Marathi language

Marathi language
Name	Marathi
Nativename	मराठी
States	India
Region	Maharashtra, Goa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Karnataka, Telangana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh
Speakers	~83 million
Familycolor	Indo-European
Fam2	Indo-Iranian
Fam3	Indo-Aryan
Fam4	Southern Indo-Aryan
Iso2	mar
Iso3	mar
Glotto	mara1378
Glottorefname	Marathi
Script	Devanagari (Balbodh style), Modi (historical)
Nation	India , • Maharashtra , • Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu , • Goa
Minority	South Africa
Agency	Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad

Marathi language. It is an Indo-Aryan language predominantly spoken in the western and central parts of the Indian subcontinent, primarily within the state of Maharashtra. As one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and the official language of Maharashtra and Goa, it boasts a rich literary tradition dating back over a millennium. With approximately 83 million native speakers, it ranks among the most widely spoken languages in the world and serves as a vital component of the cultural identity of the Marathi people.

History

The evolution is traced through inscriptions like those at Shravanabelagola and the Maha Kavi works from the Yadava period. Early forms, often termed Maharashtri Prakrit, were used in the plays of Kālidāsa and the edicts of Ashoka. The language solidified its distinct identity during the rule of the Seuna (Yadava) dynasty, with foundational texts like the Dnyaneshwari, a commentary on the Bhagavad Gita by Sant Dnyaneshwar, composed at Alandi. Further development occurred under the Bahmani Sultanate and flourished remarkably during the Maratha Empire, with administrative use of the Modi script under leaders like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and the Peshwas. The colonial era saw engagement with Portuguese India and British Raj, leading to modern standardization.

Geographic distribution

The heartland is the state of Maharashtra, including major urban centers like Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, and Aurangabad. It also has significant speaker populations in the union territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu and Goa. Substantial historical communities, known as Marathi-konkani, exist in bordering regions of Karnataka (especially Belagavi), Telangana, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh. The Diaspora is found in Israel (the Bene Israel community), Mauritius, and former British colonies like South Africa, where it is a recognized minority language.

Phonology

The sound system includes a series of retroflex consonants, a characteristic feature shared with other Languages of India like Tamil and Telugu. It distinguishes between aspirated and unaspirated consonants, such as in the contrast between /k/ and /kʰ/. Vowels demonstrate a length distinction, and the language possesses a set of nasalized vowels. The intonation patterns and stress differ notably from those in northern Indo-Aryan languages like Hindi, showing closer affinity to Konkani and Sinhala.

Grammar

It employs a subject–object–verb word order and utilizes a three-gender system (masculine, feminine, neuter). Nouns are inflected for case, with a prominent ergative case used in perfective aspects, a trait shared with Gujarati and Kashmiri. Verbs conjugate for tense, aspect, mood, person, and number, and the language features a rich array of participles. Notable is the use of clitics for emphasis and the presence of a unique pronominal system that includes inclusive and exclusive 'we' forms.

Writing system

The primary script is the Devanagari alphabet, specifically the Balbodh style, which is also used for Sanskrit and Hindi. Historically, from the 13th century onward, the cursive Modi script was extensively used for administrative and literary purposes during the Maratha Empire, as seen in the records of the Peshwa court. The transition to Balbodh Devanagari was largely standardized in the 20th century through efforts by institutions like the Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad. The script effectively represents the full range of retroflex consonants and nasalized vowels.

Literature

The tradition is renowned, beginning with the saint-poets of the Warkari movement like Sant Dnyaneshwar (Dnyaneshwari), Sant Tukaram (Abhangas), and Sant Eknath. The medieval period saw works like the Līḷācaritra and compositions by Mukteshwar. The modern era was ushered in by pioneers such as Keshavsut, with later luminaries including Vishnu Vaman Shirwadkar, P. L. Deshpande, and Vijay Tendulkar, whose plays like Ghashiram Kotwal had national impact. It has a strong novelistic tradition with writers like Hari Narayan Apte and Bhalchandra Nemade, and a vibrant tradition of poetry and Marathi theatre.

Status and influence

It holds official language status in Maharashtra and Goa, as per the Eighth Schedule to the Constitution of India. Key regulatory and promotional bodies include the Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad and the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education. The language exerts considerable influence on neighboring tongues like Konkani and has absorbed lexical items from Sanskrit, Persian, Arabic, Portuguese, and English. Its cultural reach is amplified through the Marathi cinema industry, headquartered in Mumbai, and prolific Marathi television channels.

Category:Languages of India Category:Indo-Aryan languages Category:Marathi language