Professional Documents
Culture Documents
ABC Tamil
ABC Tamil
BOOK ONE
By
Selling right :
PAARI NILAYAM
59, Broadway, MADRAS-1.
1
DEDICATED TO
My Grand-father
SRI. T.M. RAMALINGAIAH,
who was also my first Teacher
2
Dr. M. Varadarajan, M.A., M.O.L., Ph.D.,
Professor and Head,
Department of Tamil,
University of Madras.
FOREWORD
3
or the written language. I, too, have found that method less
useful. Many non-Tamils who learned only the spoken form find
themselves unable to read or write a few sentences in the
language and when they cease to have any contact with the
people of the language forget it altogether.
M. Varadarajan
4
PREFACE
5
spoken differently by different castes, with varying intonations,
and employs a different diction according to the region and the
people who speak. So I have tried to give in this book only the
standard, written Tamil.
6
I thank Mr. P.K. Krishnan, the proprietor of M/S.
Muthukumaran Press, Madras, for completing the work in record
time.
Varanasi Siddalingaiah
Feb., 1968.
7
CONTENTS
Lesson Pages
Foreword . . . . . . 5
Preface . . . . . . 7
Introduction . . . . . . 9
1. Vowels . . . . . . 10
2. Consonants . . . . . . 11
3. Consonantal Vowels (contd.) . . . 14
4. . . . 15
5. . . . 17
6. . . . 18
7. . . . 20
8. Number . . . 22
9. Consonantal Vowels (contd.) . . . 23
10. . . . 25
11. . . . 27
12. Conjunction . . . 28
13. Consonantal Vowels (contd.) . . . 31
14. . . . 32
15. . . . 33
16. More Letters . . . 34
17. Tenses--Present . . . 38
18. Present Tense (contd.) . . . 42
19. Cases . . . 44
20. Cases (Dative) . . . 49
21. Cases (Genitive) . . . 56
8
INTRODUCTION
9
LESSON ONE : VOWELS
They are:
Notes : and are the two sounds which are not found
in Sanskrit. These sounds are common to all the Dravidian
languages.
10
LESSON TWO : CONSONANTS
11
There is no difference in modern usage, in pronouncing
and ', So also there is no difference between and ,
in pronunciation except, when is doubled. is never
doubled.
, , , , , , (k, , m, n, l, l)
+ = (consonantal vowel)
+ = -do-
+ = -do-
Two-lettered words:
12
Three-lettered words:
, , , (money), , , , ,
(toddy), , , , , ?
, ?
13
LESSON THREE : CONSONATAL VOWELS (contd.)
+ = (k) + = (m)
+ = (n) + = (y)
+ = (ch) + = (r)
+ = () + = (l)
+ = () + = (v)
+ = () + = (l)
+ = (t) + = ()
+ = (n) + = (r)
+ = (p) + = (na)
words:
14
- tatta - grandfather - madam - a month
- a good lesson - my leg
- your mother - who (am) I?
- a good day ? who (is) your father?
+ = (ki) + = (mi)
+ = (chi) + = (yi)
+ = (i) + = (ri)
+ = (i) + = (li)
+ = (i) + = (vi)
+ = (ti) + = (li)
+ = (ni) + = (i)
+ = (pi) + = (ri)
+ = (ni)
15
words:
Notes:
, , , , , ,
, , (you) read (a) lesson.
16
LESSON FIVE : CONSONANTAL VOWELS (contd.)
+ = (ki) + = (yi)
+ = (chi) + = (ri)
+ = (i) + = (li)
+ = (ti) + = (vi)
+ = (ni) + = (li)
+ = (ti) + = (li)
+ = (ni) + = (ri)
+ = (pi) + = (ni)
+ = (mi)
words :
- (ti) - fire
- (ni) - you (singular)
- (kiri) - a mongoose
- (ningal) - you (honorific and plural
as well)
- (nir) - water
- you come
( + ) - tair - cold water
- min - a fish
- kil - below.
