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Arabi Malayalam script

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This article is about the writing system. For the language, see Arabi Malayalam.
Arabi Malayalam
Ponnani Script
عَرَبِ مَلَیٰاۻَمْ‎
پٗنّٰانِ لِپِ‎
Script type
Time period
c. 500 to the present
LanguagesMalayalam
Related scripts
Parent systems
 This article contains phonetic transcriptions in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, see Help:IPA. For the distinction between [ ], / / and ⟨ ⟩, see IPA § Brackets and transcription delimiters.

Arabi Malayalam script (Malayalam: അറബി-മലയാളം, Arabi Malayalam: عَرَبِ مَلَیٰاۻَمْ), also known as Ponnani script,[1][2][3] is a writing system — a variant form of the Arabic script with special orthographic features — for writing Arabi Malayalam, a Dravidian language in southern India.[4][5] Though the script originated and developed in Kerala, today it is predominantly used in Malaysia and Singapore by the migrant Muslim community.[citation needed]

Until the 20th century, the script was widely taught to all Muslims in the primary education madrasahs of Kerala.[6] Arabi-Malayalam is currently used in some of the primary education madrasahs of Kerala and Lakshadweep.[7][8]

Letters

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Arabi Malayalam alphabet with Malayalam alphabet correspondences

There were many complications to write Malayalam, a Dravidian language, using letters covering Arabic, a Semitic language. Only 28 letters were available from Arabic orthography to render over 53 phonemes of Malayalam. It was overcome by following the pattern of creating additional letters established for Persian.[9] The letters such as pa, gha, kha, ṅa, ña, ḻa, ga, ca were not available in the Arabic alphabets. The characters which stand for ḻa, ca, pa, ga (ഴ, ച, പ, ഗ) are گ ,پ ,چ ,ژ respectively in Arabi Malayalam.

Malayalam Arabi Malayalam IPA
ഴ ژ ɻ
ച چ tʃ
പ پ p
ഗ گ ɡ
[10]


Vowels

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Arabi Malayalam vowels arranged according to the Malayalam order (right to left)[11][12]
അ ആ ഇ ഈ ഉ ഊ ഋ ൠ ഌ ൡ
اَ‎ اٰ‎ اِ‎ اِیـ‎ اُ‎ اُو‎ رْ‎ رّْ‎ لْـ / لْ‎ لّْـ / لّْ‎
— ാ ി ീ ു ൂ ൃ ൄ ൢ ൣ
◌َ‎ ◌ٰـا‎ ◌ِ‎ ◌ِیـ / ◌ِی‎ ◌ُ‎ ◌ُو‎ ◌ْرْ‎ ◌ْرّْ‎ ◌ْـلْـ / ◌ْـلْ‎ ◌ْـلّْـ / ◌ْـلّْ‎
a ā i ī u ū r̥ r̥̄ l̥ l̥̄
എ ഏ ഒ ഓ ഐ ഔ അം അഃ
ا٘‎ (1) ا٘یـ‎ (1) اَیْـ / اَیْ‎ اٝ‎ اٝو‎ اَوْ‎ اَمْـ / اَمْ‎ اَھْ‎
െ േ ൈ ൊ ോ ൌ / ൗ ം ഃ ്
◌٘‎ (1) ◌٘یـ / ◌٘ی‎ (1) ◌َیْـ / ◌َیْ‎ ◌ٝ‎ ◌ٝو‎ ◌َوْ‎ ◌َمْـ / ◌َمْ‎ ◌َھْ‎ ◌ْ‎
e ē ai o ō au aṁ aḥ ∅ / ŭ
Notes
  1. Alternatively, historically, the following diacritic has been used for representing Malayalam letters എ and ഏ (romanized as e and ē) and that is اࣣ / ◌ࣣ, اࣣیـ / ◌ࣣیـ / ◌ࣣی (Similar to orthographic conventions in Arabi-Tamil.

