RSS feed for Beginners’ Tamil: a taster course

Introduction

The Open University — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 11:23:27 GMT

This free course, Beginners’ Tamil: a taster course, introduces Tamil society and culture, Tamil scripts, and common phrases that will allow you to start having simple conversations in the language. You will also have plenty of opportunities to practise Tamil throughout the course with activities and quizzes.

Learning outcomes

The Open University — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 11:23:27 GMT

After studying this course, you should be able to:

demonstrate an awareness of the Tamil alphabet and sound, and a basic understanding of the Tamil language
count up to 10 in Tamil
name some of the traditional musical instruments used by Tamils
name some of the fruits grown in Tamil Nadu
greet a person in Tamil, and say simple phrases related to numbers, musical instruments and fruits with confidence.

1 The Tamil language

The Open University — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 11:23:27 GMT

Tamil is one of the oldest languages in the world, and can be dated back to around 400 BC (Violatti, 2016). It is spoken by more than 85 million people (Ethnologue, 2021), most of them in Tamil Nadu (meaning ‘The Tamil Nation’), a state in southern India. Tamil is a language rich in literature, philosophy and music, and thus of interest to many people. It is one of the 22 official languages of India.

Figure 1 Tamil Brahmi inscription in Mangulam, Madurai district, Tamil Nadu, dated to c. 400 BC to c. 200 AD (Violatti, 2016)

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A model of the Mangulam Tamil Brahmi inscription at Dakshin Chithra, Chennai.

Figure 1 Tamil Brahmi inscription in Mangulam, Madurai district, Tamil Nadu, dated to c. 400 BC to c. 200 AD (Violatti, 2016)

Figure 2 A map of India, with Tamil Nadu in red

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A map of India. A small section in the bottom right (south east of India) is coloured red to mark out Tamil Nadu.

Figure 2 A map of India, with Tamil Nadu in red

Tamil is the official language of Tamil Nadu and the Indian territory of Puducherry, and is one of the official languages in Sri Lanka and Singapore.

As well as in Singapore and Sri Lanka where Tamil is particularly prominent in Jaffna in the north of the island, and in the Vanni in the east, there are also large numbers of Tamil speakers in the diaspora in Malaysia, Mauritius, Fiji, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Australia and the USA. Significant Tamil minorities in the Indian states of Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana, and in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, also speak the language.

Tamil is also used as a language of education in Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore.

In England and Wales in 2011, the Tamil speaking-population was said to be 100 689 (Gopal and Matras, 2013) while Dissanayake some years earlier (2008) quoted a community estimate of 150 000.

The majority of Tamils are Hindus, with a smaller proportion being Christians and Muslims. Tamils tend to live in extended families, with the elderly often living with their adult children.

Figure 3 Three generations of a Tamil family – the women are wearing saris (saylay, in Tamil), while the patriarch is wearing a vertti, and the young girl in the front is wearing a pavaadai.

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A photo of eleven members of a Tamil family from three generations sat on three rows of steps. The women are wearing saris (saylay, in Tamil), while the patriarch is wearing a vertti, and the young girl in the front is wearing a pavaadai.

Figure 3 Three generations of a Tamil family – the women are wearing saris (saylay, in Tamil), while the patriarch is wearing a vertti, ...

Activity 1

True

False

The correct answer is b.

Discussion

False. As well as in India, Tamil is also an official language in Sri Lanka and Singapore.

True

False

The correct answer is a.

Discussion

True. Tamil is an ancient language, dating back to around 400 BC.

True

False

The correct answer is b.

Discussion

False. The majority of Tamils are Hindu.

2 Tamil script

The Open University — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 11:23:27 GMT

The current Tamil script consists of 12 vowels (Table 1), 18 consonants (Table 2) and one special character, the āytam. The vowels and consonants combine to form 216 compound characters (see Section 2.1 for examples), giving a total of 247 characters. There are also Grantha letters originating from the 4th century, which are used with Sanskrit words, usually in religious contexts.

