Telugu-Kannada alphabet

Copper plate inscriptions in Telugu-Kannada script

Between 1100 CE and 1400 CE, Telugu script and Kannada script separated from Old-Kannada script (Halegannada script) or Kadamba script or Bhattiprolu script. The Chalukyas influenced the modern form of Telugu script and its similarity with modern Kannada script.^[1]

Old Kannada script is the continuation of the Kadamba script, which was used for writing Telugu and Kannada languages. Telugu and Kannada Scripts are strikingly similar.

The Dravidian family comprising about 73 languages including Telugu, Kannada, Tamil and Malayalam. Kannada abugida was developed between the 5th and 7th centuries CE from Chalukya and Kadamba scripts, descendants of Brahmi. Old Kannada script is about 1500 years old, developed into Modern Telugu and Modern Kannada scripts. The Telugu script is closely related to Kannada, earliest known inscriptions dates back to the 6th century CE, poetry begins to appear in the 11th century. New written standard emerged in Telugu during the second half of the 20th century.^[2]

History

During 4th to 7th centuries AD the Early Bādāmi Chālukyās and Early Banavasi Kadambās used early form of Telugu-Kannada script in inscriptions. The early Eastern Chalukyas and Salankayana who ruled the Telugu and Kannada speaking areas.^[3]

Origins of Kannada-Telugu Script

Telugu and Kannada belongs to Dravidian family of languages in southern India, Saatavaahanas introduced the Brahmi to present day Telugu and Kannada speaking regions. Telugu and Kannada scripts are categories under Old Kannada script. Kannada became a literate language much ahead of Telugu language. Both Kannada and Telugu produced the poetry during the eighth century. The full-fledged literary works in Kannada produced in ninth century, two centuries before the works available in Telugu, the combined Telugu-Kannada script called as Old Kannada. Telugu writers wait till 11th century because of socio-political factors (royal patronage, influence of Buddhism and Jainism).^[4]

See also

• Kannada inscriptions
• Telugu inscriptions
• Palaeography#South India
• Culture of Andhra Pradesh#Literature
• Linguistic history of the Indian subcontinent
• Pallava script

External links

• Evolution of Telugu Character Graphs
• Salankayana Telugu-Kannada script
• Kadamba -> Old-Kannada -> Kannada and Telugu script
• Copper plates in Telugu-Kannada script
• Brahmi -> Kadamba -> Old Kannada -> Telugu-Kannada scripts

Inscriptions in Telugu-Kannada script

• Kakatiya period Telugu-Kannada inscription by poet Nrusimha Rushi dating between 1295 and 1325 found on hillocks near Urs on outskirts of Warangal.
• 13th century Kakatiya era Bayyaram stone inscription found in Bayyaram mandal Andhra Pradesh.

Evolution and Development of Kannada-Telugu script

• Development of Kannada-Telugu script
• Evolution of Telugu-kannada script
• Kalyana Chalukya Kannada script
• Kannada Script Evolution - Brahmi to Mysore Wadayar Kannada
• Telugu Script Evolution - Brahmi to Vijayanagara script
• Period identification of various ancient Kannada scripts using SVM classifier

References

1. "Evolution of Telugu Character Graphs". Retrieved 2013-07-22.
2. "A sampler of the world's writing systems" (PDF). J. Marshall Unger Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures -The Ohio State University. Retrieved 2013-09-06.
3. "Epigraphical Studies in India - Sanskrit and Dravidian, Scripts used in India, Scripts Abroad". Retrieved 2013-09-06.
4. "Origins of Telugu Script". Retrieved 2013-09-03.