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Most scholars are of the opinion that Tamil script is one of the derivatives of Brahmi. Brahmi is different from the pictographic writing of Harappa and Mohenjadaro. It is considered to be the ancestor of the most of the Indian scripts. It appeared in the 3rd or 4th century B.C.
Four derivative forms of early Brahmi script were used in the inscriptions of the southern most part of India. They were Vaṭṭeḻuttu, the granta, the tamil and the nagari. Of these derivatives Vaṭṭeḻuttu was more commonly employed for writing from 8th century A.D. According to Burnell, Vaṭṭeḻuttu is the original Tamil character. He holds that the early Tamil works were written in this script. In 11th century, Vaṭṭeḻuttu was slowly supplanted by the Tamil characters and they gradually disappeared by the 15th century.
However, the so-called grantha letters are found to be used in most of the Tamil inscriptions even from the early middle Tamil period. But evidences are also found that the grantha letters were avoided up to the 14th century. In the 15th century Arunagirinathar used the grantha letters ஸ (sa), ஷ (s’a), ஜ (ja), ஹ(ha), க்ஷ (ksa) and ஷ்ரீ (sri) in writing Sanskrit words. Though these letters are even now used in Tamil writing one may always find a tendency among scholars to avoid them.
As we mentioned earlier, most of the Indian writing systems belong to Brahmi which is said to be the earliest script found in India. In addition to Vatteluttu, Tamil and Grantha Brahmi is the source of derivation for many scripts of North Indian languages too. However, there are differences between North Indian Brahmi and the Brahmi which is the source of Tamil script. For example, the characters such as ழ, ள, ற and ந are found only in Tamil. Similarly, the aspirates, sibilants and the voiced consonants of Northern Brahmi are not found in Tamil. Even though the origin is same they maintained independent development through ages.
The earlier form of writing in Tamil was vatteluttu. Its origin and evolution from Brahmi can be traced out from the vatteluttu inscriptions found at Arachalur (c 4th century A.D.), Pulankurichi (c. 500-550 A.D.) and some inscriptions of Dharmapuri and North Arcot districts. The earliest Tamil inscriptions with a regular script is supposed to be the Pallankoil copper plate record of the Pallava king Simhavarman (c. 550 A.D.) and an inscription found at Vallam (610-630 A.D.).
The Grantha inscriptions are seen from the beginning of the 7th century A.D. The inscriptions which we find in Tamil and Grantha during this period are mostly confined to the areas of Pallava. We may, therefore, conclude that the Pallavas enraged these two scripts with equal importance.
During the 8th century, the vatteluttu inscriptions spread over Pandimandalam and during 9th and 10th centuries, the Tamil inscription gained more importance. They show a steep rise in all the districts of Cholamandalam and Tondaimandalam.
Govindaraj’s(1994) sample of the nine inscriptions belonging to 500 – 985 A.D. show the distinctive features of the evolution of vatteluttu and Tamil with more or less equal time intervals. The nine vatteluttu inscriptions are:
1. Pulankurichi (Thevar Thirumaganar district) rock inscription c. 500 A.D. 2. Irulappatti (Dharmapuri District) hero-stone inscriptions-c 500-550 A.D. (El 39 - 32). 3. Tondanur (North Arcot district) hero-stones inscriptions of Simhavarman 550 - 570 A.D. (TSA 172/71). 4. Thirunatharkunru (South Arcot district) incsription-c 600 A.D. (Sll 14:262) 5. Sathanur (North Arcot district) hero-stones inscriptions of Narashima1 - 630 - 668 A.D. (TSA 36/71). 6. Madurai inscription of Pandyan Chendan-c. 700 A.D. (El 38 : 4) 7. Velvikkudi copper plates of Nedunjadiyan 770-A.D. (El 17 : 6). This is the earliest vatteluttu copper plate inscription found so far. 8. Ambasamudram (Tirunelveli district) inscription of Varaguna Pandya 866 A. D. (El 9: 10). 9. Ambasamudram inscription of Solantalaikonda virapandya - C 966 A. D. (El 25:6).
The following are the inscriptions in which we find evolution of Tamil script.
