya words) make a major part of Telugu grammar.
All Telugu people are aware of atleast Sanskrit and Desya words. Even during Pravachanams, the PravachanakaaruDu explains using Desya words, he says “deeniki Accha Telugu Padam _____” and proceeds further.
Leter Britishers found that majority of these “Desya” words are not just unique to Telugu but also present in other South Indian Languages like Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Tulu, Gondi, Parji, Brahui, Konda, Pengo, Malto, Kodava, etc.
See the similarity of Desya words between literary Dravidian Languages.
Note: Zha sound will be similar to sound La not Jha.
Read “T” “D” are retroflex consonants. ( ट ड) “t” and “d” are alveolar. (त द)
Telugu — Tamil — Kannada — Malayalam
KroNthi— Kurangu — Kothi — Kuranjgan (Monkey)
GruDDi — KuruDar — KuruDu — KuruDar (Blind)
Mraanu — Maram — Mara —- Maram (Tree)
MroNgu —Muzhanku —Mozhaku - Muzhanku (Ring)
VraaYu — Varai —— Bara ——- N/A (write)
KaTTu —- KaTTu — KaTTu —- KaTTu (build)
KooDu — KooZhu — KooLu —- KooZhu (Food)
Kuppa — Kuppai — Kuppe —- Kuppa (heap)
Pituku — Pitukku — Hiduku — Pitukku (to milk)
Chaavu — Saavu — Saavu — Chaavu (Death)
Chukka — Sukkai — Sukke — N/A (Star)
Cheru — Seru — Seru — Cheru (To join)
Uppu — Uppu — Uppu — Uppu (Salt)
Kaaram—Kaaram—Kaaram—Kaaram (Spicy)
Nacchu — Nacchu — Nacchu — N/A (To like)
Paccha — Pacchai — Pacche —Paccha (green)
Mecchu — Mecchu — Mecchu — N/A (To praise)
AaTa —— AaTTam —— AaTa —- AaTTam (Play)
PaaTa —— PaaTTu —- HaaDu — PaaTTu (Song)
TiTTu —— TiTTu —- TiTTu ——- N/A (Scold)
ChuTTam — SuTTRam — N/A — ChuTTam (relative)
MaaTa —— MaaTTRam — Maatu — Maattam (word)
Tappu —- Tappu ——- Tappu —- Tappu (wrong)
Tala ——- Talai ———— Tale ——- Tala (Head)
Kaalu —- KaaL ————- KaaLu —- KaaL (leg)
Tinu —— Tin ————— Tinnu —— Tin (Eat)
Tene —— Ten————-Jenu ———- Ten (Honey)
Peru ——Peyar ——— Hesaru ——— Per (Name)
Cheppu — Seruppu —-Kerpu ———Cherpu (Footwear)
Trippu —— Tiruppu —- Tirupu ——- Tiruppu (turn)
Gillu ——— KiLLu ——-GinDu —— KiLLu (pinch)
GooDu —— KooDu —- GooDu ——- KooDu (nest)
Geeru ——- Keeru —— Keeru ——- Keeru (scratch)
Pagalu —— Pagal ——- Hagalu —— Pagal (Day)
Pongu —— Pongu —— Pongu ——- Pongu (puff during heating)
Jaaru ——- Saaru ——- Jaaru ——— Chaaru (Slip)
JoNNa —— Solam ——- JoLa ——— Solam (millets)
KoDi ——— Kozhi ——— KoLi ——- Kozhi (Hen)
SuDi ——- Suzhi ——— SuLi ———- SuDi (Eddy)
BanDi —— VanDI ——- BanDi ——— VanDi (Vehicle)
CheDDa —- KeTTa —— KeTTa ——— KeTTa (Bad)
Chedaru —- Sidar —— Kedaru ——- Chidar (Scatter)
Pandi ——- Panri ——-Handi ——— Panni (Pig)
Vindu ——- Virundu —- Biddu —— Virundu (feast)
Eddu ——— Erudu ——— Ettu —— Erudu (bull)
Bellam ——- vellam ——— Bella ——- Vellam (Jaggery)
Bomma —— Pommai ——- Bombe —— Bomma (Doll)
Chembu ——- Chempu —— Chembu — Chembu (Water glass)
Naram ———- Narampu —— Nara —— Narampu (Nerve)
NeYi ———- Ney ————— Ney ———- Ney (Ghee)
Kannu —— KaN ———— KaNNu ———- KaN (Eye)
Mannu ——- MaN ———- MaNNu ———- MaN (Soil)
Inumu ——- Irumpu ——— N/A ————- Irumpu (Iron)
Edamu ——- Idam ———- Eda —————Idam (Place)
Kommu ——- Kombu ——- Kombu ——- Kombu (Horn)
Paamu —- Paambu ———- Haavu ———- Paambu (Snake)
Teruvu —— Tira ————- Tera ————- Tira (Open)
NooRu ——- NooRu ——— NooRu ———- NooRu (100)
Vala ———— Valai ————- Bale ————- Vala (net)
Venna ——— VeNNai ———- BeNNe ——— Venna (Butter)
Paalu ———- Paal ————— Haalu ———— Paal (Milk)
Vidu ———- Vidu —————- Bidu ————-Vidu (leave)
Amma ——— Amma ———— Amma ———- Amma (Mother)
Appa ——— Appa —————- Appa ———— Acca (Father)
Anna ———- ANNa —————ANNa ———— ANNa (Brother)
Akka ———— Akka ————— Akka ————- Akka (Sister)
