24-06-2016, 10:59 AM
Tamil... which is known as the most ancient of the world language, spoken by more than 70 million people around the world, including the India, Sri Lanka, the Malaysia and Singapore. It is very easy to study Tamil to those who speak Sinhala and other languages Indian subcontinent that Tamil and other languages of this region are co-existing so far.
12 vowels – 12 உயிர் எழுத்து (Uyir ezhuththu – Soul letters)
18 consonants – 18 மெய் எழுத்து (Mei ezhuththu – Body letters)
And a unique letter for Tamil – Aaytham ஆய்தம் = ஃ (not commonly used in spoken and written Tamil nowadays)
Tamil vowels – 12
அ = a (as in apple)
ஆ = aa (a as in father)
இ = i (i as in sit)
ஈ = ii (ea as in teach)
உ = u (u as in you)
ஊ = uu (oo as in too)
எ = e (e as in elephant)
ஏ = ae (a as in tank)
ஐ = ai (as eye)
ஒ = o (o as in on)
ஓ = oo (o as in open)
ஔ = au (au as in australia)
Consonants – 18
க் = k as in chalk
ங் = ng as in sing
ச் = ch as in search
ஞ் = nj – nch as in inch
ட் = d as in board
ண் = n as in under
த் = th as in teeth
ந் = n as in tenth
ப் = p as in deep
ம் = m as in team
ய் = y as in toy
ர் = r as in deer
ல் = l as in sell
வ் = v as in wave
ழ் = between ய்(y) and ள்(l), sounds like lea in pleasure.
ள் = l as in told
ற் – tr – t as in seat
ன் – n as in fan
Note that Tamil consonant letter ழ் is also an unique letter of Tamil which letter’s pronunciation is not in any world languages other than Malayalam. It sounds between “la” and “ya”. For Romanized writing purposes ழ is written as “zha” or “za”.
தமி”ழ்” – Thami”zh”(Tamil)
ப”ழ”ம் – Pa”zha”m (Fruit)
அ”ழ”கு – A”za”gu (Beauty)
So, remember, whenever we read or study Tamil in Romanized text, “zh”or “za” are always referred to “ழ”. Don’t be confused with the common pronunciation of Z.
(As a beginner, don’t worry about its pronunciation and for now, spell ழ as well as ள (la). Here is the actual pronunciation of ழ: youtube.com )
For example let’s take first consonant க் (k)
க் + அ = க
K + a = ka
க் + ஆ =கா
K + aa = kaa
க் + இ = கி
k + i = ki
க் + ஈ = கீ
K+ ii = kii
க் + உ = கு
K + u = ku
க் + ஊ = கூ
K + uu = kuu
க் + எ = கெ
K + e = ke
க் + ஏ = கே
K + ae = kae
க் + ஐ = கை
K + ai = kai
க் + ஒ = கொ
k + o = ko
க்+ ஓ = கோ
K + oo = koo
க் + ஔ =கௌ
K + au = kau