ABSTRACT
The separation of this Dravidian language (Malayālam) from the closely related Tamil (q.v.) took place gradually, and relatively recently, in the period from the tenth to the thirteenth century AD. The script now used for Malayalam was introduced in the seventeenth century, and is associated with the illustrious name of Tuñcatt' Ezuttachan, a key figure in Malayalam literature. Structurally, and especially in the vocalization patterns, the script is largely modelled on Tamil. In contrast with Tamil, however, which reduces the typical Brāhmī-Devanāgarī positional five- term row to two of its members, Malayalam has appropriated the entire grid, even though many of the letters thus generated never figure in Malayalam words.