17
- nominative case, you; - genitive case, your (singular).
- you (plural and honorific) - nominative case.
- your (-do-) - genitive case.
Rule :
It can be generalized that , and (I person) change
into , , , respectively. So also and (II person)
change into and , respectively.
+ = (ku) + = (yu)
+ = (chu) + = (ru)
+ = (u) + = (lu)
+ = (u) + = (vu)
+ = (u) + = (lu)
+ = (tu) + = (u)
+ = (nu) + = (ru)
+ = (pu) + = (nu)
+ = (mu)
18
words :
- kadavu - a door
- padagu - a boat
- pambu - a snake
- kadavu - God
- pau - a song
- nakku - a tongue
- marundu - medicine
- kurangu - a monkey
- puttagam - a book
- onru - One
- iradu - Two
- nangu - Four
- aindu - Five
- aru - Six
19
- elu - Seven
- eu - Eight
- onbadu - Nine
- pattu - Ten
Notes :
+ = (k) + = (y)
+ = (ch) + = (r)
20
+ = () + = (l)
+ = (t) + = (v)
+ = (n) + = (l)
+ = (t) + = ()
+ = (n) + = (r)
+ = (p) + = (n)
+ = (m)
words :
Notes :
21
(This is a pillar.) (one flower.)
The last letter of the first word (to which the plural suffix
is added) changes according to the sound of , in certain
cases.
22
In certain cases the in is doubled.
+ = (ke) + = (ye)
+ = (che) + = (re)
+ = (e) + = (le)
+ = (e) + = (ve)
23
+ = (e) + = (le)
+ = (te) + = (e)
+ = (ne) + = (re)
+ = (pe) + = (ne)
+ = (me)
words :
1.
2.
3.
4.
24
5. ?
6. .
7. .
+ = (ke) + = (ye)
+ = (che) + = (re)
+ = (e) + = (le)
+ = (e) + = (ve)
+ = (e) + = (le)
+ = (te) + = (e)
+ = (ne) + = (re)
+ = (pe) + = (ne)
+ = (me)
words :
25
- mel -
upon, above
- ml -
- cheval - a cock.
- kevi - a question.
- ten - honey.
- pen - a louse.
- ter - a chariot.
- vel - a spear
- kil - beneath,
- kile - below, under.
- ang - there.
- inge - here
- eng - where
II) Translate into Tamil: (1) See there (2) Come here. (3) Eight
spears. (4) Four scorpions. (5) Seven lice.
26
LESSON ELEVEN: CONSONANTAL VOWELS (Contd.)
+ = (kai) + = (yai)
+ = (chai) + = (rai)
+ = (ai) + = (lai)
+ = (ai) + = (vai)
+ = (ai) + = (lai
+ = (tai) + = (ai)
+ = (nai) + = (rai)
+ = (pai) + = (nai)
+ = (mai)
Words:
27
is a combination of two sounds. ie., and , and is
pronounced as . As such many people employ in place
of . eg., = = Master - .
II) Translate into Tamil: (1) Two horses. (2) An elephant (3) Five
children (4) A big rock (5) This mountain. (6) Which net? (7) A
banana leaf.
28
, > () () =
(he and she)
, > () () =
(tree and fruit)
, > () () =
(fish and tank)
, > () () =
(dog and boy)
(eye) + = + () =
(paddy) + = + () =
(stone) + = + () =
(grass) + = + () =
(girl) + = + () =
(ghee) + = + () =
29
(ear) + = () =
(door) + = () =
(night) + = () =
(one) + = () =
(two) + = () =
(three) + = () = etc.,
(a precious stone,
a bell + > + + =
(you-singular) + > + + =
(head) + > + + =
(This-demonstra-
tive pronoun) + > + + =
(That -do-) + > + + =
(flower) + > + + =
(full moon) + > + + =
30
Rule: If the existing word ends with a vowel sound and the
oncoming word has a vowel as its first letter, a medial letter is
required to combine them. and are the two medial letters
(conjunctives).