Atta ————-Attai ——————Atte ————-Atta (Aunt)
Mama ——— Mama —————- Mama ———- Mama (Uncle)
Thatha ——— Thathai ———— Thatha ———- Thatha (Grandfather)
Tammudu ——- Tambi ———— Tamma ———— N/A (Brother)
Okati ————— Onnu ———— Ondu ————- Onnu (One)
Rendu ————- Rennu ———— Eradu ———— Rennu (Two)
Moodu ————Moonu ————Mooru ———-Moonu (Thre)
Nalugu ———- Naalu ————- Naalku ———— Naalu (Four)
Ayidu ———— Anji —————-Ayidu ————— Anji (Five)
Aaru ———— Aaru —————- Aaru —————- Aaru (Six)
EDu ————- Ezhu ————- ELu —————-— Ezhu (Seven)
Enimidi ——— ETTu ————-EnTu —————— ETTu (Eight)
Padi ————- Patthu ———— Hadi —————- Patthu (Ten)
Malla ———— Malla ————— Malla ————- Malla (wrestling)
Malugu ——- Malukku ————Malaku ————- N/A (Turn)
Malayu ——- Malaippu ————Male —————-N/A (To oppose)
Mala ———— Malai ————— Male ————— Mala (Hill)
Maruvu ——— Mara ————-Maravu————— Marakka (to forget)
MeDa ——— MiTaru ———- MiTre ——————MiTaru (Neck)
Mukku ——- Mookku ——— Moogu————— Mookku (Nose)
Meesam ——— Meesai ——— Meesa ————- Meesa (moustache)
Mungisa ———MUnga ———-Mungisi ————N/A (Mongoose)
Maamidi ——— Maanga ———- Maavu ———-Maam (Mango)
Morayu ———- Mural ————MoraL ———-Muraluka (to make sound)
Like this How many words are there?
There are lakhs of words in this way which are cognates to each other.
Actually, Like this we have 5673 root words. In these 5673 root words:
Tamil has all 3541 root words in it.
Kannada has all 3162 root words in it.
Malayalam has all 2899 root words in it.
Telugu has all 2812 root words in it.
And,
Telugu — Tamil share ——-> 2083 root words
Telugu — Kannada share ——-> 2127 root words
Telugu — Malayalam share ——-> 1542 root words
Tamil — Kannada share ——-> 2318 root words
Tamil — Malayalam share ——-> 2610 root words.
Kannada — Malayalam share ——-> 1820 root words.
Ok, Adding Telugu’s share with Tribal and Non-Literary Dravidian Languages as well:
Telugu — Gondi share ——-> 909 root words
Telugu — Tulu share ——-> 1513 root words
Telugu — Kodava share ——-> 695 root words
Telugu — Brahui share ——-> 198 root words
Telugu shares more words with Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam, (Tulu too) because these four are literary Dravidian Languages and has vast amount of Literary since many years, so recorded many words. While Tribal Dravidian Languaes did not attest much words and got influenced by neighboring languages.
With one root word, How many Telugu words can we make?
We can make so many words with one root word.
Ex1 ) Take the root word -Mudu
We have these many Telugu words from root word - Mudu
Mudu —-> Old
Muduru —-> Old/not tender (fruits, vegetables)
Mudi ——-> Old age
Muditanamu ——→ decrepitude
Mudiyu ———→ To age
Mudusali ———-> Old Person
Mudusalitanamu ——-> Oldness (In age)
Mutta ——→ Ancestors
Mutti ——→ Old person
Muttaatha —→ Grandparent’s Father.
Mutthavva —→ Grandparent’s Mother.
Muppu ———-> Misfortune.
MuVelpu —→ Goddess of unluck.
Musalivanu ——-> Old Man
Masalidi ——→ Old Woman
See with one root word we made 15 Telugu words.
Ex 2) Root word -Per which means big.
Perugu ————-> Grow
PeruguDu/Perusukam ———-> Growth
Perime ————-> Greatness
Perima ——-> grandeur
PEru ———→ Fame
Peruchu ——-> Rise
Pekku ———→ Many
Pekkanduru ——→ Many people
Pekkuva ———→ Development
Perddal ————-> Old people
Pedda ————→ Big
Peddayu ————-> very
Peddi ————→ Aunt
Pecchu ———→ Excess
Hecchu ———→ Excess
Penu ————→ Large
Penchu ————-> To grow
Pellu —————→ greatness
Pellidamu ———→ greatness
Peluca —————-> Much
Pe —————-> Big.
See with one root word you can make aroung 10 - 20 common words like this. These words again agglutinate to give rise to many other words.
