LESSON - 1

A0 2111 எழுத்துகளின் பிறப்பு - பொது அறிமுகம்

THE ARTICULATION OF SPEECH TAM - AN INTRODUCTION

In this lesson you will learn about the birth of Tamil letters, ie.The Tamil speech sounds. The two popular works of Tamil Grammar , தொல்காப்பியம் and நன்னூல், inform us about this.

How are Tamil letters, ie. sounds born? What efforts are normally made to produce these sounds? Which organs of human body are involved in their production? By understanding this lesson, you will get answers to these questions.

The eight human organs of head, neck, chest, teeth, lips, tongue, nose and tooth-ridge are indicated by தொல்காப்பியர். But நன்னூலார் points out chest, neck, head, nose, lips, tongue, and tooth-ridge. Both the grammarians agree on the eight organs which act with one another to produce letter-sounds through the air rising from the கொப்பூழ் (navel). But தொல்காப்பியர் groups head, neck and chest while நன்னூலார் considers chest, neck, head and nose as places of the stay of air rising from below. Likewise, தொல்காப்பியர் indicates the passage of air downwards and நன்னூலார் puts these organs in an order according to the manner of the rise of the air. While தொல்காப்பியர் just lists all the eight organs, நன்னூலார் points out the four vocal organs lips, tongue, teeth and tooth-ridge involved in the production of sounds.

Modern linguists of XIX and XX centuries scientifically analysed and demonstrate speech sounds of a language. Their views seem to further the basic description made by the two old Tamil grammarians.

Thus, you will understand that life-efforts and body-organs cooperate to produce Tamil letter-sounds on the lines of தொல்காப்பியம் and நன்னூல்.