The inhabitants of Kerala speak in Malayalam language. To know the origin of name Malayalam, we have to go to the meeting area of the Eastern Ghats and the Western Ghats mountains in Southern India. The name of meeting area is the Nilgiri mountains. The Anaimalai, Palani and Cardmom hills are situated from the south of Nilgiris and touching the most south points of India at Kanyakumari on the coast of Indian Ocean, In ancient the said range of mountains and hills would called jointly Malaya mountain. Malaya is a Sanskrit word that means scented wind or air of sandal wood. Sandal wood, camphor, cardamom, black pepper etc would grew up in the area of Malaya-mountain. The said production would create a sweet scented air. In other words the commodities would make a environment of scent. The scented air would flow in the area. Again 'Aalayam' or 'Alayam' is a Sanskrit word. The word Alayam means area or home. Malaya plus Alayam make the word Malayalam.Therefore, the area of scented air was called Malayalam. In ancient land Malayalam was connected with the rest of India and other countries for spices and sandal wood. The utterance of word Malayalam became also as Malabar for the mixing of different language. Even today the
coastal area of Kerala is called Malabar-Coast which is situated on the Arabian-Sea. It is remarkable that at first the word Malayalam would mean to a land or to an area but in course of time the word meant to thelanguage of Kerala.
coastal area of Kerala is called Malabar-Coast which is situated on the Arabian-Sea. It is remarkable that at first the word Malayalam would mean to a land or to an area but in course of time the word meant to thelanguage of Kerala.