Malayalam Language
Malayalam Language tests grammar, vocabulary, idioms, sandhi, samasam, prosody and basic literature. The paper is in Malayalam, so script accuracy and standard usage matter.
Core areas
- Sandhi (സന്ധി): joining words; സ്വരസന്ധി, വ്യഞ്ജനസന്ധി and വിസർഗസന്ധി are the main types. Example: ദേവ + ആലയം = ദേവാലയം.
- Samasam (സമാസം): compound words; for example, കരിമേഘം (കറുത്ത മേഘം).
- Vibhakti (വിഭക്തി): case endings; nominative, accusative, instrumental, dative, ablative, genitive, locative and vocative.
- Alankaram (അലങ്കാരം): ഉപമാലങ്കാരം, രൂപകാലങ്കാരം and ശ്ലേഷം are common.
- Orthography: chillu letters (ൻ, ർ, ൽ, ൾ, ൺ, ൿ), vowel signs, and the difference between ഇ/ഈ and ഉ/ഊ.
Worked example
Question: “ദേവ + ആലയം = ?” The final “അ” of ദേവ meets the initial “ആ” of ആലയം; the vowels combine into “ആ” and the words join as ദേവാലയം. This is സ്വരസന്ധി.
Traps
- Writing ദേവാലയം as two separate words.
- Mixing രൂപകം (metaphor) with ഉപമ (simile).
- Using the wrong chillu in formal writing.
- Confusing similar idioms and their meanings.