Categories of இடைச்சொல் - Part II

This lesson deals with the types of
இடைச்சொல் other than the four discussed in the
previous lesson. இடைச்சொற்கள் like ஏ and ஓ, which,
when employed fulfill, the poetical or musical need.
இடைச்சொற்கள், mutable இடைச்சொற்கள் and those
இடைச்சொற்கள் which hint at the meaning are illustrated. How these இடைச்சொற்கள் prevail in Tamil literature are illustrated here. By learning this lesson you will be able to handle the most useful but delicate part of Tamil words in your communication through this language.

Of the six units in this lesson, the first one takes up ஏ, ஓ, என, என்று, உம் and a few other
இடைச்சொற்கள். The இடைச்சொல் called ஏ refers to separation (பிரிநிலை), interrogation (வினா), numeration (எண்), and confirmation (தேற்றம்). It is also used as sound qualifier, that is which meets the metrical need end-syllable (ஈற்றசை) and as a non-meaning end (இசைநிறை). Similarly other இடைச்சொற்கள் mean different aspects of Tamil expressions.

The second unit illustrates rare இடைச்சொற்கள் and their meanings especially in Tamil poems. நன்னூல் lists some இடைச்சொற்கள் of reference and question, time and place, temporal and place limits, interjections expressing sympathy and fear and words belittling things or persons.

The third unit concerns with இசைநிறை. Such இடைச்சொற்கள் like ஏ, ஒடு and தெய்ய do not bear any meaning but complete the metrical need of the poem.

அசை நிலை takes place in Tamil utterances more for fluency than for meaning. Besides ஏ and ஓ discussed before, eight இடைச்சொற்கள் are listed as அசைநிலை, Some old அசைச் சொற்கள், not in vogue now, are primarily second person expressions. There is also a list of அசைச்சொற்கள் occurring in all the three persons of தன்மை, முன்னிலை and படர்க்கை, (I,II and III persons)

This unit also shows how some இடைச்சொற்கள் like அம்மென, கோவென, சோவென, கடகடென and நெறுநெறென hint at phonation of Tamil words. Similarly, fear-hinting and speed-hinting இடைச்சொற்கள் are also illustrated.