As a result, Arabi Malayalam is deeply rooted in Tamil, enriched with Persian and Arabic vocabulary, while its grammar and lexicon remain closely linked to Tamil.The Arabic influence primarily reveals the impact of Islamic culture and Arabic-speaking traders in the Malabar region.Many Arabic words and expressions, especially those related to religion, culture, and trade, became integral to the dialect.
The adoption of the Arabic script for writing Malabari dialect creating Arabi Malayalam is, thus, a fascinating example of how languages evolve through cultural exchange.It was essentially a blend of the local dialect and Arabic vocabulary, written in the Arabic script, and this was particularly used by Muslims in Kerala for religious and social purposes.This script was unique in that it was based on the Arabic alphabet but adapted to suit the phonetic needs of the local language, which was more Dravidian in structure.
Many native rulers, with a spirit of tolerance, encouraged the Mappila Muslims and provided financial grants to support their religious studies.The Arabs and Persians maintained continuous contact with Malabar as a part of maritime trade, and as they dominated sea-borne commerce, Arabic became the primary medium of communication in the port towns for centuries.The British East India Company, established in 1600 CE, insisted that knowledge of Arabic is essential for its employees.The Arabic language was regarded not only as a cultural asset but also as a crucial medium for trade and commerce.
Arabi Malayalam incorporates numerous loanwords from Sanskrit, Persian, Urdu, Tamil, and Kannada, along with an extensive Arabic vocabulary.Many recognize it as an independent language with its own distinct style, unique lexicon, and grammatical structures, representing a well-balanced fusion of Arabic and Malayalam.Others believe that Arabi Malayalam is not a separate language but merely a vernacular variant of Malayalam, influenced by Arabic.
Arabi Malayalam also features distinctive pronunciation patterns compared to standard Malayalam.The pronunciation of Arabic words remains closer to their original forms, with emphasis on specific consonants such as "ع" (Ayn) and "ق" (Qaf), which are difficult to replicate in standard Malayalam.Certain Arabic sounds, such as the guttural "kh" (خ), "gh" (غ), and the emphatic "s" (ص), are also retained in Arabi Malayalam.
