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  • Dhivehi came from Prakrit- Sanskrit word Dhive-si
  • Dhivehi means islanders
  • It stands for the people of

Maldives

DHIVEHI

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ORIGINS OF DHIVEHI

Dhivehi and Sinhalese developed independently at the same time from a common Prakrit dialect

Dhivehi came from Sinhalese language

Earlier elements of Dhivehi came from old Tamil while later ones came from Sinhalese

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The languages which have links with Dhivehi

Prakrit

Sanskrit

Old Tamil

Malayalam

Sinhalese

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Relationship between Dhivehi and other South Asian languages

Words in English

In Dhivehi

In other South Asian languages

Face

Moonu

Moonu (Sinhalese)

Munnam (Old Tamil)

Grey hair

Nura

Nara (Sinhalese)

Narai (Tamil)

House

Ge/ Gedhoru

Ge/ Gedhara (Sinhalese)

Geha (Prakrit)

Griha (Sanskrit)

Street

Magu

Maarga (Sanskrit)

Maga ( Sinhalese)

Loin cloth

Mundu

Mundu (Malayalam)

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Important points to remember

  • Dhivehi is a mixture of many languages but it has its own unique features.
  • It is more than 1000 years old.

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What is a dialect?

  • The difference in words, usage and accent in a language is called a dialect.

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  • Huvadhoo dialect. (Ga, Gdh)
  • Addu and Gnyaviyani
  • Hadhdhunmathi
  • Rest of the country (Standard dhivehi)

Dialects of Dhivehi

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Differences in Dialects

STD. DHIVEHI

DIALECTS

MEANING

Dhuvaalu

Dhuvaala (L)

Daytime

Riha

Reha (Ga, Gdh, L)

Curry

Iru

Iri (S, Gn)

Ira (L)

Ire (Ga, Gdh)

Sun

Kakuni

Kakidi (S)

Kakudi (Ga, Gdh)

Crab

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Levels of Address

Elite

Respectable

Common form

Levels of adresses in Dhivehi

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Development of dhivehi script

Eveylaa Akuru

    • Write from left to right and has roundish characters
    • Found on Loamafaanu and pre- Islamic sculptures

Dhives Akuru

    • Write from left to right
    • Found on copper plates, inscriptions

Thaana Akuru

    • Write from right to left
    • Arabic numbers and other symbols are used

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EVEYLAA AKURU

Loamafaanu copper plates

Pre- Islamic scupture

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DHIVES AKURU

Old Tombstone

Old Tombstone

Inscription

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THAANA AKURU

Froadhandi Thaana