1 & 2. Vallam (Sll 2 : 72) and Thirukkalukkunram (SITI p. 1560) inscriptions both dated to the beginning of the 7th century A. D. Farther, these are the only post Brahmi Tamil inscriptions noticed so far. 3. Kuram copper plates of paramesvarararman 669-691 (Sll 1:151). This is the earliest copper plate found so far with Tamil script. 4. Pallankoil copper plates of Simhavarman (550 A.D.). Though this inscription is dated in the middle of the sixth century, as already stated, palaeographically this is assigned to the middle of the 8th century A.D. (TASSI, 1958-59, T.N. Subramaniam, Pallankoil Jaina Copper Plates. of the pallavas with Plates). 5. Pattathalmangalam copper plates of Nandivikramavarman- 792 A.D. (El 18:14) 6. Thiruppundurutti inscription, Thanjarur district 853 A. D. (511, 19:74) 7. Thiruvorriyur instricption, Chengalput district 887 A.D. (Sll 12:70) 8. Madras Museum Plates of Vttama uhola 986 A.D. (Sll 3:128) 9. Leiden plates of RajaRaja 1-1006 A.D. (El 22:34). (Gorindaraju, 1994).
Govindaraju observes the following major features:
1. Dots found for the pure consonants. 2. Symbols for the vocalic consonants were attached to the consonants without any gap. They were written separately from 18th century.
By comparing the vatteluttu and Tamil script using the above inscriptions, Govindaraju comes to the conclusion that the natives of the Tamil country patronized vatteluttu and the influence of Grantha and the archaic native script might have led to the origin of Tamil script, providing two parallel scripts to write one and the same language. (Formore derails see; Govindaraju, 1994).
Tamil graphemic system is generally syllabic in nature. It includes graphemes or letters for twelve vowels, eighteen consonants and six grantha consonants. In Tamil, graphemes are more in number than the phonemes. There are some phonemes which have two or three graphemes representing the allophonic variants. For example, the alveolar nasal /n/ has three variants and all of them are represented by different graphemes. On the contrary, instances of a single grapheme being used to denote two or more sound manifestations of a single phoneme are also present in this graphemic system. The /k/ has a grapheme <க> which represents [k] in the initial position of a word, [x] in the medial position of a word and [g] after homorganic voiced velar nasal [n]. There are also instances of one grapheme representing more than one phoneme. The grapheme <ற> is used to represent the alveolar stop [t] in gemination, the voiced alveolar stop [d] after the voiced alveolar nasal [n] and the voiced trill [r] between two vowels.
The graphemes <ச> and <ஸ> are invariably used to represent the phonemes /c/ and /s/. The grapheme <ஸ> is obligatorily used in the medial position of a word either as the first member of a consonant cluster or as the second member of a consonant cluster.
Tamil graphemes have a long history. In a sequence Tamil graphemes are arranged from left to right. Allographs (matras) are generally added somewhat higher or lower than the primary graphs. Some of the allographs are appended to the primary graphs on both sides.
The Tamil phonemes and their corresponding graphemes are listed below. The allophones, the phonemes and their distribution are given in the second and the third columns.
The clusters are formed both identically and non-identially in the medial position of a word. The non-identical cluster formation is indicated separately. For example, -Cp- where the consonant (C) indicates
[t] = -tp-
[r] = -rp-
[s] = -sp- and
[s] = -sp-
Phonemes Allophones Distribution Graphemes
/i/ [i] i- <இ>
-i-
-i
/i/ [i] i- <ஈ >
-i-
-i
/e/ [e] e- <எ>
-e-
/e/ e- <ஏ >
-e-
-e
/a/ [a] a- <அ>
-a-
-a
/a/ [a] a- <ஆ>
-a-
-a
/u/ [u] u- <உ>
-u- (Medially in the initial syllable)
/u/ [u] u- <ஊ>
-u-
-u