Consonants

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Similar to Urdu orthography, Arabi Malayalam alphabet includes digraphs meant to represent aspirated consonants. These are formed by following a letter with the letter he (ھ). While in Urdu, there are two separate letters he, Gol he as an independent letter, and Do-chashmi he as part of aspirated consonant digraphs, this distinction is not necessarily made in Arabi-Malayalam.

Arabi Malayalam alphabet[11][12]
Arabic
(Malayalam)
(Latin)
[IPA] 		ا‎
‌(ആ)
(ā)
[∅]/[ʔ]/[aː] 		ب‎
‌(ബ)
(b)
[b] 		بھ‎
‌(ഭ)
(bh)
[bʱ] 		پ‎
‌(പ)
(p)
[p] 		پھ‎
‌(ഫ)
(ph)
[pʰ] 		ت‎
‌(ത)
(t)
[t̪]
Arabic
(Malayalam)
(Latin)
[IPA] 		تھ‎
‌(ഥ)
(th)
[t̪ʰ] 		ث‎
‌(സ)
(s)
[s] 		ج‎
‌(ജ)
(j)
[d͡ʒ~d͡ʑ] 		جھ‎
‌(ഝ)
(jh)
[d͡ʒʱ~d͡ʑʱ] 		چ‎ 2
‌(ച)
(c)
[t͡ʃ~t͡ɕ] 		چھ‎ 2
‌(ഛ)
(ch)
[t͡ʃʰ~t͡ɕʰ]
Arabic
(Malayalam)
(Latin)
[IPA] 		ڿ‎
‌(ഞ)
(ñ)
[ɲ] 		ح‎
‌(ഹ)
(h)
[h] 		خ‎
‌(ഖ)
(kh)
[kʰ]([x]) 		د‎
‌(ദ)
(d)
[d̪] 		دھ‎
‌(ധ)
(dh)
[d̪ʱ] 		ڊ‎ 3
‌(ട)
(ṭ)
[ʈ]
Arabic
(Malayalam)
(Latin)
[IPA] 		ڊھ‎ 3
‌(ഠ)
(ṭh)
[ʈʰ] 		ذ‎
‌(സ)
(s)
[s]([z]) 		ر‎ 1, 2
‌(റ, ഋ, ൃ, ൠ, ൄ)
(ṟ, r̥, r̥̄)
[r]/[rɨ]/[rɨː] 		ڔ‎ 2
‌(ര, ററ, റ്റ, ഺ)
(r)
[ɾ]/[tː] 		ز‎
‌(സ)
(s)
[s]([z]) 		ڗ‎
‌(ഡ)
(ḍ)
[ɖ]
Arabic
(Malayalam)
(Latin)
[IPA] 		ڗھ‎
‌(ഢ)
(ḍh)
[ɖʱ] 		ژ‎
‌(ഴ)
(ḻ)
[ɻ] 		س‎
‌(സ)
(s)
[s] 		ش‎
‌(ശ)
(ś)
[ɕ~ʃ] 		ۺ‎
‌(ഷ)
(ṣ)
[ʂ] 		ص‎
‌(സ)
(s)
[s]
Arabic
(Malayalam)
(Latin)
[IPA] 		ض‎
‌(ള, ദ)
(ḷ, d)
[ɭ], [d̪] 		ۻ‎
‌(ള)
(ḷ)
[ɭ] 		ط‎
‌(ഥ)
(t)
[t̪] 		ظ‎
‌(സ, ദ)
(s, d)
[s], [d̪] 		ع‎
‌(-)
(’)
[ʔ] 		غ‎
‌(ഗ)
(g)
[g]
Arabic
(Malayalam)
(Latin)
[IPA] 		ۼ‎
‌(ങ)
(ṅ)
[ŋ] 		ف‎
‌(ഫ)
(ph)
[pʰ]([f]) 		ق‎
‌(ക)
(k)
[k]([q]) 		ك‎
‌(ക)
(k)
[k] 		كھ‎‎
‌(ക)
(kh)
[kʰ] 		گ‎
‌(ഗ)
(g)
[ɡ]
Arabic
(Malayalam)
(Latin)
[IPA] 		گھ‎‎
‌(ഘ)
(gh)
[ɡʱ] 		ل‎ 3
‌(ല, ഌ, ൢ, ൡ, ൣ)
(l, l̥, l̥̄)
[l]/[lɨ]/[lɨː] 		م‎
‌(മ, അം, ം)
(m, ṁ)
[m] 		ن‎
‌(ന)
(n)
[n̪~n] 		ڹ‎
‌(ണ)
(ṇ)
[ɳ] 		و‎
‌(വ)(ൌ, ോ, ൂ)
(v, au, ō, ū)
[ʋ]/[au̯][oː][uː]
Arabic
(Malayalam)
(Latin)
[IPA] 		ھ‎
‌(ഹ, അഃ, ഃ)
(h, ḥ)
[h] 		ی‎
‌(യ)(ൈ, േ, ീ)
(y, ai, ē, ī)
[j]/[ai̯][eː][iː]
Notes
  1. This letter is also used for representing the semi-vowel ഋ, ൃ (r̥), and when geminated with the shaddah diacritic, its corresponding elongated form ൠ, ൄ (r̥̄).
  2. When the Malayalam letter റ is geminated (usually in the form റ+റ, possibly in the form ൻ + റ, but also in scholarly documents by റ്റ, ഺ), in Arabi Malayalam, it is written with the letter ڔّ.
  3. This letter is also used for representing the semi-vowel ഌ, ൢ (l̥), and when geminated with the shaddah diacritic, its corresponding elongated form ൡ, ൣ (l̥̄).

