Tolkaappiyam in English Content and Cultural Translation (With Short Commentary) An Old and Rare Book

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Tamil, one of the world languages, has very rich grammatical and literary traditions dating from 3rd century B.C. Tolkaappiyam is not only the earliest extant grammar but the earliest extant book as well in Tamil, and it is generally considered by many that it belongs to third century B.C. It presupposes a vast body of literature and a number of grammatical treatises, which unfortunately have not come down to us.

Tolkaappiyar, in his grammar, makes use of sentences like "enpa"-'It is said", "enmanar pulavar" - "Pandits would say" (Scholars say) ete, in several occasions and places which show that before him lived a large number of grammarians and literary critics from whom he has learned grammatical concepts, methodology, technical terms, grammatical descriptions, theoretical problems and solutions etc. Therefore it can be considered that Tolkaappiyam, though written by a single man, is the product of great and rich tradition which was vogue in Tamil Nadu in early times and the contribution of a great geniusness of a great man.

Tolkaappiyam is the earliest available versatile treatise in Tamil. Tolkaappiyam is a universal grammar. It speaks about all universal matters including Tamil poetics. Tolkaappiyam is not only a language grammar but also a sociological grammar.

Tolkaappiyam is a mine. When we digit again and again we get lot of precious new ideas.

The word Tolkaappiyam

The word Tolkaappiyam is not a single word but three words combined together in a single unit. Tol means ancient, old; kaappu means to protect, to safeguard; iyam means to spelt out; to protect our ancient traditional matters regarding language and literature Tol. was composed. Because he has composed Tol. he is named as Tolkaappiyar. It is a pen name, not a natural name. Panampaaranaar, in his prologue to Tolkaappiyam has stated that (தொல்காப்பியன் எனத் தன்பெயர் தோற்றி) he has created his name as Tolkaappiyar. The treatise Tol. is a compilation of earlier Tamil scholars, ideas with additional genius thoughts of Tolr. 1. The words enpa-141 (it is said); 2. Molipa-88 (they say); 3.molimanaar-3 (they will say); 4. Enmanaar pulavar-80 (Scholars say); 5. Arinticinooree-2 (those who know well); 6. Unarntooree-6 (those who understood); 7. Unarnticinooree-2; 8. Kuri arintoree- 2 (who knows the grammar well) - here kuri denotes grammar; 9. Nunańkumolipulavar-1 (those who know deeply); 10. Ciranticinooree-1; 11. Collinarpulavar-1; 12.teliyumooree-1; 13.pulan nanku unarnta pulamai yooree- 2; 14.vakuttanar unarttal valloor aaree-3; 15.vaay molipulavar-1; 16.neeritin unarntoor nerippatuttinaree-1; 17.enmanaar, vayankiyooree-1. Tol. has 1610 verses (nuurpaas) out of which 343 verses are having the above said earlier scholars, thoughts. It means 20% are from our ancient scholars and Tolr. contribution is 80%. (The number denotes the occurrences of that word.)