/U/ [U] -U-
(Medially other than the initial Syllable)
-U
/o/ [o] o- <ஒ>
-o-
/o/ [o] o- <ஓ>
-o-
-o
/p/ [p] p- <ப்>
-pC
C indicates [t], [k] and [p]
-Cp-
C indicates [t], [r], [s] and [s]
[b] b-
-Cb-
C indicates [m]
[b] -b-
/t/ [t] t- <த்>
-tC
C indicates [m], [r], [y] and [t]
-Ct-
C indicates [s], [l] and [r]
[d] d-
-Cd-
C indicates [n]
/t/ [t] -tC- <ற்>
C indicates [t]
[d] -C-
C indicates [n]
/r/ [r] -r-
-rC
C indicates [k], [p] and [c]
/t/ [t] t- <ட்>
-tC
C indicates [c], [p] and [k]
-Ct-
C indicates [s]
[d] -d-
-Cd-
C indicates [n]
/c/ [c] c- <ச்>
-cC-
C indicates [c]
-Cc-
C indicates [t] and [r]
/j/ [j] j- <ஜ்>
-j-
-Cj-
C indicates [ñ]
-jC-
C indicates [j]
/k/ [k] k- <க்>
-Ck-
C indicates [r] and [t]
-kC-
C indicates [k]
[g] g-
-Cg-
C indicates [n]
[x] -k-
-Ck-
C indicates [r], [l] and [y]
/s/ [s] s- <ஸ்>
-s-
-sC-
C indicates [t], [m] and [p]
/s/ [s] -s- <ஷ் >
-sC-
C indicates [p], [t] and [n]
/h/ [h] h- <ஹ்>
-h-
/m/ [m] m- <ம்>
-m-
-mC-
C indicates [v], [b] and [m]
-Cm-
C indicates [n], [n], [t], [m] and [y]
-m
/n/ [n] -nC- <ந்>
C indicates [d]
[n] n- <ன்>
-n-
-nC-
C indicates [m], [d], [k], [p] and [n]
-Cn-
C indicates [r]
[n] -nC- <ங் >
C indicates [g]
-n
/n/ [n] -nC- <ண்>
C indicates [p], [d] and [n]
-Cn-
C indicates [s] and [r]
-n
/ñ/ [ñ] ñ- <ஞ் >
-ñC
C indicates [j] and [ñ]
/l/ [l] l- <ல்>
-l-
-lC-
C indicates [t], [v], [k] and [l]
-l
/l/ [l] -l- <ள்>
-lC-
C indicates [v] and [l]
-l
/l/ [l] -l- <ழ்>
-lC(C)-
C indicates [v] and CC indicates [kk], [cc] and [pp]
-l
/r/ [r] r- <ர்>
-r-
-rC(C)-
C indicates [n], [m], [v] and [t]
and CC indicates [kk], [cc] and [pp]
-r
/v/ [v] v- <வ்>
-v-
-Cv-
C indicates [r], [y] and [l]
-vC-
C indicates [v]
/y/ [y] y- <ய்>
-y-
-yC-
C indicates [v], [x] and [y]
-Cy-
C indicates [t]
-y
Tamil letters are easy to write. The usual hand movements for writing them are from the left to the right and from the top to the bottom. They are clockwise or anticlockwise or both.
There is no significant difference between the written and the printed forms of Tamil graphemes. However, old legal document writers used a form of cursive writing which now poses little difficulty in reading them.
In Tamil, most of the letters do not have any intricate hand movements. one may find vertical and horizontal lines being the common elements in all the graphemes. Each grapheme is given in a box and the directions for hand movements are indicated by arrows.
அ (a) is the first letter of the Tamil alphabet. To write this grapheme one has to form a smallcircle and extend the line downward in a half circular formation. This line is then extended upwards ending in a horizontal line along with the half circle. A vertical line is then drawn downwards touching the horizontal line midway as shown in the box. This grapheme is pronounced as a in all the positions of Tamil words.
(Link Fig.1) அம்மா amma 'mother' அப்பா appa 'father' அகலம் akalam 'breadth'
The letter is pronounced as a(ஆ) in all the positions of Tamil words.
(Link Fig.2) ஆமாம் amam 'yes' ஆகாரம் akaram 'food' மாமரம் mamaram 'mango tree'
This letter இ at first glance, may look difficult to write but with little practice one will be able to overcome this difficulty. To write this grapheme, grapheme அ is used as base, but here the vertical line is not written. The curving horizontal line is rounded to the left and then drawn in an upward direction to finish in a downward direction.
The letter இ is pronounced as i in all the positions of Tamil words.
(Link Fig.3) இனம் inam 'race' பிடி piti 'hold' சிரி ciri 'paugh'
In the formation of this letter, one has to begin by writing a vertical line in an upward direction followed by a horizontal line about a quarter of the distance and then a vertical line is drawn in the downward direction. And, then two dots have to be put on either side of its second vertical line.
