ATMA

 

To cultivate a vibrant and inclusive community where individuals from diverse backgrounds come together to connect, share and inspire positive change.

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HISTORY OF TAMIL LANGUAGE

 

The Tamil language, with a rich history spanning over 5,000 years, is one of the oldest classical languages in the world, originating in the southern part of the Indian subcontinent. Tamil has evolved through diverse historical periods, contributing significantly to the cultural and literary heritage of the region.

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1. Ancient Roots:

   • The roots of Tamil can be traced back to the ancient Sangam period, roughly between 300 BCE and
     300 CE. This era was characterized by the convening of literary assemblies known as Sangams, where
     poets and scholars gathered to produce a vast body of classical Tamil literature. Works from this
     period, such as Silappatikaram, Manimekalai exemplify the sophistication and depth of Tamil literary expression.

2. Flourishing Under Dynasties:

   • Throughout history, Tamil faced external influences and flourished under various dynasties,
     including the Cholas, Pandyas, and Vijayanagara. The Chola period (9th to 13th century) was
     particularly significant for Tamil literature, witnessing the creation of monumental works like
     Kamban, Ramavataram and Sekkizhar, Periya Puranam. The Pandya and Vijayanagara periods further contributed to the language

3. Linguistic Advancements:

   • The historical evolution of Tamil has been marked not only by literary achievements but also by
     linguistic advancements. The grammar text, Tolkappiyam believed to have originated during the Sangam period, laid the foundation for Tamil grammar, contributing to the standardization of the language. Over time, Tamil has adapted and assimilated loanwords from Sanskrit and other
     languages, showcasing its dynamic linguistic evolution.​​

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STRUCTURE AND SCRIPT OF THE TAMIL LANGUAGE

Tamil structure and script are integral to its identity and have played a crucial role in preserving the
language & cultural and literary heritage.

TAMIL ALPHABETS AND VOWELS

The Tamil script consists of 12 vowels (uyir eḻuthu) and 18 consonants (mei eḻuthu). The vowels
include characters like அ (a), இ (i), உ (u), and their variations. The consonants encompass sounds
such as க (ka), ச (ca), and ட (ṭa). The vowels and consonants together form the basic building blocks
of the script.

 

TAMIL SCRIPT WITH CONSONANTS AND VOWELS

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Consonants (Mei Eḻuthu):

1. க (ka)

2. ங (ṅa)

3. ச (ca)

4. ஞ (ña)

5. ட (ṭa)

6. ண (ṇa)

7. த (ta)

8. ந (na)

9. ப (pa)

10. ம (ma)

11. ய (ya)

12. ர (ra)

13. ல (la)

14. வ (va)

15. ழ (ḻa)

16. ள (ḷa)

17. ற (ṟa)

18. ன (ṉa)

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GRANTHA SCRIPT:

In addition to the native script, Tamil has a unique script known as Grantha, used in certain contexts,
such as the documentation of Sanskrit texts. The Grantha script is distinct from the traditional Tamil

script, exhibiting characteristics that distinguish it from the primary script, reflecting the language
adaptability and versatility.

The structure of the Tamil language is characterized by a well-defined grammatical system, including
rules for word formation, syntax, and semantics. The language is agglutinative, meaning that
complex words are formed by combining smaller units with specific meanings. Tamil grammatical
structure facilitates precise expression and clarity in communication. The script and structure of
Tamil have been instrumental in preserving and transmitting its rich literary tradition, showcased in
classical Tamil literature, intricate poetry, and prose.

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100 MOST USED TAMIL WORDS FOR BEGINNERS:

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1. Vaṇakkam (Hello)
2. Nandri (Thank you)
3. Ilamai (Youth)
4. Kaṇavu (Dream)
5. Uyir (Life)
6. Kaḷam (Word)
7. Kaṭṭurai (Story)
8. Iṉam (Love)
9. Varuvaaya (Come)
10. Poḷaam (Let's go)
11. Kaḷ (Stone)
12. Kāl (Leg)
13. Aṟivu (Knowledge)
14. Vāḻka (Live)
15. Kālu (Time)
16. Iṉiya (Sweet)
17. Aṉbu (Affection)
18. Puthu (New)
19. Udal (Body)
20. Uyaram (Height)
21. Vēḷai (Work)
22. Puthagam (Book)
23. Uyirum (Soul)

24. Mutiṭal (Stop)
25. Kāṟu (Black)
26. Veḷiyidai (Sky)
27. Māyā (Magic)
28. Iṉiya (Good)
29. Aṟuḷ (Blessing)
30. Koḷḷam (Beautiful)
31. Iḷam (Small)
32. Uḷḷam (Heart)
33. Suriyā (Sun)
34. Candra (Moon)
35. Thēvai (God)
36. Veḷḷai (White)
37. Neṛa (Close)
38. Muttam (Kiss)
39. Kaḷavu (Theft)
40. Māṉam (Mind)
41. Paar (See)
42. Thavam (Meditation)
43. Aṟiya (Know)
44. Arasi (Queen)
45. Ceytāṉ (Creator)
46. Piḷḷai (Child)
47. Aṉbae (Dear)
48. Suttru (Fight)
49. Kāṭṭam (Wall)
50. Kāṭa (Build)

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Yours Sincerely,

 Atma