THAMIZH or Tamil Language தமிழ் மொழி
Tamil .
Tamil evolved from proto-Dravidian, is a Dravidian language of India. It is one of the longest-surviving classical languages of the world, with a rich literature spanning over 2000 years. The earliest epigraphic records found on rock edicts and hero stones date from around the 3rd century BC. Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions from 500 BC have also been found. The earliest period of Tamil literature, Sangam literature, is dated from ca. 300 BC – AD 300. Oldest Tamil literature called Agasthiam around 1500 B.C. or Tholkappiam around 500 B.C. Tamil is also believed to be developed by Siddhars. Exact time when Tamil was born is still unknown.
Tamil is spoken by 62 million in Tamil Nadu state, union territory of Puducherry (Pondicherry) and neighboring states. It is stated as 20th in the Ethnologue list of most-spoken languages worldwide. Also spoken in Bahrain, Fiji, Germany, Malaysia (Peninsular), Mauritius, Netherlands, Qatar, Reunion, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, UAE, United Kingdom. Total number of speakers is estimated to be 74 million including second language users (1999 WA).
Dialects: ADI DRAVIDA, AIYAR, AIYANGAR, ARAVA, BURGANDI, KASUVA, KONGAR, KORAVA, KORCHI, MADRASI, PARIKALA, PATTAPU BHASHA, TAMIL, SRI LANKA TAMIL, MALAYA TAMIL, BURMA TAMIL, SOUTH AFRICA TAMIL, TIGALU, HARIJAN, SANKETI, HEBBAR, MANDYAM BRAHMIN, SECUNDERABAD BRAHMIN.
The oldest documented Dravidian Indian language is Tamil, with a substantial body of literature, particularly the Cankam poetry, going back to the first century A.D. Kannada and Telugu developed extensive bodies of literature after the sixth century, while Malayalam split from Tamil as a literary language by the twelfth century. In spite of the profound influence of the Sanskrit language and Sanskritic culture on the Dravidian languages, a strong consciousness of the distinctness of Dravidian languages from Sanskrit remained. All four major Dravidian languages had consciously differentiated styles varying in the amount of Sanskrit they contained.
Tamil Language Scripts
The Tamil script is sometimes called Vattezhuthu, literally "round writing". This characterstic has partly to do with the fact that in ancient times, the script was carved with a sharp point on palm leaves (olaichuvadi) and it was apparently easier to produce curves than straight lines by this method.
There are some lexical rules for formation of words. Some examples: a word cannot end in a consonant, and cannot begin with the consonant 'r'; there are two consonants for the dental 'n', which one should be used depends on whether the 'n' occurs at the start of the word. The overdot, as in the image, notes that the trailing a is to be combined with the next consonant - that is it is a pure consonant.
This is a syllabic alphabet in which all consonants have an inherent vowel. Diacritics, which can appear above, below, before or after the consonant they belong to, are used to change the inherent vowel .
Tamil alphabet
Tamil alphabet has 12 vowels and 18 consonants. These combine to form 216 compound characters. There is one special character (Aaytha ezutthu), giving a total of 247 characters. These combine to form 216 compound characters. There is one special character (Aaytha ezutthu), giving a total of 247 characters.
There are some lexical rules for formation of words. Some examples: a word cannot end in certain consonants, and cannot begin with some consonants including 'r' 'l' and 'll'; there are two consonants for the dental 'n' - which one should be used depends on whether the 'n' occurs at the start of the word and on the letters around it.
If you use only Tamil words to speak Tamil there is no need of the extra sounds in other languages like sanskrit. There are letters in Tamil Grantham for the extra sounds. Tamil Grantham was developed to write the Sanskrit words in olden days for which there is no equivalent letters in ancient Tamil. Sound “Zha” - ழ was only present in Tamil till 6th Centure and later added in Malayalam only.
Vowels
Vowels are also called the 'life' or 'soul' letters. Together with the consonants (which are called 'body' letters, they form compond, syllabic (abugida) letters that are called 'living' letters (ie. letters that have both 'body' and 'soul').