This is pronounced as i in all the positions of Tamil words.
(Link Fig.4) ஈசல் ical 'mayfly' மீதி miti 'balance' வீடு vitu 'house'
This letter is pronounced as u. To write this letter, one has to form a small circle in a clockwise direction and the same is extended into a semi-circle to the right. A short vertical line should be drawn and the letter is completed with a horizontal line towards the right.
This letter is pronounced as u.
(Link Fig.5) உச்சரி uccari 'pronounce' குப்பம் kuppam 'hamlet' உடம்பு utampu 'body'
To write this letter a short vowel உ is used as base. To this, a symbol representing the vowel consonant ள (la) is added over the horizontal line. The letter ஊ is pronounced as u.
(Link Fig.6) ஊசி uci 'needle' கூரா kurai 'roof' பூ Pu 'flower'
To write this letter drawing a small circle in a clockwise has to be drawn at the bottom direction and this line should be extended upward to end in a straight horizontal line towards the right. A little away from the end of the horizontal line a vertical line should be drawn ina downward direction as shown in the box.
The letter 'எ is pronounced as e.
Link Fig.7) எடு etu 'take' எத்தனை ettanai 'howmany' தெளி teli 'sprinkle'
To write this letter a vowel எ is used as base. From the bottom of the vertical line a short line is extended towards the left as shown in the box.
The letter ஏ is pronounced as e.
(Link Fig.8) ஏக்கம் ekkam 'longing' கேள்வி kelvi 'question' எங்கே enke 'where'
This letter has a slight resemblance with ற. Observe the similarity between those two letters.
The graphame ஐ is pronounced as ai.
(Link Fig.9) ஐயர் aiyar 'brahmin' ஐயம் aiyam 'doubt'
To write this letter, a small circle in a clockwise direction should be formed at the top.The line should be extended towards the right in an arch like formation and then a short line is drawn towards the left curving upwards. From this line a small crescent shaped line should be drawn to the right.
The letter ஒ is pronounced as o.
(Link Fig.10) ஒட்டு ottu 'paste' ஒட்டன் ottan 'name of a caste' கொட்டகை kottakai 'tent'
To write this letter, the short vowel ஒ is used as base. The final curve to the left is written with a small circle.
The letter ஓ is pronounced as o.
(Link Fig.11) ஓட்டம் ottam 'running' கோடு kotu 'line' ஓட்டு ottu 'vote'
To write this letter, the two letters seen earlier are used and this letter is a combination of two letters. A short vowel ஒ followed by the vowel consonant ள(la) is used. One should not confuse it for two different letters.
The letter ஔ is pronounced as au.
(Link Fig.12) ஔடதம் autatam 'medicine' வௌவால் vauval 'bat' கௌரி kauvri 'name of a girl'
This letter is called aytam in Tamil. This is pronounced as ஃ ;
அஃது akku 'that' இஃது iktu 'this' எஃகு ekku 'steel'
This is the secondary symbol or the matra of the vowel a(ஆ). This is written immediately after a consonant to form a vowel consonant. In the formation of this letter, we begin by writing a vertical line in an upward direction followed by a horizontal line about a quarter of the distance and then a vertical line is drawn in the downward direction.
As such, a matra cannot be pronounced in isolation. When it is added to a pure consonant it gets the phonetic value of its corresponding vowel. For example, அ is a pure consonant in Tamil. When the long vowel a is added, it takes the matra of ஆ (a) as டா (ta)
க் + ஆ = கா ப் + ஆ = பா ச் + ஆ = சா
In the first box, an vowel இ can be found. In the second box one can find the corresponding allograph. When this allograph is attached to the consonant, it gets the sound characteristics of the grapheme <இ>.
This allograph is added to the consonant graphemes by way of writing a single line with slight curve at the top.
க் + இ = கி ச் + இ = சி
The allograph of the grapheme <ஈ> is given in the second box diagram. It is added to the consonant by way of writing a curve at the top of a consonant and ending in a small circle
க் + ஈ = கீ ச் + ஈ = சீ
The allograph shown in the box is a short vertical line attached below the consonants such as ப (pa), ய (ya), ச (ca), வ (va) and ங (na). See the diagram.
