TAMIL LANGUAGE...AN ANCIENT LANGUAGE தமிழ் ஒரு சரித்திரபூர்வமான மொழி
HISTORY தமிழ் மொழியின் சரித்திரம்
The origins of Tamil, like the other Dravidian languages but unlike most of the other established literary languages of India, are independent of Sanskrit.
Tamil has the oldest literature amongst the Dravidian languages.
The history of the Tamil language may conveniently be divided into three periods,
- Early Tamil, comprising the period between the sixth century before and the sixth century after Christ;
- Mediaeval Tamil, between the sixth century and the twelfth century; and
- Modern Tamil, from the twelfth century down to the present day.
EIGHTEENTH MOST WIDELY SPOKEN LANGUAGE
Tamil is spoken
predominantly by Tamils in India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and Singapore.
It also has smaller communities of
speakers in many other countries like Indonesia, United Kingdom, Canada, Mauritius, Australia, USA, South Africa
It is the eighteenth most spoken
language, with over 80 million speakers worldwide.
It is one of the official languages of India, Singapore and Sri Lanka.
WORLD MAP OF MAJOR COUNTRIES WHERE TAMIL IS SPOKEN
தமிழர்கள் வாழும் நாடுகள்
TAMIL TEXT தமிழ் எழுத்துகள்
Origin
The earliest known Tamil inscriptions date back to at least 500 BC.
The oldest literary text in Tamil, Tolkāppiyam, was composed around 200 BC.
The Tamil alphabet is is thought to have evolved from the Brahmi script, though some scholars believe that its origins go back to the Indus script.
The alphabet is well suited to writing literary Tamil, centamil. However it is ill-suited to writing colloquial Tamil, koduntamil. During the 19th century, attempts were made to create a written version of the colloquial spoken language. Nowadays the colloquial written language appears mainly in school books and in passages of dialogue in fiction.
Notable features
- Type of writing system: syllabic alphabet
- Direction of writing: left to right in horizontal lines
- When they appear the the beginning of a syllable, vowels are written as independent letters.
- Some of the non-standard consonant-vowel combinations are not used in official documents.
- The alphabet was originally written on palm leaves. As a result, the letters are made up mainly of curved strokes which didn't rip the leaves.
Used to write:
Tamil, a Dravidian language spoken by around 80 million people in India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, Canada, the USA, UK and Australia.
It is the first language of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, and is spoken by a significant minority of people (2 million) in north-eastern Sri Lanka.
Famous persons in TAMIL LITERATURE தமிழ் இலக்கியம்
1. Bharati Dasan (1891-1964) was a
prolific poet, playwright, lyricist and screenplay writer.
2. C.S. Chellappa (b. 1912) is one of the most
prominent modern short story writers in Tamil. Vadivasal (1959) is one of
Chellappa's famous novelettes.
3. Durai Manickam is one of the important
modern Tamil poets, who is credited with prolific works like
Aiyai, Nurasiriyam, Koyyakkani, Ensuvai Enbatu and Paviyakkottu.
4. iIlanko Adigal was the 9th century Tamil poet
who composed the five great epics of ancient Tamil literature:
Chilappatikaram.
5. Indira Parthasarathy (b. 1930) is one of the
brilliant writers of modern fiction in Tamil. He has written over fifteen novels.
6. Jayamohan: Regarded as Tamil's first post-modernist
writer, Jayamohan shot to fame with his
novel Vishnupuranam. His other notable works include Rubber and Pinthudarum
Nizhalin Kural.
7. Kamban was the greatest of the court poets
of Kulottunga Chola III (1178-1218 AD). He adapted Valmiki's Ramayana in Tamil
in his Ramakatai or Kamba Ramayanam.
8. Mayuram Vedanayakam Pillai
(1826-1889) was a gifted composer of Tamillyrics and was the pioneer
of Tamil novel.
9. M.Varadarajan (1912-1974) experimented with
several new techniques in Tamil novels. His famous works include Perra Manam
(1953), Karittundu (1953), Ahalvilakku, Sentamarai and Mankudisai.
10. Rajam Krishnan (b. 1925) is an eminent
female Tamil novelist, whose important works include Verukku Nir (1972) that
won her the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1973.
11. R. Krishnamurthi 'Kalki' (1899-1954) is
regarded as one of the pioneers of Tamil novel, who popularised novel by
dealing with social and contemporary issues like emancipation of Harijans
12. R. Shanmugasundaram (1918-77) belonged to the Manikkodi group of writers who ushered in the modern era in Tamil fiction. Shanmugasundaram distinguished himself as a novelist.
FAMOUS TAMIL NOVELS
Manasukkul Mazhai, Managugai Oviyam, Mana Kadavai Thirunthidu
Katraagi Vaa, Karpanaiyo Kaivanthatho, Kanodu Kanbathellam
Kannadi Vaasal, Kannile Neer Etharku, Kanavu Nila
Kadal Viralgal, Azhage Vaa Arugil Vaa, Athisaya Raagam
Anandam Adi Anandi, Thyaga Bhoomi, Solaimalai Ilavarasi
Ponni, Sivagamiyin Sabatham, Alai Osai
Parthiban Kanavu, Mohini Theevu, Ullatha Killathey
Sandhitha Velaiyil, Yaroo Yarodi, Suriya
Poongatru Pudhirandathu, Nee En Devadai, Mangalyam Thanthuname
Madaleria Oviyam
SUBRAMANIYA BHARATI..POET சுப்ரமணிய பாரதி
SPOKEN TAMIL .. தமிழ் உரையாடல்
VAIRAMUTHU SPEAKS ABOUT MOTHER .. வைரமுத்து தாயாயைப் பற்றி பெசுகிறார்
TAMIL COMEDY ..தமிழ் நகைச்சுவை
A TAMIL SONG ..தமிழ் பாடல்
Quiz
For each question, choose the best answer. The answer key is below.
