This volume offers a galaxy of 36 research papers on Tamil language and Linguistics published in International Journal of Dravidian Linguistics rightly from its first issue in January 1972 to June 1995 spanning 23 years of its existence. These papers broadly cover linguistic areas viz., Phonetics and Phonology; Morphology; Historical and comparative Linguistics and Traditional grammar. The scholarly articles of Leigh Lisker, M. V.I. Subramoniam, A. Andronov, Chandrasekhar, A. Joseph, H.S. Ananthanarayana, K. Meenakshi, S. Sivasegaran, Jaroslav Vacek, Tiru Kandiah, E. Annamalai, T.Balasubramoniam, Rajam Ramamurti, N. Kumaraswami Raja, Clyde Ahmad Winters and Neethivanan etc., appeared in IJDL are included.
In 'Causativity and the Tamil Verbal base' Harold Schiffman examined how causativity is evolved both phonologically and syntactically in the Tamil verbs. In one paper Kamil V. Zvelebil attempted to solve the etymological intricacies hidden in the term 'Tamil'. According to him etymology of the term tamil is *tamir < *tavir < *takir where the second part in the productive formative suffix *ir and the first part is connected with Ta. takube fit, proper, excellent'. The meaning underlying the term tamil is 'the proper process of speaking'. Studies on the colours in early Tamil, the finding is quite interesting and inquisitive. The study reveals that Cilappatikaram distinguishes only three colour concepts regarding deities, namely red, white, blue and black. On the issue of the existence of adjectives in Tamil Andronov is of the view that Adjectives exist as a separate part of speech in Modern Tamil and it was not considered as a part of grammar by Tolkappiyar. In another paper A. Joseph also enquired the status of adjectives in Tamil. V.I. Subramoniam's article is on the generation of alapetai forms in the early Tamil. The findings in this paper generate inquisitiveness. Subramoniam assumes the existence of atleast two dialect formations in the language of Cankam works. Whether ai and au are long vowels is the issue examined by Meenakshi in one paper. A. Chandrasekhar's paper gives a fresh interpretation on the terms Eluttu, Pulli and Mey in Tamil grammar. In the view of Jaroslav Vacek palatal nasal in Tamil was originally an allophone of the dental, alveolar or labial nasals.
Manner adverb in Tamil (Kandiah), aspects of aspect in Tamil (E. Annamalai), pure oral vowels of colloquial Tamil (T. Balasubramonian), the relevance of the term mey, orru and pulli (Rajam Ramamurti), cariyai in Tamil (N. Ramaswami), opposition and contrast in Tamil (A. Veluppillai), tanization in Tamil (S. Arokianathan), Sanskrit influence on Viracoliyam (N. Kumaraswami Raja), Astaddhyayi and Tolkappiyam (K. Meenakshi), historical relationship of the Tamil Manding and Sumarian speakers (Clyde Ahmed Winters) etc., included in this collection of papers supplies additional informations on the topics concerned.
In the compilation of this volume, I am extremely thankful to Dr. Abdul Samad, Mr.Mano and Mrs. Greeshma. This book is publishing with the financial aid received from the Department of Tamil Development Government of Tamil Nadu. Hope to publish the remaining papers on Tamil, published in IJDL subsequently.
Send as free online greeting card
Email a Friend
Manage Wishlist