“The first grammar of Tamil language by a foreigner now available is that of Balde, a Dutch missionary; but he himself refers to previous studies on the subject, especially that of the Jesuit Father Caspardaquilar, which unfortunately are all lost to us.”^2a

It is of interest to note that the period before Caldwell had occasional instances of pioneer work in Grammar, Baltazar da Costa in 1680 is believed to have written a grammar. Later came Ziegenbalg’s “Grammatica Damulica.”^2b Beschi then appears on the scene. C. Przikryl S. J. is also believed to have written a work on Tamil grammar.^2c But this belongs to the 18th century.

“Rudiments of Tamul Grammar combining with The Rules of Kodun Tamil....... The Elegant Dialect of Language” came from the pen of Robert Anderson during the first quarter of the 19th century.

Rhenius following the traditional methods in Tamil writes a book on Tamil grammar called “A Grammar of the Tamil Language with an Appendix.”

Male was the author of the article “Sandhi in Tamil Grammar.” Julien Vinson wrote a Tamil grammar in French called “Manuel De La Langue Tamoule, Grammaire, Textes Vocabulare.” It is interesting to note that Vinson mentions in this work that Tamil has fourteen vowels and twentysix consonants.^2d He has analytically probed into the origins of words.^2e

Among European scholars, perhaps, Fr. Beschi has done the pioneer work on an elaborate scale in the field of Tamil grammar. His “Aintilakkaṇa Toṉṉūl Viḷakkam” and his grammars written in

2a. Meenakshisundaran, T. P.; Sixtyfirst Birthday Commemmoration Volume, 1961p. 161.

2b. Kamil Zvelabil, Tamil culture, Vol. IX ; No.2, 1961, P. 182

2c. Ibid. P. 183

2d. Julien Vinson, Manuel De La Langue Tamoule Grammaire, Textes P. 11

2e. Ibid. P. 38