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# 4 Tamil names and introductions

Tamils usually only have one name, but it can be quite long, for example, ‘Sivaloganathan’ (a male name, usually shortened, amongst family and friends, to ‘Siva’, or ‘Loga’, or ‘Nathan’). The first letter of the father’s name is then put as an initial. So, if the father of Sivaloganathan was named ‘Sriskantharajah’, Sivaloganathan would be known as ‘S. Sivaloganathan’.

Female names tend to be shorter than male names, for example, Saraswathi or Lakshmi, the name of two Hindu Goddesses. If you imagine Saras (the shortened form of Saraswathi, but which would never be used in a religious setting) to be Siva’s brother, she would go as ‘S. Saraswathi’ when filling in any paperwork.

In Tamil, as in many Asian languages, older people are addressed in respectful ways and suffixes for different categories of relatives are used. For example, your mother’s eldest brother would be your ‘Peria Maama’ (‘Peria’ means ‘most senior’; and ‘Maama’ means ‘paternal uncle’).

Figure 5 The Goddess Saraswathi, the provider of knowledge (left) and the Goddess Lakshmi, the provider of wealth (right)

Now study Table 4 alongside the audios that follow in the study note. These are some useful phrases to use when introducing yourself, such as saying where you live, where you were born and a bit about your family. Once you have listened to the phrases, have a go at Activity 4.

## Table 4 Introducing yourself

Phrase in English | Phrase in Tamil | Pronunciation
--- | --- | ---
My name is Siva | எனது பெயர் சிவா. | Enathu peyar Siva
I live in Milton Keynes | நான் மில்டன் கீன்ஸ் இல் வாழ்கிறேன். | Naan Milton Keensil Vaalkiren
I was born in Jaffna, Sri Lanka | நான் இலங்கையின் யாழ்ப்பாணத்தில் பிறந்தேன். | Naan Elankaiyin Yalpanathil piranthen [Here, Sri Lanka (Elankai) comes before Jaffna (Yalpanam)]
I am married | நான் திருமணம் ஆனவர். | Naan thirumanam aanavar
I am single | நான் திருமணம் ஆகாதவர். | Naan thirumanam akathavar
I have two children, a boy, and a girl | எனக்கு இரண்டு குழந்தைகள், ஒரு ஆணும்,ஒரு பெண்ணும். | Enakku erandu kulanthaikal, oru aanum, oru pennnum
My son’s name is … | எனது மகனின் பெயர் ... | Enathu makanin peyar …
My daughter’s name is … | எனது மகளின் பெயர் ... | Enathu makalin peyar …

## New vocabulary/phrases

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My name is Siva | எனது பெயர் சிவா.
Transcript

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I live in Milton Keynes | நான் மில்டன் கீன்ஸ் இல் வாழ்கிறேன்.
Transcript

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I was born in Jaffna, Sri Lanka | நான் இலங்கையின் யாழ்ப்பாணத்தில் பிறந்தேன்.
Transcript

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I am married | நான் திருமணம் ஆனவர்.
Transcript

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I am single | நான் திருமணம் ஆகாதவர்.
Transcript

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I have two children, a boy, and a girl | எனக்கு இரண்டு குழந்தைகள், ஒரு ஆணும்,ஒரு பெண்ணும்.
Transcript

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My son’s name is … | எனது மகனின் பெயர் ...
Transcript

This browser does not support audio playback.

My daughter’s name is … | எனது மகளின் பெயர் ...
Transcript

## Activity 4

Select one. In what situation(s) would ‘Vanakkam’ be used?

When speaking on the telephone
When meeting someone face-to-face
When communicating by electronic media
All of the above.

Unlike in many other societies, Tamils often just have one name.

True
False
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OpenLearn - Beginners’ Tamil: a taster course
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