All consonants have an inherent vowel a, as with other Indic scripts. This inherent vowel is removed by adding a tittle called a pulli, to the consonantal sign. For example, ன is ṉa (with the inherent a) and ன் is ṉ (without a vowel).

The direction of writing is from left to right, in horizontal lines. The alphabet was originally written on palm fronds. As a result, the letters are made up mainly of curved strokes which would not have ripped the fronds.

Table 1 The 12 Tamil vowels
அ	a	எ	e
ஆ	aa	ஏ	ee
இ	i	ஐ	ai
ஈ	ii	ஒ	o
உ	u	ஓ	oo
ஊ	uu	ஔ	au

Table 2 The 18 Tamil consonants, with the Grantha letters
க் k [k], [ɡ], [x], [ɣ], [ɦ]	ங் ṅ [ŋ]	ச் c [t͡ɕ], [d͡ʑ], [s], [ɕ]	ஞ் ñ [ɲ]	ட் ṭ [ʈ], [ɖ], [ɽ]	ண் ṇ [ɳ]
த் t [t̪], [d̪], [ð]	ந் n [n̪]	ப் p [p], [b], [β]	ம் m [m]	ய் y [j]	ர் r [ɾ]
ல் l [l]	வ் v [ʋ]	ழ் ḻ [ɻ]	ள் ḷ [ɭ]	ற் ṟ [r], [t], [d]	ன் ṉ [n]
Grantha letters
ஜ ja	ஷ sha	ஸ sa	ஹ ha	க்ஷ kṣha

2.1 The sound of Tamil

The Open University — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 11:23:27 GMT

As mentioned in Section 2, the 12 vowels and 18 consonants in Tamil combine to form 216 compound characters. Listen to the two audios below for some examples and to hear how the sounds are pronounced.

Download this audio clip.Audio player: க,கா,கி,கீ,கு,கூ,கெ,கே,கை,கொ,கோ,கௌ

க,கா,கி,கீ,கு,கூ,கெ,கே,கை,கொ,கோ,கௌ

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Transcript: க,கா,கி,கீ,கு,கூ,கெ,கே,கை,கொ,கோ,கௌ

ka, kaa, ki, kii, ku, kuu, ke, kaay, kai, ko, koo, kow

End transcript: க,கா,கி,கீ,கு,கூ,கெ,கே,கை,கொ,கோ,கௌ

Phrase in English	Phrase in Tamil	Pronunciation
Hello	வணக்கம்.	Vanakkam
Are you well?	நீங்கள் நலமாக இருக்கிறீர்களா?	Neenkal Nalamaka Erukkirirkala?
Yes, I’m fine	ஆம், நான் நலமாக இருக்கிறேன்.	Aam, naan nalamaka erukkiren
Thank you	நன்றி.	Nandhri
You are welcome	நீங்கள் வரவேற்கப்படுகிறீர்கள்.	Neenkal varavetkappadukireerkal
I’m sorry	நான் வருந்துகிறேன்
Forgive me (this is a more common way of apologising in day-to-day communications)	என்னை மன்னித்துக்கொள்ளுங்கள்.	Ennai manniththukollunkal
It doesn’t matter	அது ஒரு விடயம் இல்லை. (அது பறவாயில்லை)	Athu oru vidayam ellai (Athu paruvaayillai)
Goodbye	நான் போயிற்று வாறேன்.	Naan poyitu vaarein
I have to leave now, as I have to fetch my son from school	நான் எனது மகனை பள்ளியில் இருந்து எடுக்கவேண்டி இருப்பதால், நான் இப்பொழுது போகவேண்டி இருக்கிறது.	Naan enathu makanai palliyil erunthu edukka vendi eruppathaal naan eppoluthu pokavendi erukkirathu