அ | ஆ | இ | ஈ | உ | ஊ | எ | ஏ | ஐ | ஒ | ஓ | ஔ
Vowel | Name | Sound | Phonetic |
அ | அகரம் | Short a | ʌ |
ஆ | ஆகாரம் | Long A | ɑː |
இ | இகரம் | Short i | i |
ஈ | ஈகாரம் | Long I | iː |
உ | உகரம் | Short u | u |
ஊ | ஊகாரம் | Long U | uː |
எ | எகரம் | Short e | e |
ஏ | ஏகாரம் | Long E | eː |
ஐ | ஐகாரம் | Dipthong AI | ʌj |
ஒ | ஒகரம் | Short o | o |
ஓ | ஓகாரம் | Long O | oː |
ஔ | ஒளகாரம் | Dipthong AU | ʌʋ |
ஃ | அஃகேனம் | | h |
Note: The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) is designed to represent only those qualities of speech that are part of oral language: phones, phonemes, intonation and the separation of words and syllables.
Special letter ஃ (pronounced 'akh') is rarely used by itself - normally serves purely grammatical function as independent vowel form of the dot on
consonants that suppresses the inherent 'a' sound in plain consonants.
The long ('nedil') vowels are about twice as long as the short ('kuRil') vowels. The dipthongs are usually pronounced about 1.5 times as long as the
short vowels, though some grammatical texts place them with the long ('nedil') vowels.
Consonants
Consonants are also called the 'body' letters are 18 given below along with phonetic equivalents:
க் | ங் | ச் | ஞ் | ட் | ண் | த் | ந் | ப் | ம் | ய் | ர் | ல் | வ் | ழ் | ள் | ற் | ன்
k | ŋ | s | ɲ | ʈ | ɳ | t̪ | n | p | m | j | ɾ | l | ʋ | ɻ | ɭ | r | n
த -வல்லினம்
மி -மெல்லினம்
ழ் - இடையினம்
வல்லினம் க ச ட த ப ற வெனவாறே
மெல்லினம் ங ஞ ண ந ம ன வெனவாறே
இடையினம் ய ர ல வ ழ ள வெனவாறே
[தொல்காப்பியம், எழுத்ததிகாரம்.]
(1) க ச ட த ப ற - 6 letters Vallinam
(2) ங ஞ ண ந ம ன - 6 letters mellinam
(3) ய ர ல வ ழ ள - 6 letters idayinam
Borrowed consonants
Also called "Grantha" letters, these letters are used almost exclusively for writing words that are borrowed from Sanskrit (or sometimes other languages such
as English). Seeing one of these letters in a word is a good indication that the word is probably borrowed from Sanskrit (or Hindi) though of course not all such words include these letters.
ஶ் | ஜ் | ஷ் | ஸ் | ஹ் | க்ஷ் | ஶ்ரீ
ɕ, | ʃ | ʤ | ʂ | s | ɦ | kʂ
ஜ ja; ஷ sha; ஸ sa; ஹ ha; க்ஷ ksha; ஶ்ரீ Sri
தமிழ் எழுத்துக்கள்
ஃ | அ | ஆ | இ | ஈ | உ | ஊ | எ | ஏ | ஐ | ஒ | ஓ | ஒள |
க் | க | கா | கி | கீ | கு | கூ | கெ | கே | கை | கொ | கோ | கௌ |
ங் | ங | ஙா | ஙி | ஙீ | ஙு | ஙூ | ஙெ | ஙே | ஙை | ஙொ | ஙோ | ஙௌ |
ச் | ச | சா | சி | சீ | சு | சூ | செ | சே | சை | சொ | சோ | சௌ |
ஞ் | ஞ | ஞா | ஞி | ஞீ | ஞு | ஞூ | ஞெ | ஞே | ஞை | ஞொ | ஞோ | ஞௌ |
ட் | ட | டா | டி | டீ | டு | டூ | டெ | டே | டை | டொ | டோ | டௌ |
ண் | ண | ணா | ணி | ணீ | ணு | ணூ | ணெ | ணே | ணை | ணொ | ணோ | ணௌ |
த் | த | தா | தி | தீ | து | தூ | தெ | தே | தை | தொ | தோ | தௌ |
ந் | ந | நா | நி | நீ | நு | நூ | நெ | நே | நை | நொ | நோ | நை |