This allograph is drawn by extending the vertical line towards the left and then upward like a curve. See the diagram.
This allograph is represented by a semi-circular formation to the left followed by a horizontal line to the right ending in a vertical line in an upward direction. See the diagram.
ப் + உ = பு ம் + உ = மு த் + உ = து
In the second column of the below given diagram one may find three allographs for the vowel ஊ (u).They are similar to the allographs of the short vowel உ.
The first allograph is added to the consonants ப (pa), ய (ya), ச (ca), வ (va) and ங (na) as given in the diagram.
The second allograph is added to the consonants க (ka), ட (ta), ம (ma), ழ (la), ள (la) and ர (ra) as shown in the diagram.
The third allograph is added to the consonants) த(ta), ற (ra), ஞ (ña), ந (na), ன (na), ல (la) and ண (na) as shown in the box diagram
ப் + ஊ = பூ ம் + ஊ = மூ த் + ஊ = தூ
The grapheme <எ> has an allograph as shown in the second box. When this allograph is added to a consonant, it lends to it the sound characteristics of <எ> as follows
க் + எ = கெ ச் + எ = செ
To write this allograph, one has to start by drawing a little circle in a clockwise direction at the bottom extending the line upwards to form a complete arch as shown in the box.
Similar to the allograph of <எ> to write the allograph <ஏ> (as shown in the box diagram) a small circle in an anticlockwise direction has to be drawn at the top of the line and then a small circle has to be drawn downwards in a crescent shape. Finally, ending in another small circle at the bottom as shown in the box. Example:
க் + ஏ = கே ச் + ஏ = சே
In the second box one can find the allograph for the vowel grapheme <ஐ>. It is added before the consonant graphemes as follows:
க் + ஐ = கை ச் + ஐ = சை
In the second box the allograph of the vowel grapheme(ஒ) can be found. When this allograph is added to both sides of a consonant, it lends to the sound characteristics of <ஒ>. Example:
க் + ஒ = கொ ச் + ஒ = சொ
Similar to the allograph of ஒ, the allograph of <ஓ> is also added to both sides of a consonant. Example:
க் + ஓ = கோ ச் + ஓ = சோ
Similar to the allographs of ஒ and ஓ the allograph of ஔ is also added to both sides of consonant as follows:
க் + ஔ = கௌ ச் + ஔ = சௌ
In order to form a consonant letter, one has to begin by writing a vertical line in an upward direction followed by a horizontal line in about a quarter of the line distance and then a vertical line has to be drawn to the left curving in upward direction of half of the first vertical line. This line is then extended horizontally to the right to form a half circle as found in line box.
This letter is read as (ka) in isolation.
(Link Fig.13) ) கதவு katavu 'door' காலம் kalam 'time' கரம் karam 'hand'
To write this letter, one begins by writing a vertical line in upward direction followed by a horizontal line about a quarter of the distance and then a vertical line and add a semi-circle following a short horizontal line is drawn towards the right with a vertical line in an upward direction.
This letter is read as (na)
(Link Fig.14) தங்கம் tankam ‘gold’ சங்கம் sankam ‘association’ அங்கு anku ‘these’
To write this letter, one begins by writing a vertical line in upward direction followed by a horizontal line in about a quarter of the distance and then a vertical line is drawn towards the upward direction of half of the first vertical line. This is then extended horizontally to the right from the second vertical line as shown in the box.
This letter is read as (ca)
(Link Fig.15) சம்பவம் campavam 'incident' சாபம் capam 'curse' சதி cati 'plot'
In the formation of this letter, one begins at the bottom drawing a small circle in a clockwise direction and this line is extended upwards to a horizontal line towards the right. A little away from the end of the horizontal line a vertical line is drawn. From the middle of this vertical line an inverted arch towards the left as found in the box is drawn.
This letter, is read as (ña)
(Link Fig.16) ஞானி ñani 'philosopher' அஞ்சல் añcal 'post' ஞாபகம் ñapaka 'memory'
To write this letter, one begins by writing a vertical line followed by a horizontal line.
It is read as (ta) in isolation.
(Link Fig.17) டஜன் tajan 'dozen' டப்பா tappa 'tin' டமாரம் tamaram 'kettledrum'
To write this letter, one begins at the bottom drawing a small circle in a clockwise direction and then this line is extended upward towards the right and the same is extended with two loops as shown in the box.