+ = (ko) + = (yo)
+ = (cho) + = (ro)
+ = (o) + = (lo)
+ = (o) + = (vo)
+ = (o) + = (lo)
+ = (to) + = (o)
+ = (no) + = (ro)
+ = (po) + = (no)
+ = (mo)
31
Words:
+ = (ko) + = (yo)
+ = (cho) + = (ro)
+ = (o) + = (lo)
+ = (o) + = (vo)
+ = (o) + = (lo)
+ = (to) + = (o)
32
+ = (no) + = (ro)
+ = (po) + = (no)
+ = (mo)
Words:
I. Translate into Tamil: (1) You dig up. (2) My shoulder (3)
This temple (4) That garden (5) You go.
+ = (kow) + = (mow)
+ = (chw) + = (yow)
33
+ = (tow) + = (row)
+ = (now) + = (low)
+ = (pow) + = (vow)
Words:
- vowval - a bat
- owvai - a poetess (Proper noun)
- kowvu - to sieze by mouth.
- mownam - silence Sanskrit
- Gowtamar - Gautama, the Buddha words.
- yowvanam - youth
34
There is another consonant in Sanskrit, sa ( ), the
pronunciation of which was borrowed in Tamil. Though a letter
was introduced in the beginning to denote that sound ( ), later
on it was dropped and Tamil (cha) is used to denote that
palatal sound (sa- ). The Tamil symbol for sa ( ) is used in
Malayalam language, with a very slight change ( ).
+ = ; (ja) + = ; + = ; + = ;
+ = ; + = ; + = ; + = ; +
= ; + = ; + = ; + = .
- , (sha) , , , , , , , , , ,
,
- , (sa) , , , , , , , , , , ,
- , (ha) , , , , , , , , , ,
,
- , (ksha) , , , , , , , , ,
, ,
35
Words:
- roja - a rose
- rojappu - a rose flower
- pakshi - a bird
- sarppam - a snake
- pushpam - a flower
- visham - poison
- hram - a garland
36
in the beginning or at the end of a word. So , an
improvisation that serves the purpose.
37
LESSON SEVENTEEN : TENSES - PRESENT
e.g., Come - came; swim - swam; give - gave, spit - spat etc.,
Another set of verbs take different words to indicate the past.
The first suffix denotes the tense: This we can call the
tense symbol (Tense marker).
The second one stands for the person and number of the
subject. This can be named the personal suffix (person-marker).
38
As such a finite verb has three parts, viz., (1) the root,
which denotes the action, (2) the tense symbol, which stands for
the tense, and (3) the personal suffix. which indicates the
subject.
I go = ++>+=-
.
[=+; is a short vowel and it gives room
for the long vowel . So it becomes >
++=++=.]
= to do; + + = = I do.
= to write; + + =
I write.
= to run; ++= = I run.
= to sing; + += = I sing.
= to play; ++= +
= I play.
++ = =
I play.
39
Now we shall see all the personal suffixes.
Suffixes:
- (I person, singular)
- (I per. Plural, inclusive) - (This includes the
II person.)
- ((I per. Plural, exclusive) - (This excludes the
II person.)
- (II person, singular)
- (II person, plural and honorific)
- (III person, singular, masculine)
- (III person, singular, feminine)
- (III person, singular, honorific - masculine
and feminine)
- [(III person, plural (for human beings only)]
- (III person, singular, neuter gender)
,
- (III person, plural, neuter gender)
e.g., I Person
- I do (singular)
- We do (inclusive)
Plural
- We do (exclusive)
II Person
- You do (singular)
- You do (plural and as well
honorific singular)
40
III Person
- He does (singular- masculine)
- She does (singular- feminine)
- He (she) does (singular-honorific, both
masculine and feminine)
- They do (plural-human beings-
both masculine and feminine.)
