Dravidian Languages — 2020 Paper II

Approach

• Demand of Question: Describe the distribution, classification and major linguistic features of the Dravidian language family in India.
• Structuring the Response: Introduce the family, give major branches and languages, note structural features and anthropological significance.
• Key Dimensions to Cover: Caldwell, South/Central/North Dravidian, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Gondi, Kurukh, Brahui and agglutination.

Model Answer

Introduction

The Dravidian languages constitute one of the major language families of South Asia. Robert Caldwell, in A Comparative Grammar of the Dravidian or South-Indian Family of Languages (1856), established their linguistic unity and distinction from Indo-Aryan languages.

Major classification

Dravidian languages are commonly grouped into several branches:

1. South Dravidian:
   • Tamil
   • Kannada
   • Malayalam
   • Tulu
2. South-Central Dravidian:
   • Telugu
   • Gondi
   • Konda and related languages
3. Central Dravidian:
   • Kolami
   • Naiki
   • Parji and related languages
4. North Dravidian:
   • Kurukh/Oraon
   • Malto
   • Brahui

Characteristic features

Dravidian languages commonly show:

• agglutinative morphology;
• suffix-based grammatical formation;
• subject-object-verb word order;
• extensive use of retroflex consonants;
• postpositions rather than prepositions;
• grammatical distinctions expressed through suffixes.

Distribution and tribal relevance

Although concentrated mainly in southern India, Dravidian languages are also spoken by tribal populations in central and eastern India, such as Gonds and Oraons.

Brahui, spoken in Pakistan, demonstrates the historically wider distribution of the family.

Anthropological significance

Linguistic distribution provides evidence concerning:

• migration;
• cultural contact;
• ethnic history;
• long-term interaction between Dravidian and Indo-Aryan speakers.

Conclusion

The Dravidian family illustrates India’s deep linguistic antiquity and diversity, extending far beyond the major literary languages of southern India.