* Ancient Roots: Malayalam has its roots in the ancient Tamil language, with influences from Sanskrit and other languages.
* Gradual Evolution: Over time, Malayalam developed its own distinct features, vocabulary, and grammar.
* Literary Development: The emergence of a rich literary tradition, including poetry, prose, and drama, solidified Malayalam as a separate language.
* 14th Century: The first significant literary work in Malayalam, the "Ramacharitam" by Thunchaththu Ramanujan Ezhuthachan, is widely considered the landmark of Malayalam's evolution as a distinct language.
* Recognition: While there is no single "discoverer," Malayalam was officially recognized as a separate language from Tamil in the 19th century.
Therefore, the development of Malayalam is a long and complex process, not a single event with a single discoverer.