- It does (singular-neuter gender)
or
- They do (plural-neuter gender)
41
In the last lesson we saw a few verbs which took the
tense symbols and the personal suffixes quite naturally. That is
to say there was no change or alteration when the words were
combined.
- to break. + + = + () + + =
.
- to act. + + = + () + + =
.
- to spoil (Transitive)- + + = + () +
+ = .
- to see. + + = + () + + =
.
- to beat. + + = + () + + =
.
- to give. + + = + () ++ =
.
- to lie down. + + = + () + + =
.
42
- to destroy (Transitive). + + = + () +
+ = .
- to be. + + = + () + + =
.
One will come across many more verbs of this type which
get the doubled, when one goes through the texts.
- to learn, + + = () + + = -
+ = = I learn
- to sell, + + = () + + = +
+ = = I sell.
- to stand, + + = () + + = -
+ = = I stand.
- to come. + + = ++= () + +
= () + () + = = I come.
43
Here we find the root becoming before taking in the
symbol. Then to connect the root and the symbol comes in.
To ease the pronunciation vowel is added to .]
- to give, + + = + + = () + +
= () + () + + = = I give.
I. Translate into Tamil. (1) I read. (2) you (singular) stand (3)
He gives (4) She writes (5) They (human beings) sell. (6) Seven
dogs run. (7) Mary learns.
Had Ravana been put before the verb it would have been
the subject of the verb killed. So we can say, in English,
generally, the position or the placing of a noun determines
whether it is in the nominative or accusative case.
44
Indian Languages have seperate symbols (suffixes or
markers) for each case. As such the position of a noun does not
decide the case.
e.g., .
Proper nouns.
. - I Person, singular
- II -do-,do-.
45
In Tamil. as in other Indian Languages, except the nominative
and vocative cases, all the cases, have seperate markers. One
has to study them carefully.
+ = = him. +=
+ them (neuter gender)
+ = = her. +=
(Rama-accusative case)
+ = = them (Human beings.)
+ = (Ravana-accusative case)
Singular Plural
I Person becomes ; becomes ;
becomes
46
There are certain nouns which take a suffix before taking
any case-ending.
= a tree. +> + () + = ++
= + = (+)+=+)+=.
= a tank. +=+()+=++=.
= a book. +=+()+=+
+= .
= the mind. += +()+=++=
.
47
= a forest. + = +()+++=
= a country. + = +()+++=
= a tile. + = +()+++= .
= a river. + = +()+++= .
= a parrot. + = + () + = .
= a bell. + = + () + = .
= a fly. + = + () + = .
= a mountain. + = + () + = .
= an elephant. += + () + = .
= a mosquito. + = +() + = .
= a proper noun. + = +() + = .
= a mother. + = +() + = .
= a father. + = +() + = .
= an eye + = + () =
= earth + = + () =
= a girl + = + () =
= a stone + = + () =
= a tooth + = + () =
48
= grass + = + () =
= ghee + = + () = .
= an ear + = (+) + = ,
= a door + = (+) + = ,
= night + = (+) + = .
= two + = (+) + = .
=door; = doors; + = .
49
If the verb (word) following the accusative, begins with any
one of the four consonants, , , , , they get doubled.
II. Translate into Tamil: (1) Shut the door. (2) He writes a
lesson. (3) She sings a song. (4) I give a book. (5) They (human
beings) close the door. (6) (You) read five lessons. (7) We
(inclusive) take the boxes. (8) He (honorific) spoils the boy. (9) She
touches me. (10) The cow gives milk.
+ = +()+= +()
+= = to the milk.
50
+ = +()+= +()
+= = to the leg.
+ = +()+= +()
+= = to the village (town).
+ = +()+= ()
+= = to whom
+ = +()+= +()
+= = to her.
+ = +()+= +()
+= = to him (honorific)
+ = +()+= +()
+= = to them (human beings)
+ = +()+= +()
+= = to them (neuter gender)
+ = becomes before a case-
ending is added to it.
