Alternate Names: Alealum, Malayalani, Malayali, Malean, Maliyad, Mallealle, Mopla
Dialects: Central Kerala, Kasargod, Kayavar, Malabar, Malayalam, Moplah (Mapilla), Nagari-Malayalam, Namboodiri, Nasrani, Nayar, North Kerala, Pulaya, South Kerala. Caste and communal dialects: Namboodiri, Nayar, Moplah, Pulaya, Nasrani. Mapilla is among the most divergent dialects, differing considerably from literary Malayalam.
Genealogy:
Demographics: 33,000,000 in India (2001 census). Population total all countries: 33,550,900.
Language Use: Cochin Jews in Kerala speak Malayalam. Used as L2 by Allar [all], Aranadan [aaf], Attapady Kurumba [pkr], Irula [iru], Jennu Kurumba [xuj], Kadar [kej], Kalanadi [wkl], Kanikkaran [kev], Kodava [kfa], Kudiya [kfg], Kunduvadi [wku], Kurichiya [kfh], Mala Malasar [ima], Malapandaram [mjp], Malasar [ymr], Malavedan [mjr], Mannan [mjv], Muduga [udg], Mullu Kurumba [kpb], Muthuvan [muv], Paliyan [pcf], Paniya [pcg], Ravula [yea], Thachanadan [thn], Urali [url].
Language Development: Fully developed. Bible: 1841–2004.
Writing System: Arabic, Braille, Malayalam
Nation of Origin: India
Other Comments: Hindu, Christian, Jewish, Muslim.