Telugu is a Dravidian language (South-Central Dravidian languages) primarily spoken in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, where it is the official language. Sanskrit has a huge influence on it. Including non-native speakers it is the most spoken Dravidian language, the second most spoken language after Hindi in India and the third most spoken language in Indian sub-continent Hindi & Bengali, and one of the twenty-two official languages of the Republic of India. Extant works inCarnatic Music, particularly the compositions of the present era (post 15th century), were written mostly in the then, highly-sanskritized Telugu. Telugu is one of the top fifteen most widely spoken languages in the world as well as the most spoken language within the Dravidian family.
Telugu belongs to the South-central Dravidian language subfamily, whose members originated from the Proto-Dravidian spoken in the central part of Deccan plateau. Other languages of the South-Central group include the rustic Gondi, Konda, Kui and Kuvi languages. Inscriptions containing telugu words dated back to 400 BCE were discovered at Nandyal in Kurnool district.
The etymology of Telugu is not known for certain. It is explained as being derived from trilinga, as in Trilinga Desa, "the country of the three lingas". According to a Hindu legend, Trilinga Desa is the land in between three Shiva temples namely Kalahasthi, Srisilam, Dhraksharamam. Trilinga Desa forms the traditional boundaries of the Telugu region. Other forms of the word, such as Telunga, Telinga, Telangaana and Tenunga were also seen. It is also said that Trilinga, in the form "Triliggon" occurs in Ptolemy (Ptolemy was the author of several scientific treatises. One of which is Geography, which is a thorough discussion of the geographic knowledge of the Greco-Roman world. a compilation of what was known about the geography in the Roman Empire during his time i.e., between 83-161 CE) as the name of a locality to the east of the Ganga river. The ancient name for telugu land seems to be telinga/telanga desa. Telugu pandits commonly state Tenugu to be the proper form of the word, and explain this as the ‘mellifluous language’ from tene or honey.
Telugu belongs to the South-central Dravidian language subfamily, whose members originated from the Proto-Dravidian spoken in the central part of Deccan plateau. Other languages of the South-Central group include the rustic Gondi, Konda, Kui and Kuvi languages. Inscriptions containing telugu words dated back to 400 BCE were discovered at Nandyal in Kurnool district.
The etymology of Telugu is not known for certain. It is explained as being derived from trilinga, as in Trilinga Desa, "the country of the three lingas". According to a Hindu legend, Trilinga Desa is the land in between three Shiva temples namely Kalahasthi, Srisilam, Dhraksharamam. Trilinga Desa forms the traditional boundaries of the Telugu region. Other forms of the word, such as Telunga, Telinga, Telangaana and Tenunga were also seen. It is also said that Trilinga, in the form "Triliggon" occurs in Ptolemy (Ptolemy was the author of several scientific treatises. One of which is Geography, which is a thorough discussion of the geographic knowledge of the Greco-Roman world. a compilation of what was known about the geography in the Roman Empire during his time i.e., between 83-161 CE) as the name of a locality to the east of the Ganga river. The ancient name for telugu land seems to be telinga/telanga desa. Telugu pandits commonly state Tenugu to be the proper form of the word, and explain this as the ‘mellifluous language’ from tene or honey.
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