There was a blurb about the list, but I only saved the list itself. IIRC, the list wasn't put out by standing body (like IFC and their best-of film lists) but was either a poll or an ad-hoc committee of academicians, librarians and writers (or maybe just librarians?) on the eve of the 21st century reflecting on the best english-language writing of the previous 100 years.
Hi folks,
I made a browser extension called VocabBoost, which allows one to make a fill-in-the-blanks language test (i.e. a quiz) out of any website. I’ve got an impression that there are not many test materials in Malayalam, but there are some texts. So I thought you might find the extension useful to practice Malayalam. I tested the extension on this page and here (screenshot) is the result. Unfortunately I don’t know Malayalam, so I am not sure whether extension always works for Malayalam. I would appreciate your feedback.
To install VocabBoost, please visit:
I myself needed to pass German C1 exam recently and, thus, had to improve my vocabulary. Unfortunately, textbooks felt boring, so I had an idea to make an extension to just convert sites I already like into my own ‘textbooks’. That worked really well and was much more enjoyable.
The extension is free, because I want everyone to have equitable access to learning materials. I accept donations to support development, but they are 100% optional and there are no pesky reminders to donate.
If you would like to be informed about new features, please join r/VocabBoost.
I hope this helps you with learning Malayalam!
Malayalam is a funny language. Why? Well , വെല്ലം , or "Vellam" pronounced closest to English word I can think of is Ve sound followed by the double LL (sounds in say Miller, Fillet etc) means Jaggery. Now വെള്ളം, again written same as "Vellam" has a slightly different pronunciation where you roll your tongue for the LL's, like say last syllables of English word article, possible etc...stress that "le" to get the word and now Vellam means Water in Malayalam. Then comes വലം which is again written closest as "Valam" and pronounced like alum (the disinfectant ..not abbreviation for alumni) and this means circling.
Now to make things interesting for everyone, Malayalam has a വള്ളം written as "Vallam".. Basically the long boats you see during the Kerala boat races in Alleppey. This is pronounced more like the initial water word sound but instead of Ve it becomes Va for the first syllable. Then you have a വള (Valla) and വളം (Vallam) where the first one is bangle and the second one means fertilizer ... Don't bother pronunciation from here on because even I am not sure 😂
Now to make things even more interesting let's add another letter which is also pronounced as La sound in English. വല (Vala) means net mostly the large fishing nets. This is the closest to English pronunciation like Mala , Bala etc. But then this la sound with the M in end വലം (Valam) becomes a verb like surrounded or going in circles etc which I wrote earlier.
Let me also try getting into another L sounding letter ല്, where you have words like വാല് (Vaal' pronounced as first syllabel of Valet) which means a Tail but then വാള് (Vaal pronounced closest to Wall in English) which means vomiting. I am pretty sure if you were in hostels with any mallu friends, you know this word for obvious reasons ...😂 Assuming you are all still with me till here, then let me add ee sound at the end.
വേളി (Velli) with the rolling tongue la sound means marriage. വേലി (Vaeli) without the rolling tongue sound means Fence. (Some close etymology here 😅) but then suddenly വലി (Vali) means pulling (like you remember the vadam vali during Onam celebrations? ).. While most of these words have more than one meaning I am restricting to the most basic ones for obvious reasons. And finally, there is the വളി (Vali) - Not the വഴി (vazhi) where Tamilians for some reason pronounce it as Vali to ask directions... In Malayalam it is the way gas goes out of the body from the bottom... 😂🤭
So why this post? These words
... keep reading on reddit ➡I there a difference when speaking in Malayalam between the unaspirated and aspirated consonants? For example, is ka pronounced differently from kha, ba vs bha, dha vs dhha, etc. I would like to here from the native speakers of the language.
Hi! I’m a high school student in the US whose family is from Kerala but hasn’t learned Malayalam formally.
I’ve grown up listening to only Malayalam TV in a home where Malayalam is primarily spoken to me (but I respond in English) so I can understand 98% of Malayalam speech but I struggle with speaking because I never quite learned conjugations for different tenses and subjects. I’m hoping to work with someone who can help be a language partner so I can learn about conjugating correctly through dialogue. Learning Malayalam language is important to me since I feel it’s key to my identity and culture and really want to reconnect with my family.
I also want to learn beyond Malayalam so I’m interested in any Indian language (Dravidian Languages are ideal).
Existing proficiency:
Malayalam Understanding (98%), Malayalam Speaking (60%), Malayalam Reading (40%), and Malayalam Writing (0%)
English Understanding (100%), English Speaking (100%), English Reading (100%), English Writing (100%)
Thank you in advance!!