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 …

Number	Tamil script	Pronunciation
0	பூச்சியம்	Poochchiam
1	ஒன்று	Ondru
2	இரண்டு	Erandu
3	மூன்று	Moondru
4	நான்கு	Naanku
5	ஐந்து	Ainthu
6	ஆறு	Aaru
7	ஏழு	Erlu
8	எட்டு	Ettu
9	ஒன்பது	Onpathu
10	பத்து	Paththu

Fruit	Name in Tamil	Pronunciation
Papaya	பப்பாளி	Pappaali
Jackfruit	பலாப்பழம்	Palaappalam
Wood apple	விளாம்பழம்	Vilaampalam
Jambu	ஜம்பு	Jambu
Nungu	நுங்கு	Nungu

RSS feed for Beginners’ Tamil: a taster course

Introduction

Learning outcomes

1 The Tamil language

Activity 1

Question 1a

Discussion

Question 1b

Discussion

Question 1c

Discussion

2 Tamil script

2.1 The sound of Tamil

Transcript: க,கா,கி,கீ,கு,கூ,கெ,கே,கை,கொ,கோ,கௌ

Transcript: ச,சா,சி,சீ,சு,சூ,செ,சே,சை,சொ,சோ,சௌ

New vocabulary

Transcript: Tamil | தமிழ்

Transcript: Tamil Nadu | தமிழ் நாடு

Transcript: Saylay | சேலை

Transcript: Vertti | வேட்டி

Transcript: Pavaadai | பாவாடை

Activity 2

3 Tamil greetings

New vocabulary/phrases

Transcript: Hello | வணக்கம்.

Transcript: Are you well? | நீங்கள் நலமாக இருக்கிறீர்களா?

Transcript: Yes, I’m fine | ஆம், நான் நலமாக இருக்கிறேன்.

Transcript: Thank you | நன்றி.

Transcript: You are welcome | நீங்கள் வரவேற்கப்படுகிறீர்கள்.

Transcript: Forgive me | என்னை மன்னித்துக்கொள்ளுங்கள்

Transcript: It doesn’t matter | அது ஒரு விடயம் இல்லை. (அது பறவாயில்லை)

Transcript: Goodbye (literally, ‘I will go and come back’) | நான் போயிற்று வாறேன்.

Activity 3

4 Tamil names and introductions

New vocabulary/phrases

Transcript: My name is Siva | எனது பெயர் சிவா.

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

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

Transcript: I am married | நான் திருமணம் ஆனவர்.

Transcript: I am single | நான் திருமணம் ஆகாதவர்.

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

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

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

Activity 4

Question 1a

Question 1b

5 Numbers

Transcript: Numbers 0–10

5.1 Using numbers

Transcript: My work identification number is 1148 | எனது வேலை அடையாள இலக்கம் ஒன்று ஒன்று நான்கு எட்டு.

Transcript: My house number is 7 | எனது வீட்டு இலக்கம் ஏழு.

Activity 5

Discussion

6 Food and drink

Transcript: What would you like to drink? Tea, coffee, a soft drink? | உங்களுக்கு என்ன குடிக்க விருப்பம்? தேநீர்,காப்பி,குளிர்பானம்.?

Transcript: Tea would be nice, thank you | தேநீர் நன்றாக இருக்கும், நன்றி.

Transcript: I have some nice murukku. I’ll bring it | நான் நல்ல முறுக்கு வைத்திருக்கிறேன். அதை நான் கொண்டு வருவேன்.

Activity 6

6.1 Fruits

Transcript: Video 1 Fruits

Vocabulary

Transcript: Papaya | பப்பாளி

Transcript: Jackfruit | பலாப்பழம்

Transcript: Wood apple | விளாம்பழம்

Transcript: Jambu | ஜம்பு

Transcript: Nungu | நுங்கு

Activity 7

7 Music

7.1 Examples of Tamil music

Vocabulary

Transcript: Mirdangam | மிருதங்கம்

Transcript: Electric violin | மின்சார வயலின்

Transcript: Morsing | முகச்சங்கு

Activity 8

Discussion

Conclusion

References

Acknowledgements

Images/Tables