TAMILNADU : LANGUAGES AND DIALECTS

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Languages of Tamilnadu

Tamil is the Official Language of Tamil Nadu state and one of the 18 languages mentioned in the eighth schedule of the Indian constitution. Tamil is one of the classical languages of the world, with a rich heritage of literature. It is the most widely spoken language in Tamil Nadu. Besides Tamil Nadu, Tamil is also spoken by a number of people in Sri Lanka, Singapore, Mauritius and Malaysia. The antiquity of Tamil is comparable to Sanskrit. Tamil is written in a derivative of the southern ‘Brahmi’ script. The alphabet of Tamil is unique (phonetic). That is, in Tamil language letters represent sounds, rather than ideas, as is the case in the ‘Mandarin’ language of China.

Tamil is spoken by most of the people while around 9 percent of the people residing in Tamil Nadu speak Telugu. Other languages that are popular in the state are Kannada, Urdu and Malayalam (though they are spoken by much smaller Percentage). The influence of the Malayalam language is more prominent in the west while people residing mostly in the North Eastern part, bordering Karnataka, speak Kannada. Besides the above-mentioned languages, English is also spoken as a subsidiary language in Tamil Nadu. Tamil is spoken as the first language by 88.43 percent of the Population followed by Telugu by 8.65 percent, Kannada by 2.68 percent, Urdu by 1.51 per cent, Malayalam by 0.89 percent and Marathi by 0.1 percent.

Various dialects of Tamil language

Arabic tamil : Arwi or Arabic-Tamil is an Arabic-influenced dialect of the Tamil language written with an extension of the Arabic alphabet, with extensive lexical and phonetic influences from the Arabic language.

Brahmin Tamil: Brahmin Tamil is the name for a series of closely-related Tamil dialects spoken by Tamil Brahmin communities.

Central Tamil : The Central Tamil dialect is considered to be one of the purest forms of spoken Tamil along with Madurai Tamil and is considered to be the basis of standard spoken Tamil. It is spoken in Thanjavur and Tiruchirapalli of Tamil Nadu.

Iyengar Tamil : Iyengar Tamil is a dialect of Kannada-Tamil language spoken mostly in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and the adjoining areas in South India.

Junoon Tamil : Junoon Tamil is a Tamil dialect spoken with Hindi grammar. It is spoken by Hindi people in Tamil Nadu. This dialect is named after a Hindi drama Junoon which was dubbed in Tamil with Hindi grammar to promote lip sinking. Hindi people naturally choose this form and thus formed a new dialect of Tamil.

  Kongu Tamil :  Kongu Tamil is a dialect spoken by people who belong to the caste Gounder. This dialect is spoken widely in Coimbatore, Tirupur, Salem, Karur, and Erode.

Madrasi Tamil : Madrasi Tamil or Madras bashai is a colloquial slang of Tamil language spoken in the city of Chennai, India. It is a loose polyglot blend of Tamil and English, with loanwords from Telugu, Kannada, Hindi and Urdu.

Madurai Tamil : Madurai Tamil is the dialect spoken in the city of Madurai and over a vast geographical area of South Tamil Nadu, the area once ruled by the Pandiya Kings. It differs substantially from Nellai Tamil, a region which was also part of the Pandiya domain. ·

 Malayalam Tamil : Malayalam Tamil is a Tamil spoken in Malayalam accent. It is spoken by Malayalees in Tamil Nadu. This form of dialect often resembles Sri Lankan Tamil. ·

Nellai Tamil: Nellai Tamil also known as Tirunelveli Tamil, is one of the dialects of Tamil which is spoken in the districts of Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi as well as over the vast area of south Tamil Nadu which was once ruled by the Pandiya Kings. ·

Sankethi : Sankethi is a Tamil dialect spoken by a Brahmin sect known as Sankethis who originated from Sengottai (literally: Red Fort in Tamil) in Tamil Nadu. Historically, they are known to have migrated to Karnataka from Sengottai sometime in the last 200-400 years. Many still call it as dialect of Kannada while Kannada speakers hardly understand Sankethi. It is now declared as an independent language; nevertheless, Tamils find it very easy to comprehend the language.

