Which Language Is Known As The 'Italian Of The East'?

Today, people speak more than 7,000 languages worldwide. Some, like Tamil and Sanskrit, have been around for over 5,000 years. Others, such as Light Warlpiri, appeared only about 40 years ago. Each language has its own character.

For example, many experts say Mandarin is the hardest language to learn because it uses four tones and has more than 50,000 characters. 

In contrast, Dutch is considered one of the easiest languages to learn, and it can be learned in about 24 weeks. Some languages even have nicknames based on their sound.

One language is famously known as the "Italian of the East". Can you guess the name? In this article, we will explore its history and some unique facts about this beautiful language.

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Which Language Is Known As 'Italian Of The East'?

The Telugu language is known as the Italian of the East. It is a Dravidian language spoken mainly in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, with over 82 million speakers. 

In the 19th century, the Italian explorer Niccolò de' Conti called it the "Italian of the East" after noticing that both Telugu and Italian are vocalic languages. 

In Telugu, most words end with a vowel sound, such as "a", "u", or "i", just as many Italian words end in "o" or "a". This gives both languages a melodic, rhythmic quality when spoken. 

Scientists and linguists call this an "open syllable" structure. Because of this, both languages sound musical and soft compared to languages that use more consonants.

7+ Lesser-Known Facts About Telugu

• In linguistic terms, Telugu is an Ajanta Bhasha, meaning every formal word must end in a vowel. This is the primary reason for its musicality.
• Sri Krishnadevaraya, a famous emperor, described Telugu as "Desa bhashalandu Telugu Lessa", meaning "Among the nation's languages, Telugu is the best."
• The earliest Telugu inscriptions date back to 575 AD (the Kalamalla inscription), proving it has been a distinct literary force for over 1,400 years.
• In 2008, the Government of India officially designated Telugu as a Classical Language due to its high antiquity and original literary tradition.
• Unlike English (Subject-Verb-Object), Telugu follows a Subject-Object-Verb (SOV) pattern, which is common in only about 45% of the world's languages.
• Telugu is agglutinative, in which complex ideas are expressed by adding suffixes to a root, similar to Turkish or Finnish.
• According to US Census data, Telugu was once the fastest-growing language in the United States, with the number of speakers increasing by roughly 86% between 2010 and 2017.
• The Telugu script has its own unique set of symbols for numbers 0-9, though international numerals are now more commonly used in daily life.

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Why Is The 'Telugu' Language Called The Italian Of The East?

The nickname "Italian of the East" is a well-known tribute to the Telugu language. It highlights Telugu's musical and rhythmic qualities, which set it apart from other languages in the region.

The Origin of the Name

Niccolò de' Conti, a Venetian explorer, came up with the title in the 19th century. As he travelled through the Vijayanagara Empire, he was struck by the language's sound. He noticed that Telugu had a structure similar to his native Italian, which made it sound almost like a song.

Why the Comparison?

The main reason for this nickname is a language feature called "Vocalic Ending." In Italian, almost every word ends with a vowel, like Pasta, Ciao, or Amore. 

Telugu is similar. In formal Telugu, every word ends with a vowel sound, such as Nenu, Amma, or Thinnara.

• Because words end in vowels instead of harsh consonants, the language sounds smooth and flows without sudden stops. This is why musicians and poets often call Telugu "Ajanta Bhasha", meaning a language where words end in vowels.
• Scientists and linguists say both languages have "open syllables". This means their sounds are easier for people to hear as melodic or soft.

Key Similarities at a Glance

Did You Know?

• Telugu is spoken by over 82 million people, making it one of the most spoken languages in the world.
• It is one of the few languages in India that the government officially recognises as a Classical Language.
• In recent years, it has been the fastest-growing language in the United States, driven by the thriving tech community.

Conclusion

Telugu is more than just a means of communication; it is often described as a musical language. It has been praised by 19th-century explorers and is now one of the fastest-growing languages in the digital age.

The nickname "Italian of the East" shows that beauty in language can be found everywhere. With its vocalic endings, which are similar to those of Italian, and a literary history dating back 1,500 years, Telugu continues to interest both linguists and language learners. 

Its "open syllables" and rhythmic flow make it one of the most unique and harmonious languages in the world.

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