In other posts we have talked about other Indo-Aryan languages, and we said that these languages are included in the group of Indo-European languages.
All Indo-Aryan languages originate from Sanskrit.
Marathi is one of the most widely spoken languages in India, mainly in the western and central areas.
While a Hindu can distinguish one language from another, for instance, someone from Maharashtra or Tamil Nadu, the simple fact of being Hindu, does not mean that a person can understand these languages, that have the same roots but are different from one another.
The current alphabet with which Marathi is graphically represented is known as ‘bALbodh’.
Some of its features are:
• How words are formed: As in many other languages, words are constructed by syllables, which, in turn, are formed by combining vowels and consonants. However, in Marathi you can also combine two words when the second one begins with a vowel. This is known as ‘sandhi’ (combination). There is another method of joining words, but it is arbitrary, which is known as ‘samAs.’
• Gender. Marathi has a neutral gender, as in English. There are 3 in total: pulliN^ ga (masculine), striiliN^ ga (femenine), and napumsakliN^ga (neutral). Something to keep in mind: plurals, verbs and adjectives change based on gender.
• There are singular and plural nouns, as well as collective nouns.
• There are mainly three concepts of time: vartamaan (present), bhoot (past) and bhavishhya (future).
• There are also different ways to address a person, formally or more informally …
Traces of other languages in Marathi:
• Most are of Sanskrit origin.
• There are also traces of other Hindi languages: Kannad (from the Karnataka State), Telugu (from the Andhra Pradesh State).
• And the people who ruled India also left their mark: Persians, Arabs, Turks. Some examples of words: shahar (city), baajaar (market), dukaan (store), hushaar (smart), darvajaa (door).
• Terms with a Portuguese influence: baTaaTaa (potato), pagaar (salary).
• And, of course, English words: pen, pencil, cake, cycle, boot, rubber, plastic.
Dialects
• Some dialects are Ahirani, Dangi, Samavedi, and Khandeshi.
Marathi is one of the most widely spoken languages in India, but that does not mean that all Hindi translators understand it and can translate this language as well.
