LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 13:12 December 2013
ISSN 1930-2940

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
         Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
         S. M. Ravichandran, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.
         C. Subburaman, Ph.D. (Economics)
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

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M. S. Thirumalai
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Current Usage of Traditional Grammatical Rules of
Tamil Language

P. Senkathirchelvan, M.Phil.

Abstract

When referring to traditional grammatical rules of Tamil, Tolkappiam, the traditional Tamil grammatical text produced by the eminent grammarian Tolkappiar, which contributes to the development of studies on Tamil language and critical review of Tamil literature, strikes our thoughts. Most of the subsequent grammatical works were adaptations of Tolkappiam and they also introduced some new changes in compliance with later language developments.

Grammar illustrates the language structure in terms of script, lexis and semantics. In a language, words signify the structural patterns and characteristics of language. The methodology adopted in this study involves documentary analysis. This study focuses on glide occurring in the process of sandhi and analyses its features.

Key Words: Glide, Internal Sandhi, External Sandhi, Hiatus

Introduction

Linguists opine that the function of glide is to prevent hiatus. Tamil grammarians have prescribed a rule pertaining to the presence of glide to fuse two vowels occurring in sandhi. Sandhi is of two types, namely, Internal Sandhi and External Sandhi. Internal sandhi takes place within a word (e.g. ko+il = koyil / kovil) whereas external sandhi takes place between words (e.g. avale + alahi = avaleyalahi).

Caldwell (1956) elucidated that generally in all Dravidian languages, hiatus caused by two vowels is prevented by certain consonants.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

P. Senkathirchelvan, M.Phil. in Tamil
Senior Lecturer
Department of Tamil
University of Jaffna
Jaffna
Sri Lanka
senkathir@sltnet.lk
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