CHAPTER - V - TAMIL - THE ARCHAEO MODERN INTELLECTUAL LANGUAGE

 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

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