ப் | ப | பா | பி | பீ | பு | பூ | பெ | பே | பை | பொ | போ | பௌ |
ம் | ம | மா | மி | மீ | மு | மூ | மெ | மே | மை | மொ | மோ | மௌ |
ய் | ய | யா | யி | யீ | யு | யூ | யெ | யே | யை | யொ | யோ | யௌ |
ர் | ர | ரா | ரி | ரீ | ரு | ரூ | ரெ | ரே | ரை | ரொ | ரோ | ரௌ |
ல் | ல | லா | லி | லீ | லு | லூ | லெ | லே | லை | லொ | லோ | லௌ |
வ் | வ | வா | வி | வீ | வு | வூ | வெ | வே | வை | வொ | வோ | வௌ |
ழ் | ழ | ழா | ழி | ழீ | ழு | ழூ | ழெ | ழே | ழை | ழொ | ழோ | ழௌ |
ள் | ள | ளா | ளி | ளீ | ளு | ளூ | ளெ | ளே | ளை | ளொ | ளோ | ளௌ |
ற் | ற | றா | றி | றீ | று | றூ | றெ | றே | றை | றொ | றோ | றௌ |
ன் | ன | னா | னி | னீ | னு | னூ | னெ | னே | னை | னொ | னோ | னௌ |
Interesting Facts on Tamil
25% of the letters in Tamil have a standalone meaning. For example:
ஈ; கை; கோ ; சௌ; டூ; தா; தீ; தை; நீ; பூ; பை; போ; வா; வை; மா; மை
All of the uyir letters can be mapped to one or other animal/bird sound.
Tamil is one of those languages in which is written phonetically.
Tamil has a term to denote from 1/165580800 (Anu) to denote 10 to the power of 21 (Aambal).
There are a lot of error correction mechanisms to ensure that the data/information is not lost or corrupt when orally transmitted. Ethugai-Monai is one such.
In straight sentences, the meaning will remain intact even if we change the order of the words.
நான் அடித்தேன் அவனை - I beat him
அவனை நான் அடித்தேன் - him I beat
அடித்தேன் அவனை நான் - beat him I
அவனை அடித்தேன் நான் - Him beat I
நான் அவனை அடித்தேன் - I him beat
அடித்தேன் நான் அவனை - beat I him
All combinations give us the same meaning in Tamil, but not in English.
Carnatic Music
Tamil letters are also used to indicate the notes of Carnatic music. The notes are:
Note
| Sound
| Full Name
| Pronounciation
| Value and Comments
|
ஸ
| sa
| ஷட்ஜம்
| Shadjam
| First note, only one possible value. Sometimes referred to as the
'mother' note - all Ragas have this note.
|
ரி
| ri
| ரிஷபம்
| Rishabam
| Second note, three possible values.
|
க
| ga
| காந்தாரம்
| Gāndhāram
| Third note, three possible values (one of which coindices with the
third ri).
|
ம
| ma
| மத்யமம்
| Madhyamam
| Fourth note, two possible values.
|
ப
| pa
| பஞ்சபம்
| Panchamam
| Fifth note, only one possible value. Sometimes referred to as the
'father', though not all ragas have this note.
|
த
| dha
| தைவதம்
| Dhaivatham
| Sixth note, three possible values.
|
நி
| ni
| நிஷாதம்
| Nishādam
| Seventh note, three possible values (one of which coincides with the
third dha). |
The 'values' of the note here can be taken to mean semitones. There is some overlap between the possible values
- this eventually leads to the octave containing 12 semitones, as in Western music. One can see from the names of
the notes that they are borrowed from Sanskrit.
