Dhvani Documentation

Tamil Module

 

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TAMIL PRONUNCIATION RULE
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Tamil 'hard' consonants such as k, c, T, t, p and R are pronounced
'soft' except when they occur as first letter in a word or when
adjascent to another 'hard' consonant.


Application of this rule to individual letter:
************************************************************************
Hard consonant Pronounced As Occurence
************************************************************************

k k if 'k' is the first letter
of a word, or when adjascent
to a 'hard' consonant.

k g if 'k' is after nasal G.

k *h* softens elsewhere.
(eg., intervocalical,
after l, L, z)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
c c if 'c' is the first letter
of a word, or when adjascent
to a 'hard' consonant.

c j if 'c' is after nasal J.

c *s* softens elsewhere.
(eg., intervocalical,
after l, L, z)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
T T if 'T' is the first letter
of a word, or when adjascent
to a 'hard' consonant.

T D softens elsewhere.
(eg., intervocalical,
after retroflex N, l, L, z)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
t t if 't' is the first letter
of a word, or when adjascent
to a 'hard' consonant.

t d softens elsewhere.
(eg., intervocalical,
after dental n, l, L, z)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
p p if 'p' is the first letter
of a word, or when adjascent
to a 'hard' consonant.

p b softens elsewhere.
(eg., intervocalical,
after m, alveolar n2, l, L, z)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
R *TR* if 'R' is the first letter
of a word, or when adjascent
to a 'hard' consonant.

R *DR* softens elsewhere.
(eg., after alveolar n2,
intervocalical)
************************************************************************

This simple, elegant rule is followed always. The only exception
is letter c as the first letter in a word. North of Madurai, 'col' is
pronounced as 'sol' in some dialects and this appears to be a later
innovation.

When I talk of 'hard' consonant 'k' becoming soft '*h*', there is
a qualification. It is not english h, There is little of english
g in *h* too. Can we denote it as 'g-h' or a weighted average
(0.7h + 0.3g)?? Similarly, When I talk of 'hard' consonant 'c'
becoming soft '*s*', there is a qualification. It is not english s,
There is little of english c in *s* too. Can we denote it as 'c-s'
or a weighted average (0.7s + 0.3c)?? *TR* = (0.2T + 0.8R);
*DR* = (0.2D + 0.8R), I think. Have seen Toronto transcribed as
RoraaNTO, observe the TR sound in "Ro" of RoraaNTO.



This minimal set of consonants among the entire gamut of Indian languages
is employed in Tamil along with intuitive rules of pronunciation. This
minimal set of consonants is one reason why Tamil could have the first
printed book using movable types, first typewriter etc., in India.

K. Zvelebil, Drav. linguistics today, 1984 says:
"Proto-Dravidian phonology may be very much like (Old) Tamil;
In morp-hology and syntax, Tamil and South Dravidian had their
far-reaching innovations".


Examples:

Writing Pronounced as Occurence
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ka + G + kai kaGgai (Ganges) k -> g as k is after nasal
a + G + ku aGgu (there) k -> g as k is after nasal

taa+k+ka+m taakkam (impact) k preceded by another k

taa + ka + m taaham (thirst) k -> h as it is intervocalical
************************************************************************
pa + J + cu paJju (cotton) c -> j as c is after nasal
ta + J + ca +m taJjam (shelter) c -> j as c is after nasal

mi + c + ca + m miccam (remainder) double c

pa + cu + mai pasumai (green) c -> s as c is intervocalical
************************************************************************
a + N + Tu aNDu (approach) T -> D as T is after N
tu + N + Tu tuNDu (towel) T -> D as T is after N

paa + T + Tu paaTTu (song) double T

paa + Tu paaDu (to sing) T -> D as T is intervocalical
************************************************************************
vi + n + tai vindai (wonder) t -> d as t is after dental n
ta + n + tu tandu (having given) t -> d as t is after dental n

vi + t + tai vittai (vidyA) Double t

vi + tai vidai (seed) t -> d as it is intervocalical
**********************************************************************
a + n2 + pu anbu (love) p -> b as p is after n2
ka + m + pa + n2 kamban,(great poet) p -> b as p is after m

a + p + pa + n2 appan, (dad/dear person) Double p.

a + pa + ya + n2 abayan (Sanskrit abhaya) p is intervocalical
***********************************************************************
pi + Rai piRai (crescent) R is intervocalical, softens

ka + R + pu kaTRpu (chastity) double 'hard' consonants

te+ n2+ Ra+ l tenDRal (breeze) R follows n2, softens

o + R + Ru + mai oTTRumai (unity) double R, TRTR -> TTR
*********************************************************************

Tamil grammar, starting from TolkAppiyam onwards, allows for distinguishing
between "k" and "g/h", "c" and "j/s", "T (.t)" and "D (.d)",
"t" and "d","p" and "b", etc., in speech, EVEN THOUGH
THEY ARE WRITTEN ONLY AS "k", "c", "T", "t", "p" respectively.
They follow a consistent rule and take multiple phonetic values.
These letters are called 'hard' consonants - vallinam in tamil.
But kh, ch, bh, gh etc., sounds are not accorded any formal
status in Tamil.


Tamil 'hard' consonants such as k, c, T, t, p and R are pronounced
'soft' except when they occur as first letter in a word or when
adjascent to another 'hard' consonant.

Note that the words pronounced as kaRpu, veTkam, uTku,
taTpam, mukti, aRpudam, nalhu, valsi, caalbu, muuzgu,
kaalDuvel.. also pass this rule.


Two corollaries follow from the pronunciation rule.

a) For the doubling consonants in a non-initial position,
'hard' consonants are pronounced as written, (ie 'hard').

b) Hard consonants do not get pronounced
'soft' when they are the first letters of the word.

The rule is simple and always followed intuitively.