Sri Lankan Tamil or Ealam Tamil : Sri Lankan is a Tamil dialect which is spoken by Sri Lankan Tamils. This dialect is known for its purity. Even now, it is spoken very similar to Old Tamil. The accent of this dialect resembles Malayalam. ·

Tanglish : Tanglish is a form of colloquial Tamil that has too many English loan words. The name of the dialect itself is the blend of Tamil and English. It is spoken only in metropolitan cities where the speakers overuse English even when conversing in Tamil.

 

Spoken Tamil vs written Tamil

Spoken Tamil is heavily nasalized and the long words are abridged colloquially. For example, He comes is translated as varugirán in Formal Tamil but, colloquially it is shortened as varán. Note that colloquially –án is pronounced as -ant in French avant. Tamil script does not support this phenomenon and hence Tamil speakers choose Formal Tamil while writing. This led to the state that Tamil is not spoken the way it is written. However, Formal Tamil is used in news report, public meetings, political speeches, formal gatherings etc.

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Tamil Nadu is a state in southern India. It is the sixth-largest state by area and the third-most populous state in India. The capital of Tamil Nadu is Chennai. The official language of Tamil Nadu is Tamil.

Tamil Nadu is a diverse state with a rich history and culture. The state is home to a number of different ethnic groups, including Tamils, Telugus, Kannadas, Malayalis, and Brahmins. Tamil Nadu is also home to a number of different religions, including Hinduism-2/”>Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, and Buddhism-2/”>Buddhism.

Tamil Nadu is a major economic center in India. The state is home to a number of industries, including textiles, automobiles, and electronics. Tamil Nadu is also a major agricultural state. The state is home to a number of different crops, including rice, sugarcane, and Cotton.

Tamil Nadu is a beautiful state with a lot to offer visitors. The state is home to a number of different tourist attractions, including temples, beaches, and wildlife sanctuaries. Tamil Nadu is also home to a number of different festivals, including the Tamil New Year and the Pongal festival.

Here is a list of languages and dialects spoken in Tamil Nadu:

  • Tamil
  • Telugu
  • Kannada
  • Malayalam
  • English
  • Hindi
  • Urdu
  • Marathi
  • Gujarati
  • Punjabi
  • Bengali
  • Assamese
  • Oriya
  • Nepali
  • Sinhala

Tamil is the official language of Tamil Nadu. It is a Dravidian language that is spoken by over 70 million people in India. Tamil is the oldest living language in the world. It is also the oldest language in the Dravidian family.

Telugu is the second most spoken language in Tamil Nadu. It is a Dravidian language that is spoken by over 80 million people in India. Telugu is the official language of Andhra Pradesh.

Kannada is the third most spoken language in Tamil Nadu. It is a Dravidian language that is spoken by over 60 million people in India. Kannada is the official language of Karnataka.

Malayalam is the fourth most spoken language in Tamil Nadu. It is a Dravidian language that is spoken by over 30 million people in India. Malayalam is the official language of Kerala.

English is the fifth most spoken language in Tamil Nadu. It is a Germanic language that is spoken by over 1.5 billion people in the world. English is the official language of India.

Hindi is the sixth most spoken language in Tamil Nadu. It is an Indo-Aryan language that is spoken by over 500 million people in India. Hindi is the official language of India.

Urdu is the seventh most spoken language in Tamil Nadu. It is an Indo-Aryan language that is spoken by over 200 million people in the world. Urdu is the official language of Pakistan.

Marathi is the eighth most spoken language in Tamil Nadu. It is an Indo-Aryan language that is spoken by over 80 million people in India. Marathi is the official language of Maharashtra.

Gujarati is the ninth most spoken language in Tamil Nadu. It is an Indo-Aryan language that is spoken by over 60 million people in India. Gujarati is the official language of Gujarat.

Punjabi is the tenth most spoken language in Tamil Nadu. It is an Indo-Aryan language that is spoken by over 100 million people in the world. Punjabi is the official language of Punjab.

Bengali is the eleventh most spoken language in Tamil Nadu. It is an Indo-Aryan language that is spoken by over 260 million people in India. Bengali is the official language of West Bengal.

Assamese is the twelfth most spoken language in Tamil Nadu. It is an Indo-Aryan language that is spoken by over 30 million people in India. Assamese is the official language of Assam.