- Which country outside of INDIA has the highest TAMIL SPEAKING population?
- Sri Lanka
- Malaysia
- Singapore
- Canada
- Which TAMILIAN won an OSCAR AWARD
- ILAYARAJA
- A R RAHMAN
- G RAMANATHAN
- Which TAMILIAN won an AWARD for BEST MUSIC in 1960 ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL in CAIRO
- ILAYARAJA
- A R RAHMAN
- G RAMANATHAN
- WHICH TAMILIAN OWNED THE TALLEST BUILDING IN THE WORLD
- A R RAHMAN
- ANANDA KRISHNAN
- M KARUNANAITHI
- WHAT WAS THE PREVIOUS NAME OF TAMIL NADU STATE
- MADRAS
- CHENNAI
- SOUTH INDIA
Answer Key
- Sri Lanka
- ILAYARAJA
- ILAYARAJA
- A R RAHMAN
- MADRAS
Comments
Indra from India on September 07, 2020:
good really
Tamilarasan on May 17, 2015:
Tamil has separate flow ......Please don't compare with Sanskrit...
Sanskrit is not gods language......God doesn't require any language...wrong statement made by Sanskrit reding people
Ramadurai p on January 05, 2015:
Tamil the king da
Saraladevi Marimuthu on November 25, 2014:
Well said Tamilan.
rasgu on August 29, 2014:
TAMIL
Subramaniam on July 13, 2014:
This website lacks validity because other authors like Thirivalluvar and Great Tamil researcher Paavanar have been left out. Not ony that, authors of Five Great Epics(except Ilangovadigal) also left out
G. Dinakaran, on March 31, 2014:
I find this page and surprised. It has been done wisely. Because, the usage tamil among the people is abating. This is good record and service. I pray unto the Lord God who gave the tongues to human beings for proper communication for action and living. One way or other you are being used by the God. Thank you very much for the efforts you have taken. God bless you.
nivas on March 19, 2014:
TAMIZHAN DA....!!!
babynology from New York on July 22, 2013:
Tamilians are rocking the world. Prestigious community. We should proud to be Tamilians. For Tamil baby names, visit
http://www.babynology.com/tamil_babynames.html
Samraj19 on April 25, 2013:
Sanskrit was born only after 3rd AD through Panini, also it is incorrect to claim that Prakrit is a distorted version of Sanskrit
The contents of Prakrit and Veda scripts have been translated into Sanskrit during medieval period after 3rd AD and claimed as if they are the owners which is not the Truth
Today, Christians among Tamils may have better knowledge on Bible than Israelite due to the Translation and adoption of Christianity. Does this transfer the ownership? No
Prakrit flee to In-do-china countries due to the Political change in India after 3rd AD, hence Sanskrit taken all its credits which are actually due for Prakrit. Similarly, Vedas which has a Persian connect also translated into Sanskrit and taken its credit.
Those languages created in the later stage ideally should have better grammar, sounds etc than the older one that's how any technologies evolves in the World. I think, debate is not for Perfection but for Ancient
selvarasan@gmail.com on April 24, 2013:
i should agree
jinesh on February 28, 2013:
good
Guru on November 26, 2012:
hahaha Tamilan u right kal thondri manthondra kallathil munthondria mozhi num ''TAMIL'' mozhi
sanskript and kananada r born later hahaha we should not compare Universe (thamzih) with small tinny stone yar
harper on September 24, 2012:
I acre Tamil is a nice lang to learn
Tamilan on September 16, 2012:
yes you are correct Tamil should not be compared with Sanskrit because Sanskrit born approximately 1600 years after the Great Tamil so there is no caparison.
Sanskriti_India on September 14, 2012:
Why comparing tamil with Sanskrit. Sanskrit is the 'language of Gods'. The distorted version of Sanskrit is Prakrit. Do compare tamil with Prakrit if a study is to be made. A perfect language is one which is spoken as it is written and Sanskrit, German, Greek and Kannada are such languages. Does tamil the same words are pronounced as written? So why compare tamil with Sanskrit. Every language is rich in itself respect all languages. How many people speak a language is less important when its compare to how many respect it.
kavi bharathi on August 01, 2012:
kal thondri manthondra kallathil munthondria mozhi num ''TAMIL'' mozhi yenpathu unmai
Samraj19 on July 29, 2012:
The Prakrit language and Buddhism has to be studied in detail to learn much about the early Tamil. Ashoka ruled the entire Greater India (including modern days Afghan, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Srilanka) but he did not rule the early Tamil kingdom region. The real link and reason to be studied in detail to understand the relation between Tamil and Prakrit
Prakrit was the language used in India during Ashoka period. The Sanskrit started spreading in India only in the medieval period hence we should compare Tamil with Prakrit and study its indigenous sovereignty and not with Sanskrit
sara on December 26, 2011:
ar rahman won oscar. not ilayaraja.
Mohan Kumar from UK on January 18, 2011:
A great tribute to the Tamil language and Tamilians... well done. voted up and useful!