This letter is read as (na)
(Link Fig.18) பணம் panam 'money' மணம் manam 'smell' ஆண் an 'male'
In the formation of this consonant letter, one begins by writing a vertical line in an upward direction followed by a horizontal line in about a quarter of the distance. In order to form this one has to draw a vertical line to the left curving in an upward direction in the first vertical line. This line is then extended horizontally to the right to form a curved line in a downward direction to line left as shown in line box.
This letter is read as (ta) in isolation.
(Link Fig.19) ) தாகம் takam 'thirst' தரம் taram 'quality' அர்த்தம் arttam 'meaning'
To write this letter, one begins by writing a vertical line in an upward direction followed by a horizontal line about a quarter of the distance and then draw a vertical line to the left forming a curve in a downward direction to the left as shown in the box.
This letter is read as (na.)
(Link Fig.20) நகம் nakam 'nail' நகரம் nakaram 'city' நாடு natu 'country'
To write this letter, one begins by writing a vertical line followed by a horizontal line asin the case of the grapheme
This letter is read as (pa.)
(Link Fig.21) பம்பரம் pamparam 'spinning top' பாதம் patam 'foot' அப்பா appa 'father'
In the formation of this letter, one begins by writing a vertical line followed by a horizontal line continuing a vertical line in a curved uphand direction to touch the horizontal line.
This letter is read as (ma).
(Link Fig.22) அம்மா amma 'mother' சமம் camam 'equal' கம்பம் kampam 'post'
In the formation of this letter, one begins by writing a symbol resembling that of the English letter U and continue by writing a vertical line followed by a horizontal line as in the case of the letter (ta). Then continue a vertical from the bottom to the top.
This letter is read as (ya).
(Link Fig.23) யானை yanai 'elephant' பாய் paay 'mat' பயம் payam 'fear'
To write this letter, we begin by writing a vertical line in an upward direction followed by a horizontal line about a quarter of the distance and then draw a vertical line extending towards the left as shown in the box.
This letter is read as (ra).
(Link Fig.24) ரசம் racam 'soup' ராகம் rakam 'tune' பார் par 'see'
To write this letter, one has to form a small circle at the bottom in a clockwise direction and this line should be extended upwards to form a small arch. Then the same line is continued to form a curve at the bottom and then extended to upward direction as shown in line box.
This letter is read as (la).
(Link Fig.25) காலம் kalam 'time' லாபம் lapam 'profit' வாசல் vacal 'threshold'
To write this letter, one has to form a small circle at the bottom in a clockwise direction and this line should be extended upwards to form a small arch as in the case of the grapheme <ல>. To this a horizontal line should be added to the right followed by a vertical line in upward direction.
This is read as (va).
(Link Fig.26) வட்டம் vattam 'circle' அவன் avan 'he' வாரம் varam 'week'
In the formation of this letter, the same hand movements for writing<ழ> is followed in the beginning and then the downward line is extended beyond the horizontal line to the right with a curve to the left.
This is read as (la).
(Link Fig.27) பழம் palam 'fruit' தமிழ் tamil 'the Tamil language' கீழ் kil 'below'
To write this, a small circle at the bottom is drawn in a clockwise direction and then this line is extended upwards towards the right. A vertical line in a downward direction should be drawn and the top of this vertical line should br extended towards the right.
This letter is read as (la).
(Link Fig.28) களம் kalam 'field' தளபதி talapati 'commander' தாள் tal 'paper'
To write this letter, a line at the bottom should be extended upwards as in the symbol and
one more line should be drawn downward slanting to the left.
This letters is read as
(Link Fig.29) அறம் aram 'virtue' இறால் iral 'prawn' சுறா cura 'shark'
To write this letters, one has to follow the same hand movements for writing <ள>. While doing so, the first vertical line has to be written with a loop as shown in the box.
This letters is read as (na).