Usage

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A multilingual advertisement with a catalogue of books and textiles available from a shop in Ponnani in 1908. Text on the left hand side is Arabi-Tamil, text on the right hand side, Arabi Malayalam script

Most of the Mappila Songs were written, for the first time, in Arabi-Malayalam script. The earliest known such work is the Muhyidheen Mala, written in 1607.[6]

Copy of the first book in Arabi-Malayalam called "Muhyadheen Mala"

Many literary works written in Arabi Malayalam still have not been transliterated to the Malayalam script, and some estimates put the number at almost 90 percent. These works, romantic ballads, folk tales and battle songs, contain some of the impressive literary achievements by Mappilas over the centuries.[4]

The first Arabi Malayalam scripted novel, Chahar Dervesh, Malayalam translation of a Persian work, was published in 1883.[13] Intellectuals such as Moyinkutty Vaidyar translated, and then transliterated significant number of works in Sanskrit - such as Ashtanga Hridaya, Amarakosa, Pancatantra and even the legends about the Hindu king Vikramaditya - into Arabi Malayalam.[14] Sanskrit medical texts - such as Upakarasara, Yogarambha and Mahasara - were also translated, and then transliterated into Arabi-Malayalam by scholars like Abdurahiman Musaliar of Ponnani Putiyakattu.[14] Arabi Malayalam script periodicals made remarkable contributions to the reform movement amongst the Mappilas in the early 20th century.

Sample Texts

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Below are several sample texts in Arabi Malayalam orthography, in standard Malayalam Script, and transliterated into Latin as per ISO 15919.[11]