Oriya is the thirteenth most spoken language in Tamil Nadu. It is an Indo-Aryan language that is spoken by over 40 million people in India. Oriya is the official language of Odisha.

Nepali is the fourteenth most spoken language in Tamil Nadu. It is an Indo-Aryan language that is spoken by over 26 million people in the world. Nepali is the official language of Nepal.

Sinhala is the fifteenth most spoken language in Tamil Nadu. It is an Indo-Aryan language that is spoken by over 18 million people in Sri Lanka. Sinhala is the official language of Sri Lanka.

Here is a list of ethnic groups in Tamil Nadu:

  • Tamils
  • Telugus
  • Kannadas
  • Malayalis
  • Brahmins
  • Chettiars
  • Nadars
  • Vanniyars
  • Yadavas
  • Muslims
  • Christians
  • Adivasis
  • Dalits
  • Nomadic tribes

Here are some frequently asked questions about languages and dialects:

  1. What is a language?
    A language is a system of Communication that consists of a set of words and rules for their use, spoken by a group of people.

  2. What is a dialect?
    A dialect is a variety of a language that is spoken in a particular region or social group.

  3. What are the different languages spoken in Tamil Nadu?
    The official language of Tamil Nadu is Tamil. Other languages spoken in Tamil Nadu include Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi, and English.

  4. What are the different dialects of Tamil?
    The main dialects of Tamil are Central Tamil, Northern Tamil, Southern Tamil, and Eastern Tamil.

  5. What is the difference between a language and a dialect?
    A language is a system of communication that is used by a large group of people, while a dialect is a variety of a language that is spoken in a particular region or social group.

  6. Why are there so many different languages and dialects in the world?
    There are many different languages and dialects in the world because of the way that languages evolve. Languages change over time, and as they change, they can split into different dialects. These dialects can eventually become new languages.

  7. What are some of the factors that can influence the development of a language or dialect?
    Some of the factors that can influence the development of a language or dialect include geography, culture, and history.

  8. How do languages and dialects affect communication?
    Languages and dialects can affect communication in a number of ways. For example, if two people speak different languages, they may not be able to understand each other. Even if they speak the same language, they may speak different dialects, which can make it difficult for them to understand each other.

  9. How can we learn about different languages and dialects?
    There are many ways to learn about different languages and dialects. One way is to travel to different parts of the world and experience the different cultures firsthand. Another way is to study different languages and dialects in school or online.

  10. Why is it important to learn about different languages and dialects?
    It is important to learn about different languages and dialects because it can help us to understand the world around us better. It can also help us to communicate with people from different cultures.

  1. Which of the following is not a language spoken in Tamil Nadu?
    (A) Tamil
    (B) Telugu
    (C) Kannada
    (D) Malayalam

  2. Which of the following is the official language of Tamil Nadu?
    (A) Tamil
    (B) Telugu
    (C) Kannada
    (D) Malayalam

  3. Which of the following is the most spoken language in Tamil Nadu?
    (A) Tamil
    (B) Telugu
    (C) Kannada
    (D) Malayalam

  4. Which of the following is the second most spoken language in Tamil Nadu?
    (A) Telugu
    (B) Kannada
    (C) Malayalam
    (D) Hindi

  5. Which of the following is the third most spoken language in Tamil Nadu?
    (A) Hindi
    (B) Urdu
    (C) English
    (D) Malayalam

  6. Which of the following is the oldest language in the world?
    (A) Tamil
    (B) Sanskrit
    (C) Hebrew
    (D) Chinese

  7. Which of the following is the oldest language in India?
    (A) Tamil
    (B) Sanskrit
    (C) Kannada
    (D) Malayalam

  8. Which of the following is the oldest language in South Asia?
    (A) Tamil
    (B) Sanskrit
    (C) Sinhala
    (D) Telugu

  9. Which of the following is the oldest language in the Dravidian family?
    (A) Tamil
    (B) Telugu
    (C) Kannada
    (D) Malayalam

  10. Which of the following is the most spoken Dravidian language in the world?
    (A) Tamil
    (B) Telugu
    (C) Kannada
    (D) Malayalam

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