The vocabulary of Dravidian Languages like Telugu is very very rich. Imagine the count you get when you multiply 2812 X (10 or 20) and these words again agglutinating, fusing, inflecting to make even more words.
This is the count of Desya or Dravidian words alone, Telugu also has Tajja (Prakritized words) and Sama (Sanskrit loan words) like:
Telugu —-— Tamil —-— Kannada —— Malayalam (English)
Bhojanam ——— Pocanam—— Bhojana ——-Bhojanam (Food)
Ratri ——— Ratiri ————- Ratri ————- Ratri (Night)
Udayam ——- Udayam ——— Udaya ——— Udayam (Morning)
Madhyanam— Madiyanam — Madhyana— Madhyanam (Afternoon)
Sayankalam —- Sanaynkalam ——Sanyankala ——-Sayankalam (Evening)
Sukham ———- Sukham ———— Sukha ——— Sukham (Pleasure)
Santosham ——- Sandosham ——- Santosha —— Sandosham (Happiness)
Dukham ——- Dukkam ————— Dukha ——— Dukham (Sad)
Maranam ——- Maranam ————- Maran ———- Maranam (Death)
Karmamu ——— Karumam ———— Karma ———- Karmam (Actions)
Premamu ———- Piremai ————- Prema ———— Premam (Love)
Asha —————- Asai ——————- Asha ————— Asha (desire)
Udhyogam —— Uccokam ———— Udhyoga ———— Udhyogam (Effort/Job)
And now coming to Tajja words.
Sanskrit ———— Telugu
Alpa —————— Alupamu (Low)
Nidra———— Nidura (Sleep)
Ratri ————— Ratiri (Night)
Rathaha ———— Aradamu (chariot)
Yamala ———— Aamadalu (Twins)
Yuvati ————- Uvida (Woman)
Hitam ———— Ituvu (Good)
Nithya ———— Nittem (Always)
Chodya ———-Soddem (wonder)
Akshara ——— Akkaramu (Letter)
Prayaanam ——— Payanam (Journey)
Madana ————- Mayanam (intoxicating drink)
Jalooka ————- Jalaga (leech)
Vishnu ————— Vennudu (Lord Vishnu)
Harsha ————— Arusamu (Happy)
Hingu —————- Inguva (Hing)
Shrungara ———— Singaramu (Sex/Decorate)
Katakam ————— Kadiyam (Bracelet)
Sharkara —————- CHakkera (Sugar)
Leshya —————— Lessa (great)
Sri ———————— Siri (Wealth)
Svarnam —————- Sonnam (Gold)
Churna ——————- Sunnam (Powder)
Bhasha ——————- Basa (Language)
Nirbhara —————- Nibbaram (Strong)
Simham —————— Singam (Lion)
Not just Sanskrit and Prakrit, Dravidian Languages like Tamil, Telugu, Kannada also had influenced from other foreign languages.
Let me show you this with the help of Telugu again.
Highly Persian influence is there.
No, not Persian Cats, Persian Language.
Note: Not just Telugu, all Indian Languages are influenced by Persian.
The below Telugu words are Standard Telugu words only.
Persian ——————- Telugu (English)
Hakeem —————— EkameeDu (Owner)
Ustuvaar ——————Ustubaaramu (Foundation)
Sarnaama ————— Chirunaama (Address)
Hushaar —————— Ushaaru (Smart)
Sultan ——————— Sultanu (King)
Dukhaan —————— Dukanam (Shop)
Pahraa ——————— Vahaara (Protect)
Daryaapt ——————- Daryaaptu (Investigation)
Firaana ———————Piraayinchu (To turn)
Takarar ——————— Takararu (quarrel)
Thoda ———————— Todem (Some)
Atkaana ———————-Atukayinchu (To stop)
Thokar ———————— Takkar (collide/accident)
Chakari ———————— Chakiri (Service)
Shikhaar ——————— Shikaaru (Trip)
Qalam ———————- Kalam (Pen)
Bakaya ———————- Bakaayi (Interest)
Nakal ———————- Nakalu (Copy)
DaGha ——————— Daghaa (Betrayal)
Bandh ———————- Bandu (Stop/Close)
Aadalat ——————— Aadalatu (court)
Dheela ———————- Deela (weak)
Jama ———————— Jama (To store)
GuTTa ————————- GuTTa (Contract)
Hungama —————— Hungama (Drama)
Ghabra ——————— Gaabara (Afraid)
Shifaarish —————— Sifaarisu (Recommend)
Roj ————————— Roju (Day)
Haasar ———————- Haajaru (be present)
Japt ——————— Japtu (To take over forcefully)
DasKhat ————— Daskatu (Sign)
Madad ————— Maddathu (Support)
Britishers just named the Language family, they did not invent it, later Indians would have only noticed it easily if Britishers failed to notice it that time, because there are strange thousands and lakhs of beautiful words which are only common to Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, Tulu, Gondi, etc.
These languages are also enriched by Sanskrit, Prakrit, Persian, English, etc.
These languages are rich languages.
Indo-Aryan and Dravidian Languages are not the only heritage of India, Our India has many language families.