Tamil Unicode Table
| Decimal | Hex | Name |
ஂ | 2946 | 0B82 | Tamil Sign ANUSVARA |
ஃ | 2947 | 0B83 | Tamil Sign VISARGA |
அ | 2949 | 0B85 | Tamil Letter A |
ஆ | 2950 | 0B86 | Tamil Letter AA |
இ | 2951 | 0B87 | Tamil Letter I |
ஈ | 2952 | 0B88 | Tamil Letter II |
உ | 2953 | 0B89 | Tamil Letter U |
ஊ | 2954 | 0B8A | Tamil Letter UU |
எ | 2958 | 0B8E | Tamil Letter E |
ஏ | 2959 | 0B8F | Tamil Letter EE |
ஐ | 2960 | 0B90 | Tamil Letter AI |
ஒ | 2962 | 0B92 | Tamil Letter O |
ஓ | 2963 | 0B93 | Tamil Letter OO |
ஔ | 2964 | 0B94 | Tamil Letter AU |
க | 2965 | 0B95 | Tamil Letter KA |
ங | 2969 | 0B99 | Tamil Letter NGA |
ச | 2970 | 0B9A | Tamil Letter CA |
ஜ | 2972 | 0B9C | Tamil Letter JA |
ஞ | 2974 | 0B9E | Tamil Letter NYA |
ட | 2975 | 0B9F | Tamil Letter TTA |
ண | 2979 | 0BA3 | Tamil Letter NNA |
த | 2980 | 0BA4 | Tamil Letter TA |
ந | 2984 | 0BA8 | Tamil Letter NA |
ன | 2985 | 0BA9 | Tamil Letter NNNA |
ப | 2986 | 0BAA | Tamil Letter PA |
ம | 2990 | 0BAE | Tamil Letter MA |
ய | 2991 | 0BAF | Tamil Letter YA |
ர | 2992 | 0BB0 | Tamil Letter RA |
ற | 2993 | 0BB1 | Tamil Letter RRA |
ல | 2994 | 0BB2 | Tamil Letter LA |
ள | 2995 | 0BB3 | Tamil Letter LLA |
ழ | 2996 | 0BB4 | Tamil Letter LLLA |
வ | 2997 | 0BB5 | Tamil Letter VA |
ஷ | 2999 | 0BB7 | Tamil Letter SSA |
ஸ | 3000 | 0BB8 | Tamil Letter SA |
ஹ | 3001 | 0BB9 | Tamil Letter HA |
ா | 3006 | 0BBE | Tamil Vowel Sign AA |
ி | 3007 | 0BBF | Tamil Vowel Sign I |
ீ | 3008 | 0BC0 | Tamil Vowel Sign II |
ு | 3009 | 0BC1 | Tamil Vowel Sign U |
ூ | 3010 | 0BC2 | Tamil Vowel Sign UU |
ெ | 3014 | 0BC6 | Tamil Vowel Sign E |
ே | 3015 | 0BC7 | Tamil Vowel Sign EE |
ை | 3016 | 0BC8 | Tamil Vowel Sign AI |
ொ | 3018 | 0BCA | Tamil Vowel Sign O |
ோ | 3019 | 0BCB | Tamil Vowel Sign OO |
ௌ | 3020 | 0BCC | Tamil Vowel Sign AU |
் | 3021 | 0BCD | Tamil Sign VIRAMA |
ௗ | 3031 | 0BD7 | Tamil AU LENGTH MARK |
௧ | 3047 | 0BE7 | Tamil Digit ONE |
௨ | 3048 | 0BE8 | Tamil Digit TWO |
௩ | 3049 | 0BE9 | Tamil Digit THREE |
௪ | 3050 | 0BEA | Tamil Digit FOUR |
௫ | 3051 | 0BEB | Tamil Digit FIVE |
௬ | 3052 | 0BEC | Tamil Digit SIX |
௭ | 3053 | 0BED | Tamil Digit SEVEN |
௮ | 3054 | 0BEE | Tamil Digit EIGHT |
௯ | 3055 | 0BEF | Tamil Digit NINE |
௰ | 3056 | 0BF0 | Tamil Number TEN |
௱ | 3057 | 0BF1 | Tamil Number ONE HUNDRED |
௲ | 3058 | 0BF2 | Tamil Number ONE THOUSAND |
௳ | 3059 | 0BF3 | Tamil DAY Sign |
௴ | 3060 | 0BF4 | Tamil MONTH Sign |
௵ | 3061 | 0BF5 | Tamil YEAR Sign |
௶ | 3062 | 0BF6 | Tamil DEBIT Sign |
௷ | 3063 | 0BF7 | Tamil CREDIT Sign |
௸ | 3064 | 0BF8 | Tamil AS ABOVE Sign |
௹ | 3065 | 0BF9 | Tamil Rupee Sign |
௺ | 3066 | 0BFA | Tamil Number Sign |
தமிழ் மொழி வரலாறு