Arabi Malayalam Script Malayalam Script ISO 15919 Latin English
كَلْكّ٘یڹڊَتُ پِژَوُكَۻِّلّٰات٘ كَلْكُّكَ ، كَڔُّكَژِڿّٰالَتِلُرَچُّ نِنِّیڊُكَ ‎ കല്ക്കേണ്ടതു പിഴവുകളില്ലാതെ കല്ക്കുക, കറ്റുകഴിഞ്ഞാലതിലുറച്ചു നിന്നീടുക kalkkēṇṭatu piḻavukaḷillāte kalkkuka, kaṟṟukaḻiññālatiluṟaccu ninnīṭuka Do what needs to be done without mistakes, and when it is done, stand up
مَنُۺْيَڔ٘لّٰاوَڔ٘مْ تُلْيٰاوَكٰاشَۼَّۻٗوڊُمْ اَنتَسّٗوڊُمْ سْوٰاتَنْڔّْیَتّٗوڊُۼْكُوڊِ جَنِچِّڊُّۻَّوَڔٰاڹْ. اَنْیٗونْيَمْ بْھ‎ڔٰاتْرْبٰھاوَتّٗوڊ٘ پ٘ڔُمٰارُوٰانٰاڹ‎ْ مَنُۺْیَنْ وِو٘یكَبُدِّھیُمْ مَنَسٰاكْۺِیُمْ سِدَّھمٰایِرِكُّنَّتْ. ‎ മനുഷ്യരെല്ലാവരും തുല്യാവകാശങ്ങളോടും അന്തസ്സോടും സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യത്തോടുംകൂടി ജനിച്ചിട്ടുള്ളവരാണ്‌. അന്യോന്യം ഭ്രാതൃഭാവത്തോടെ പെരുമാറുവാനാണ്‌ മനുഷ്യന് വിവേകബുദ്ധിയും മനസാക്ഷിയും സിദ്ധമായിരിക്കുന്നത്‌. manuṣyarellāvaruṁ tulyāvakāśaṅṅaḷōṭuṁ antassōṭuṁ svātantryattōṭuṅkūṭi janicciṭṭuḷḷavarāṇ‌ŭ. anyōnyaṁ bhrātr̥bhāvattōṭe perumāṟuvānāṇ‌ŭ manuṣyanŭ vivēkabuddhiyuṁ manasākṣiyuṁ siddhamāyirikkunnat‌ŭ. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Kunnath, Ammad (15 September 2015). "The rise and growth of Ponnani from 1498 AD To 1792 AD". Department of History. hdl:10603/49524. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. ^ Panakkal, Abbas (2016). Islam in Malabar (1460-1600) : a socio-cultural study /. Kulliyyah Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences, International Islamic University Malaysia. Archived from the original on 27 May 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
  3. ^ Kallen, hussain Randathani. "TRADE AND CULTURE: INDIAN OCEAN INTERACTION ON THE COAST OF MALABAR IN MEDIEVAL PERIOD". {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. ^ a b Miller, Roland. E., "Mappila" in "The Encyclopedia of Islam". Volume VI. E. J. Brill, Leiden. 1987. pp. 458-56.
  5. ^ "Malayalam Resource Centre". archive.ph. Archived from the original on 12 September 2012. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  6. ^ a b Menon. T. Madhava. "A Handbook of Kerala, Volume 2", International School of Dravidian Linguistics, 2002. pp. 491-493.
  7. ^ "Arabi Malayalam in Lakshadweep". Archived from the original on 5 October 2010. Retrieved 22 February 2008.
  8. ^ "SAMASTHA – Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama | samastha.info". Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  9. ^ "THE ARABI - MALAYALAM SCRIPTURE". 18 March 2008. Archived from the original on 18 March 2008. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  10. ^ "THE ARABI - MALAYALAM SCRIPTURE". 18 March 2008. Archived from the original on 18 March 2008. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  11. ^ a b c Malayalamozhi. Arabi Malayalam. [1]
  12. ^ a b Dr Azeez Tharuvana. (25 September 2018)Arabi Malayalam. Sahapedia. [2]
  13. ^ Sharafudeen, S. "Muslims of Kerala: a Modern Approach, "Kerala Historical Society, 2003. pp. 152
  14. ^ a b "Malayalam Literary Survey", Volume 16 (1) -17 (4), Kēraḷa Sāhitya Akkādami, 1994. pp. 88
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