T-A-M-I-L
THE ARCHAEO MODERN INTELLECTUAL LANGUAGE
CHAPTER - V
Introduction
In the previous chapter, we have seen about the
formation of vowel sounds in Tamil language and how it was declared by
Tholkaappiar in the relevant poems of his famous work Tholkaappiam.
In this chapter, we will see about the formations
of consonant sounds of Tamil language with reference to Tholkaappiam poems.
Formation of Vallinam and Mellinam:
We have seen earlier that the eighteen consonant
sounds of Tamil are divided into three groups viz. vallinam, mellinam and
itaiyinam and each group has six consonants. Tholkaappiar has mentioned about
the formation of mellinam sounds in his following poem.
Mellezuththu aarhum pirhappin aakkam
Colliya palhlhi nilaiyina aayinum
Mookkin valhi icai yaappurha thoandrum – poem no.
18
The above poem means that, although the six
mellinam consonants have the same place of sound generation as that of vallinam
consonants, they will form only when the articulated air passes through the
nose. That means, the mellinam sounds are of nasal type and can be jointly
articulated with vallinam consonants. Hence, Tholkaapiar also submits the
formation of vallinam and mellinam consonants jointly in the following single
poems.
Formation of consonants k and
ng:
The following poem of Tholkaappiam clealy informs
about the formation of the vallinam consonant k and mellinam consonant ng.
Kakaara ngakaaram muthalnaa anhnham – poem no. 7
The above poem means that, both these consonants
form by the contact of the muthalnaa i.e. the rear stout portion of the tongue
with the anhnham, i.e. palate of the mouth. When we try to make these sounds, we
can notice that, the rear stout portion of the tongue rises upward and touches
the back portion of the palate. Since ng is a mellinam consonant, it should be
articulated through the nose.
Formation of consonants c and gn:
The following poem of Tholkaappiam describes about
the formation of vallinam consonant c and mellinam consonant gn.
Cakara gnakaaram itainaa anhnham – poem no. 8
The above poem means that, both these consonants
form by the contact of the itainaa i.e. middle portion of the tongue with the
palate. When we try to articulate these sounds, we can notice that, the middle
portion of the tongue rises upward and touches the middle portion of the
palate. Since gn is a mellinam consonant, it should be articulated through the
nose.
Formation of consonants t and
nh:
The following poem of Tholkaappiam describes about
the formation of vallinam consonant t and mellinam consonant nh.
Takaara nhakaaram nuhninaa anhnham – poem no. 9
The above poem defines that, both these consonants
form by the contact of the nuhninaa i.e. tip of the tongue with the palate.
When we try to articulate these sounds, we can notice that, the tip portion of
the tongue rises upward and touches the front portion of the palate. Since nh
is a mellinam consonant, it should be articulated through the nose.
Formation of consonants th and
n:
The following poem of Tholkaappiam describes about
the formation of vallinam consonant th and mellinam consonant n.
Anhnham nanhnhiya pal muthal marunkil
Naa nuhni paranthu meyyurha orhrha
Thaam inithu pirhakkum thakaara nakaaram – poem no.
11
The above poem defines that, both these consonants
form by the contact of the parantha nuhninaa i.e. flattened tip portion of the
tongue with the conjunct front portion of the palate. When we try to articulate
these sounds, we can notice that, the tip portion of the tongue rises upward
and gets flattened by hitting / pushing the
conjunct front portion of the palate i.e. the place where the front row of
upper teeth joins with the palate. Since n is a mellinam consonant, it should
be articulated through the nose.
Formation of consonants p and
m:
The following poem of Tholkaappiam describes about
the formation of vallinam consonant p and mellinam consonant m.
Ithaz iyainthu pirhakkum pakara makaaram – poem no.
15
The above poem defines that, both these consonants
form by the joining of the upper and lower lips. When we try to articulate
these sounds, we can notice that, the lower jaw of mouth moves upwards and the
lower lip joins with the upper lip thus closing the mouth. Since m is a
mellinam consonant, it should be articulated through the nose.
Formation of consonants rh and
hn:
The following poem of Tholkaappiam describes about
the formation of vallinam consonant rh and mellinam consonant hn.
