Tamil language: Introduction Tamil

Introduction Tamil , one of the world’s oldest and most enduring classical languages, stands as a testament to the rich cultural and intellectual heritage of India. With a history that spans several millennia, Tamil is not only the official language of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the union territory of Puducherry but also holds the unique distinction of being one of the two languages, alongside Sanskrit, recognized as a classical language by the Government of India. This recognition ... Tamil was the lingua franca for early maritime traders in South India, with Tamil inscriptions found outside of the Indian subcontinent, such as Indonesia, Thailand, and Egypt. The language has a well-documented history with literary works like Sangam literature, consisting of over 2,000 poems. Learn about Tamil , a Dravidian language spoken mainly in southern India and Sri Lanka, and its writing system, history, and features. See the Tamil alphabet, numerals, and sample text in transliteration. Tamil Language ( by Prof. M. Varadarajan) Old Dravidian In the historical past Proto-Dravidian was spoken throughout India. When the Turanians and the Aryans came to India through the Khyber and the Bolan Passes respectively, and mingled with the local population of the North, the North Indian languages of Proto-Dravidian origin changed to a great extent. As a consequence Praakrit and Paali emerged as the languages of the masses in the northern part of India. Despite the commingling of local ...