According to the Russian linguist M.S. Andronov, Telugu was split from Proto-Dravidian languages between 1500–1000 BC.
Earliest records[edit source | editbeta]
The earliest epigraphic record of the Telugu language dates to the late 6th century CE. However, there have been proposals of traces of Telugu recorded before that date. Some Telugu words appear in the Maharashtri Prakrit anthology of poems (the Gatha Saptashati) collected by the 1st century BCE Satavahana King Hāla.[11]
Inscriptions containing Telugu words claimed to "date back to 400 B.C." were discovered in Bhattiprolu in Guntur district. The English translation of one inscription reads: "Gift of the slab by venerable Midikilayakha".[12][13][14]
Post-Ikshvaku period[edit source | editbeta]
Main article: Early Telugu epigraphy
575 AD to 1022 AD: The first inscription that is entirely in Telugu corresponds to the second phase of Telugu history, after the Ikshvaku dynasty period. This inscription, dated 575 AD, was found in the Rayalaseema region and is attributed to the Renati Cholas, who broke with the prevailing custom of using Sanskrit and began writing royal proclamations in the local language. During the next fifty years, Telugu inscriptions appeared in Anantapuram and other neighboring regions.
Telugu was more influenced by Sanskrit and Prakrit during this period, which corresponded to the advent of Telugu literature. This literature was initially found in inscriptions and poetry in the courts of the rulers, and later in written works such as Nannayya 's Mahabharatam (1022 AD).[15] During the time of Nannayya, the literary language diverged from the popular language. This was also a period of phonetic changes in the spoken language.
Middle Ages[edit source | editbeta]
The third phase is marked by further stylization and sophistication of the literary language. Ketana (13th century) in fact prohibited the use of spoken words in poetic works.[15] During this
References: ^ Laurie Bauer, 2007, The Linguistics Student’s Handbook, Edinburgh ^ "Declaration of Telugu and Kannada as classical languages" ^ "Telugu gets classical status". Times of India. 1 October 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-01.[dead link] ^ Abstract of speakers ' strength of languages and mother tongues – 2000, Census of India, 2001 ^ Gopavaram, Padmapriya; Subrahmanyam, Korada (2011). A Comparative Study Of Andhrasabdachintamani And Balavyakaranam. Hyderabad: University of Hyderabad. ^ The Bhattiprolu Inscriptions, G. Buhler, 1894, Epigraphica Indica, Vol.2 ^ a b c d e f APonline – History and Culture-Languages ^ Krishnamurti, Bhadriraju (2003). The Dravidian Languages. Cambridge University Press. pp. 78–79. ISBN 0-521-77111-0. ^ Henry Morris (2005). A descriptive and historical account of the Godavery District in the Presideny of Madras. Asian Educational Services. pp. 86–. ISBN 978-81-206-1973-9. Retrieved 6 August 2011. ^ Rao, M. Malleswara (18 September 2005). "Telugu declared official language". The Hindu. Retrieved 2007-07-16 ^ APonline – History and Culture – History-Post-Independence Era ^ Lisker and Krishnamurti (1991), "Lexical stress in a 'stressless ' language: judgments by Telugu- and English-speaking linguists." Proceedings of the XII International Congress of Phonetic Sciences (Université de Provence), 2:90–93. ^ Wilkinson (1974:251) ^ Krishnamurti (1998), "Telugu" ^ Charles Philip Brown (1857). A grammar of the Telugu language (2 ed.). Christian Knowledge Society 's Press. ^ Albert Henry Arden (1873). A progressive grammar of the Telugu language. Society for promoting Christian knowledge. p. 57. ^ Charles Philip Brown (1857). A grammar of the Telugu language (2 ed.). Christian Knowledge Society 's Press. p. 39. ^ Ramadasu, G (1980). Telugu bhasha charitra. Telugu academy ^ Brown, Charles Philip (1857) ^ United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names; United Nations Statistical Division (2007). Technical Reference Manual for the Standardization of Geographical Names. United Nations Publications. p. 110. ISBN 92-1-161500-3. ^ a b c d e f Chenchiah, P.; Rao, Raja Bhujanga (1988). A History of Telugu Literature. Asian Educational Services. p. 18. ISBN 81-206-0313-3. ^ Chenchiah, P.; Rao, Raja Bhujanga (1988). A History of Telugu Literature. Asian Educational Services. ISBN 81-206-0313-3. ^ Sarma, Challa Radhakrishna (1975). Landmarks in Telugu Literature. Lakshminarayana Granthamala. p. 30. ^ Datta, Amaresh; Lal, Mohan (1991). Encyclopaedia of Indian Literature. Sahitya Akademi. p. 3294. ^ George, K.M. (1992). Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology. Sahitya Akademi. p. 1121. ISBN 81-7201-324-8. Bibliography[edit source | editbeta] Albert Henry Arden, A Progressive Grammar of the Telugu Language (1873). Charles Philip Brown, English–Telugu dictionary (1852; revised ed. 1903; online edition) Charles Philip Brown, A Grammar of the Telugu Language (1857) P. Percival, Telugu–English dictionary: with the Telugu words printed in the Roman as well as in the Telugu Character (1862, google books edition) Gwynn, J Uwe Gustafsson, An Adiwasi Oriya–Telugu–English dictionary, Central Institute of Indian Languages Dictionary Series, 6. Mysore: Central Institute of Indian Language (1989). Vēlcēru Nārāyaṇarāvu, David Dean Shulman, Velcheru Narayana Rao, Classical Telugu Poetry: An Anthology (2002). Callā Rādhākr̥ṣṇaśarma, Landmarks in Telugu Literature: A Short Survey of Telugu Literature (1975). Wilkinson, Robert W. (1974). "Tense/lax vowel harmony in Telugu: The influence of derived contrast on rule application". Linguistic Inquiry 5 (2): 251–270 External links[edit source | editbeta]