SV: Classical languages of India

[Swaminathan Madhuresan]

>>"A classical language is a language with an ancient literature of
>> outstanding quality that through a considerable period of time has played
>> an important part in the history, literature and culture of several peoples
>> that otherwise may use different mother tongues."

>It is not really my intention to disqualify Tamil as a classical language
>according to my own definition! I have no competence in Tamil, and I simply
>didn't know to what extent it was used outside Tamilnad. Whether Tamil fits
>my definition or not is something I must leave to others to decide! :-)

 Let me cite another example. European missionaries translated the Bible
 into Tamil, a first among Indian languages. Because of this, many churches
 outside Tamilnad proper have employed Tamil in their services historically
 even when the attendees may not be ethnic Tamils.





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