கண்டெடுக்கப்பட்டுள்ள தமிழ் ஆக்கங்கள் கி.மு 300-ம் ஆண்டைச் சேர்ந்த பிராமி எழுத்துக்களில் எழுதப்பெற்றவைகளாகும் (மகாதேவன், 2003). பனையோலைகளில் எழுதப்பட்டு (திரும்பத் திரும்பப் படியெடுப்பதன் (பிரதிபண்ணுவது) மூலம்) அல்லது வாய்மொழி மூலம் வழிவழியாக பாதுகாக்கப்பட்டுவந்ததால், மிகப் பழைய ஆக்கங்களின் காலங்களைக் கணிப்பது மிகவும் கடினமாக உள்ளது. இன்று கிடைக்கக்கூடிய மிகப் பழைய ஆக்கம் தொல்காப்பியம் ஆகும். இது பண்டைக்காலத் தமிழின் இலக்கணத்தை விளக்கும் ஒரு நூலாகும். பண்டைத் தமிழில் எழுதப்பட்ட குறிப்பிடத்தக்க காப்பியம், கி.பி 200 - 300 காலப்பகுதியைச் சேர்ந்த சிலப்பதிகாரம் ஆகும்.
சங்க காலம் (கிமு 300 - கிபி 300)
சங்கம் மருவிய காலம் (கிபி 300 - கிபி 700)
பக்தி இலக்கிய காலம் (கிபி 700 - கிபி 1200)
மத்திய காலம் (கிபி 1200 - கிபி 1800)
இக்காலம் (கிபி 1800 - இன்று வரை)
தமிழ் என்னும் சொல்லுக்குத் த்ரவிட என்பதே மூலம் என்ற கருத்தை முன் வைத்தவர்களுள் கால்டுவெல் முக்கியமானவர். இவர் த்ரவிட என்பது திரமிட என்றாகி அது பின்னர் த்ரமிள ஆகத் திரிந்து பின்னர் தமிள, தமிழ் என்று ஆனது என்கிறார்.
Tamil Nadu is exotic for its ancient history with its ancient monuments, temples and architecture, hill stations, waterfalls, national parks, local cuisine and wildlife combined with scenic panorama. It is known for Pongal or harvest festival with Jallikattu, Kanchipuram sari, the dolls and paintings in Thanjavur
It is the historical home of the famous Chera, Chola, Pandya and Pallava kingdoms. Vijaynagar empire also ruled parts of Tamilnadu after muslim rule. The ancient, literary rich, classical Tamil is the official language in Tamil Nadu. Sangam Period is the glorious pride and rich cultural heritage of ancient south India
People in Tamil Nadu have great taste for arts and culture. Carnatic music, Bharathanatyam dance form, folk music and rural dance forms (Kolattam, Karagam and Mayilattam) are colourful, vibrant and energetic with inspirational thoughts and about social issues.
The major rivers are Kaveri, Palar, Cheyyar, Ponnaiyar, Meyar, Bhavani, Amravati, Vaigal, Chittar and Tamaraparni.
Cities:
Chennai (Madras) — the capital of Tamil Nadu, known for beaches and landmarks like Fort St. George.
Kanchipuram - Kapaleshwarar, Kailasanthar, Ekambareshvarar, Kamakshi amman
Mamallapuram — Sea Shore Temples and modern stone carvers
Coimbatore — the textile capital of South India
Salem — Important Industrial center.
Erode — center of an agricultural area.
Tiruchirappalli — famous for temples Jambukeswarar, Rock Fort and Srirangam Renganathar Temple
Thanjavur — fine old architecture and exquisite handicrafts, big temple, Gangaikonda Cholapuram
Madurai — Meenakshi Amman Temple, great historical and cultural importance
Tirunelveli — A Hub and Gateway Southernpart of Tamilnadu.
Tuticorin — - Known as a Pearl City and has a Harbour
Rameshwaram - Temples, link to Srilanka
Kanniyakumari — the southern most tip of the Indian mainland, Sunrise-set