Anhari nuhninaa anhnham orhrha
Rhaqkaan hnaqkaan aayirantum pirhakkum – poem no.
12
The above poem defines that, both these consonants
form by the contact of the bent nuhninaa i.e. bent tip of the tongue with the front
portion of the palate. When we try to articulate these sounds, we can notice
that, the tip of the tongue rises upward, leans backward and touches the front
portion of the palate. Since hn is a mellinam consonant, it should be
articulated through the nose.
Formation of consonant y:
The following poem of Tholkaappiam describes about
the formation of itaiyinam consonant y.
Anhnham caerntha mitarhrhu ezu valhi icai
Kanhnhurhrhu ataiya yakaaram pirhakkum – poem no.
17
The above poem defines that, this consonant forms
by the reaching of the articulated air to the front portion of the palate. When
we try to articulate this sound, we can notice that, the middle portion of the
tongue rises upward and gently pushes the articulated air to the front of the
palate.
Formation of consonants r and
z:
The following poem of Tholkaappiam describes about
the formation of itaiyinam consonants r and z.
Nuhninaa anhari anhnham varuta
Rakara zakaara aayirantum pirhakkum – poem no. 13
The above poem defines that, these consonants form
by the caressing of the raised nuhninaa i.e. tip of the tongue, with the middle
portion of the palate. When we try to articulate these sounds, we can notice
that, the tip of the tongue rises upwards, touches and caresses the middle
portion of the palate gently. We can also notice that, when the tip of the
tongue caresses the palate from back to front, the consonant z forms and
consonant r forms when the tip of the tongue caresses the palate from front to
back.
Formation of consonants l and
lh:
The following poem of Tholkaappiam describes about
the formation of itaiyinam consonants l and lh.
Naa vilhimpu veenki anhpal muthal urha
Aavayin anhnham orhrhavum varutavum
Lakara lhakaaram aayirantum pirhakkum – poem no. 14
The above poem defines that, these consonants form
by the touching and caressing actions of the nuhninaa i.e. tip of the tongue,
with the conjunct front portion of the palate. When we try to articulate these
sounds, we can notice that, the edges of the tongue get bulged and touches the
bottom of upper row of teeth, the tip of the tongue rises upwards, touches and
caresses the conjunct front portion of the palate gently. We can also notice
that, when the tip of the tongue touches the conjucnt front palate, consonant l
forms and consonant lh forms when the tip of the tongue caresses the conjunct
front palate gently upwards.
Formation of consonant v:
The following poem of Tholkaappiam describes about
the formation of itaiyinam consonant v.
Pal Ithaz iyaiya vakaaram pirhakkum – poem no. 16
The above poem defines that, this consonant forms
by the joining of the upper row of teeth with the lower lip. When we try to
articulate this sound, we can notice that, the lower jaw moves upward and the
top row of teeth touches the lower lip.
Summary:
We can find all the aforesaid formations of
consonant sounds of tamil language in a summarised table form as given below.
|
Consonants |
Place of origin |
Organ of origin |
Method of origin |
Position of origin |
|
K, ng (nasal) |
Rear palate |
Rear tongue |
Touching |
Opening |
|
C, gn (nasal) |
Middle palate |
Middle tongue |
Touching |
Opening |
|
T, nh (nasal) |
Front palate |
Tip of tongue |
Touching |
Opening |
|
Th, n (nasal) |
Conjunct front palate |
Flattened tip of tongue |
Pushing |
Opening |
|
P, m (nasal) |
Lips |
Lips |
Touching |
Closing |
|
Rh, hn (nasal) |
Front palate |
Bent tip of tongue |
Touching |
Opening |
|
Y |
Front palate |
Middle tongue |
Raising |
Opening |
|
R, Z |
Middle palate |
Bent tip of tongue |
Caressing |
Opening |
|
L |
Conjunct Front palate |
Tip of tongue |
Touching |
Opening |
|
Lh |
Conjunct Front palate |
Tip of tongue |
Caressing |
Opening |
|
V |
Lips |
Upper teeth |
Touching |
Closing |
----- FOLLOWS -----
