History of the Telugu Language
Telugu is one of the major Dravidian languages spoken primarily in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. It is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and holds the distinction of being one of the oldest languages in the world with a rich literary tradition that spans over 2,000 years.
The origins of Telugu can be traced back to the ancient Dravidian languages. The earliest known records of Telugu are inscriptions from the 6th century CE, written in the "Tamil-Kannada" script, marking the separation of Telugu as a distinct language. The language evolved from Proto-Dravidian through various stages, with early Telugu developing in the form of Old Telugu, influenced by Sanskrit, Tamil, and Kannada.
By the 11th century, the Chola dynasty’s influence on the Telugu region led to a significant growth in Telugu literature. The renowned poet Nannaya Bhattarakudu, who translated the Mahabharata into Telugu, is considered one of the first literary figures of the language. This period is known as the "Golden Age of Telugu Literature," marked by contributions from poets like Tikkana and Yerrapragada, who enriched the language further.
In the 14th and 15th centuries, Telugu was patronized by the Vijayanagara Empire, which encouraged the development of literary forms in Telugu. The Bhakti movement and the influence of saints like Pothana, who wrote Bhagavatam in Telugu, enhanced the language's spiritual and devotional literature.
During British rule, Telugu flourished in both literary and educational spheres. The 19th and 20th centuries saw the growth of modern Telugu literature, with writers like Sri Sri and Gurajada Apparao. Today, Telugu is celebrated for its classical status, its contributions to literature, cinema, and its widespread use among millions of speakers worldwide.
Telgu Alphabet
The Telugu alphabet is a syllabic alphabet used for writing the Telugu language, which is predominantly spoken in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The script has a rich tradition and is widely used in literature, classical music, and other forms of art.
Telugu Alphabets Overview:
The Telugu script consists of:
- 16 vowels (Achulu / అచ్చులు).
- 41 consonants (Hallulu / హల్లులు).
- Other symbols, such as the anusvara, visarga, and others for pronunciation.
Vowels (Achulu / అచ్చులు):
Telugu has 16 vowels, which are used to create syllables when combined with consonants.
| Telugu | Pronunciation | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| అ | a | a |
| ఆ | aa | aa |
| ఇ | i | i |
| ఈ | ii | ii |
| ఉ | u | u |
| ఊ | uu | uu |
| ఋ | ru | ru |
| ౠ | rū | rū |
| ్ఱ | lru | lru |
| ఎ | e | e |
| 1 | ai | ai |
| ఓ | o | o |
| ఔ | au | au |
| ృ | am | am |
| ం | ah | ah |
| ః | kha | kha |
Consonants (Hallulu / హల్లులు):
The Telugu script consists of 41 consonants, which are primarily used in combination with the vowels to form syllables.
| Telugu | Pronunciation | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| క | ka | ka |
| ఖ | kha | kha |
| గ | ga | ga |
| ఘ | gha | gha |
| ఙ | nga | nga |
| చ | cha | cha |
| ఛ | chha | chha |
| జ | ja | ja |
| ఝ | jha | jha |
| ఞ | nya | nya |
| ట | ṭa | ṭa |
| ఠ | ṭha | ṭha |
| డ | ḍa | ḍa |
| ఢ | ḍha | ḍha |
| ణ | ṇa | ṇa |
| త | ta | ta |
| థ | tha | tha |
| ద | da | da |
| ధ | dha | dha |
| న | na | na |
| ప | pa | pa |
| ఫ | pha | pha |
| బ | ba | ba |
| భ | bha | bha |
| మ | ma | ma |
| య | ya | ya |
| ర | ra | ra |
| ల | la | la |
| వ | va | va |
| శ | sha | sha |
| ష | ṣa | ṣa |
| స | sa | sa |
| హ | ha | ha |
| ళ | ḷa | ḷa |
| క్ష | kṣa | kṣa |
| ఱ | ṟa | ṟa |
| ఴ | ḻa | ḻa |
Other Symbols and Marks:
- Anusvara (ం): A diacritical mark used to indicate nasalization of the vowel. It can appear above or below the main symbol.
- Visarga (ః): Represents a breathy sound that is typically used in Sanskrit-based words.
- Chandrabindu (ఁ): Another nasalization mark, mostly used in Sanskrit and other classical languages.
Telugu Numbers:
The Telugu script has its own unique numerals.
| Number | Telugu | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | ౦ | śunya |
| 1 | ౧ | okati |
| 2 | ౨ | rendu |
| 3 | ౩ | mūdu |
| 4 | ౪ | nālaku |
| 5 | ౫ | aintu |
| 6 | ౬ | āru |
| 7 | ౭ | ēḍu |
| 8 | ౮ | ēṭṭu |
| 9 | ౯ | onbathu |
| 10 | ౧౦ | padhi |
Writing System:
- Direction: The Telugu script is written from left to right.
- No Horizontal Line: Unlike the Devanagari script, Telugu script does not have a horizontal line connecting the letters. Each character stands on its own.
- Syllabic: The script is syllabic, meaning that consonants are combined with vowels to create a syllable, which is the basic unit of the script.
- Combining Characters: Telugu allows consonant clusters (when two or more consonants are combined) and each of those combinations has its own unique character.
Summary of Telugu Alphabets:
- Vowels: 16 vowels (Achulu)
- Consonants: 41 consonants (Hallulu)
- Additional Symbols: Anusvara, Visarga, Chandrabindu, etc.
- Numerals: Unique numerals are used in writing.
This detailed breakdown includes the key components of the Telugu script, which can be quite intricate due to the combination of vowels and consonants. Let me know if you'd like further details on any part of the script!