(Link Fig.30) கனம் kanam 'weight' மனம் manam 'mind' மான் man 'deer'
The Grantha inscriptions are seen from the beginning of the seventh century A.D. in Tamilnadu. They were used to write Sanskrit language. In modern Tamil six grantha graphemes are commonly used for writing both Sanskrit and borrowed words from other languages. They are: ஜ , ஷ , ஸ , ஹ , க்ஷ and ஷ்ரீ
The Grantha letter ஜ is pronounced as ja. It occurs in all the positions in some of the words borrowed from other languages. Examples:
ஜன்னல் (jannal) 'window' ஜாதி (jati) 'caste' ஜலம் (jalam) 'water' கூஜா (kuja) 'jug' ராஜா (raja) 'king' பஜாஜ் (pajaj) 'Bajaj'
The letter ஜ (ja) is often replaced by the Tamil letter ச (ca) as follows:
ஜனம் (janam) 'people' சனம் ஜீனி (jini) 'sugar' சீனி ஜோதி (joti) 'lamp' சோதி ஜோதிடம் (jotitam) 'horoscope' சோதிடம்
However, ஜ (ja) is not replaced by ச (ca) in the following words.
ஜில்லா (jilla) 'district' ஜீவராசி (jivaraci) 'living beings' ஜென்மம் (jenmam) 'one of the several births' ஜோடி (joti) 'pair, partner'
The Grantha letter ஸ is pronounced as sa in Tamil. It occurs in all the positions in some of the words borrowed from other languages. Examples:
ஸ்தலம் (stalam) 'place' ஸ்தானம் (stanam) 'position' ஸ்தோத்திரம் (stottiram) 'thanks' ஸ்படிகம் (spatikam) 'crystal' அஸ்தம் (astam) 'a star' புஸ்தகம் (pustakam) 'book' விலாஸ் (vilas) 'address'
The letter ஸ்(s) is often dropped in the initial position of a borrowed word. Examples:
ஸ்தலம் (stalam) 'place' = தலம் ஸ்தனம் (stanam) 'breast' = தனம் ஸ்தோத்திரம் (stottiram) 'praise' = தோத்திரம் ஸ்படிகம் (spatikam) 'crystal' = படிகம்
ஸ்(s) is not dropped in the following words.
ஸ்நானம் (snanam) 'bath' ஸ்திதி (stiti) 'condition' ஸ்த்ரீ (stri) 'woman' ஸ்மரணை (smaranai) 'consciousness'
The letter ஸ் (s) is replaced by சி (ci) in the following examples:
ஸ்நெகம் (snekam) 'friendship'= சிநேகம் ஸ்நேகிதி (snekiti) 'girl friend' = சிநேகிதி
ஸ் (s) occurs in the word medial position before த (ta) becomes, த் (t). Examples :
புஸ்தகம் (pustakam) ‘book’ = புத்தகம் அஸ்திவாரம் (astivaram) ‘basement’ = அத்திவாரம் அஸ்தம் (astam) ‘a star’ = அத்தம்
ஸ் (s) becomes சு (cu) in the following words.
ஸ்வீகரி (svikari) 'adopt' =சுவீகரி ஸ்வீகாரம் (svikaram) 'adoption' = சுவீகாரம் ஸ்வாமி (svami) 'a form of address' =ஸ்வாதீனம் சுவாமி (svatinam) 'consciousness' = சுவாதீனம்
The Grantha letter ஷ is pronounced as s in Tamil. It occurs in all the positions of some of the words borrowed from other languages.
ஷரத்து (sarattu) 'contents' நஷ்டம் (nastam) 'loss' கஷ்டம் (kastam) 'difficulty' ரமேஷ் (rames) 'name of a person' சுரேஷ் (sures) 'name of a person'
The letter ஷ (s) is often replaced by the Tamil letter ட (ta) in the medial position of some of the words borrowed from other languages as follows:
நஷ்டம் (nastam) 'loss'= நட்டம் துஷ்டன் (tustan) 'evil doteen'= துட்டன் வேஷ்டி (vesti) 'dhothi'= வேட்டி
But, ஷ(s) is not replaced by ட (ta) in the following words.
ஷரத்து (sarattu) 'contents' கஷ்டம் (kastam) 'difficulty' முன்ஷி (munsti) 'headman'
The Grantha letter க்ஷ, is pronounced as ksa. This is the combination of two sounds க (ka) and ஷ,(s). In Tamil, it occurs in all positions of some of the words borrowed from other languages as follows:
க்ஷயம் (ksayam) 'tuberculosis' க்ஷவரம் (ksavaram) 'shave' க்ஷேமம் (kseemam) 'well being' மோக்ஷம் (mooksam) 'heaven' பக்ஷி (paksi) 'bird'
The letter க்ஷ (ksa) is replaced by ட்ச (tca) in the following words.