So +> += + () + =
+ + () = = to us (exclusive)
+ (); becomes first and then takes the
case-marker.
So + > + = + () + =
+ + () = = to you (plural and honorific)
51
= = to us (inclusive)
+ : becomes and then case-marker is added.
So + > += +() += ++()+
= = to you (singular)
+ > + () + = () + + =
(+) + + = (+) + = +
= ()+ = = to it.
+ = + () + = = to the dog.
+ = + () + = = to the mouth.
+ = + () + = = to the ghost.
52
Now let us see a few examples which we discussed in the
previous lesson.
So + = + () + > + =
+ () + = = to the tree.
+ = + () + > + =
+ () + = = to the tank.
+ = + () + > + =
+ () + = = to the book.
+ > + = + () + =
= to the house.
+ > + = + () + =
= to the country.
+ > + = + () + =
= to the forest.
+ > + = + () + =
= to the river.
A type which does not take any suffix before the case
symbol:
53
+ > + () + = = to the ear.
+ > + () + = = to the night.
A third type:
+ = + () +> ()+ + =() + +()
+ = = to the eye.
[ is a two-letter word. The first letter is a short one
and the second (the last) is a consonant. The suffix is , a
vowel. So the consonant in the first word gets doubled.]
+ > + () + = + () + + ()
+ = = to the mother.
+ > + () + = + () + + ()
+ = = to the father.
+ > + () + = + () + + ()
+ = = to the grandfather.
+ > + () + = + () + + ()
54
+ = = to the mosquito.
+ > + () + = + + ()
+ = = to the dogs.
= I give you.
= You say to me.
= He goes to (the) house.
(1) You (singular) give the book to him (2) I go to the river
(3) He goes to that house (4) He (honorific) tells a story to me (5)
That boy gives milk to this cat (6) This girl goes to that village (7)
You (plural) give the grass to them (neuter gender).
55
LESSON TWENTYONE: CASES (Genitive)
+ = = his;
+ = = her;
+ = = his (honorific);
+ = = Their (Human beings)
+ = = Their (neuter gender)
+ > + () + = () + +
= (+) + + = (+) +
+ = ;
So are others.
+ = + + = = of this
( = of this)
+ = + + = = of which
( = of which)
+: becomes before taking a case-ending.
+ > + = + () +
= =my.
So are the rest:
56
+ > + = +()+ = =
our (inclusive)
+ > + = = our
(exclusive).
+ > + = +()+ =
=your (singular).
+ > + = = your
(plural and honorific).
ie,, = = my.
= = our (inclusive) I-Person
= = our (exclusive)
= = your (singular)
= = your (plural and honorific)
II-Person
= = Its (singular) III-Person (neuter)
57
+ + () + = + + =
= of the tree.
So are others.
+ > = + () + = + +
() + = + + = =
of the tank.
+ > + () + = + +
() + = + + = =
of the mind.
e.g., = + = + =
= of the tree.
= + = + =
= of the tank.
= + = + =
= of the mind.
Another set:
+ > + = + () + =
+ = = of the house. ( =
of the house).
+ > + = + () + =
+ = = of the forest. ( =
of the forest).
+ > + = + () + =
+ = = of the river. ( =
58
of the river).
+ = + () + , (a conjunctive is added
as ends with , a vowel, and begins with a vowel .)
++= + () + +
= = of the parrot
++= + () + + =
= of the jackal
[ = leg of the parrot; = tail of the jackal]
+ = = () ++ =
= = mothers.
+ = = () ++ =
= = fathers.
+ = = () ++ =
= = grand-fathers.
An easy combination.
+ = + + = =
= of the dog.
+ = + + = =
= of the mouth.
+ = + + = =
= mothers.
+ = + + = () +
59
+ = = = of the eye.
+ = + + = () +
+ = = = of the girls.
+ = + + = () +
+ = = = of the stone.
60