மோக்ஷம் (moksam) 'heaven' =மோட்சம் பக்ஷி (pakshi) 'bird' = பட்சி லக்ஷணம் (lakshanam) 'beauty' = லட்சணம்
க்ஷ,(ksha) in the word initial position becomes ச (ca) in the following words.
க்ஷயம் (ksayam) 'tuberculosis' =சயம் க்ஷவரம் (ksavaram) 'shave' = சவரம் க்ஷேமம் (kseemam) 'well being' = சேமம்
The Grantha letter ஹ is pronounced as ha in Tamil. It occurs in the initial and medial positions of some of the words borrowed from other languages.
ஹார்மோனியம் (harmoniyam) 'a musical instrument' ஹனுமான் (hanuman) 'Hanuman' ஹனுமான் (harttal) 'strike' ஹர்த்தால் (hintu) 'the Hindu' அஹிம்சை (ahimcai) 'non-violence'
The letter ஹ (ha) is often replaced by the Tamil letter அ (a) in the word initial position as follows:
ஹரிகதை (harikatai) 'story about Vishnu with song' = அரிகதை ஹர்த்தால் (harttal) 'strike' = அர்த்தால் ஹனுமான் (hanuman) 'Hanuman' = அனுமான்
ஹா (haa) is replaced by ஆ(aa) in the word initial position as follows:
ஹாரம் (haram) 'garland' = ஆரம் ஹார்மோனியம் (harmoniyam) 'musical instrument' = ர்மோனியம்
ஹ,(ha) in the word medial position at times replaced by க (ka) as follows:
அஹிம்சை (ahimcai) 'non-violence' = அகிம்சை
ஹி,(hi) is replaced by இ (i) in the word initial position as follows :
ஹிம்சை (himcai) 'torture' = இம்சை ஹிந்து (hintu) 'the Hindu' = இந்து ஹிந்தி (hinti) 'Hindi'= இந்தி ஹிந்துஸ்தான் (hintustan) 'Hindustan' = இந்துஸ்தான்
Similarly, ஹோ (hoo) is replaced by ஓ (o) in the word initial position as follows:
ஹோட்டல் (hottal) 'hotel' = ஓட்டல் ஹோமம் (homam) 'sacred fire' = ஓமம் ஹோமியோபதி (homiyopati) 'Homeopathy' = ஓமியோபதி
The Grantha letter ஷ்ரீ,is pronounced as shri. It means Holy, Mr, Honourable, etc. It is often replaced by Thiru in Modern Tamil. Similarly ஷ்ரீமான், ஷ்ரீமதி are replaced by திருவாளர் / திருவாட்டி / திருமதி respectively.
ஷ்ரீ (shri) 'Mr.' ஷ்ரீமான் (shriman) 'Mr.' ஷ்ரீமதி (shrimati) 'Mrs.'
Meenakshisundaran says that children’s difficulty in writing was the chief source of script reform in Tamil. A Common Error Note-book of a higher form of a city high school reveals the difficulties, the children are experiencing in our educational institutions, where their difficulties, honest toil and fresh trials at creative expression are condemned as errors by tyrannical adult world of Teachers, in their attempt at mechanizing and standardizing the human talent of the morrow’ (1961).
In Tamil, the matra (ா) for ஆ is called kal. This was originally added to all the consonants as
கா, ஙா, சா, ஞா, டா, தா, நா, பா மா, யா, ரா, லா, வா, ழா, ளா
with the exceptions of three consonants. The exceptions were written as ணா, றா and னா and they were introduced in the middle ages to avoid confusion in the running script as Meenakshisundaran says. Similarly, deviating from the uniform style of adding ை (ai) matra to the consonants, exceptions were written as ணை, னை, லை and ளை instead of ணை, னை, லை and ளை to avoid the confusion of the double kompu with ண etc. in the running script. These vowel consonants were later reformed as ணா, றா and னா and ணை, னை, லை and ளை respectively to maintain uniformity in form and structure.
There were many script reforms suggested by Tamil scholars later considering several other factors such as printing and information technology.
Copyright CIIL-India Mysore