old tamil

[George Hart]

Dear Adriano,

The first thing one needs to read old Tamil is fluency in the modern language.  Zvelebil recommended reading Kalki's works, which are written in a simple style, to build up vocabulary and get the language in your head.  Then, for old Tamil, A K Ramanujan would have started with U V Swaminathaier's edition of the Kuṟuntokai, which I would also recommend.  Jean Luc's recommendations are also excellent -- Rajam is an indispensable reference work, and her chapters on how the literature is put together will provide an excellent introduction.  But, as with learning any classical language, nothing can replace poring over the text and, at first, looking up every other word.  George Hart

On Nov 15, 2012, at 6:32 AM, Jean-Luc Chevillard <jean-luc.chevillard at UNIV-PARIS-DIDEROT.FR> wrote:

> Post-Scriptum
> 
> in the case of Ancient Tamil literature,
> a very important question
> (which you wisely did NOT ask :-) )
> is "what NOT to read?" ....
> 
> 
> However, this is such a HOT topic
> that it is preferrable to give private answers,
> unless absolutely necessary :-)
> 
> "Courage!"
> 
> -- Jean-Luc CHEVILLARD
> 
> 
> On 15/11/2012 19:28, Jean-Luc Chevillard wrote:
>> Dear Adriano,
>> 
>> I suppose the answer will not be the same
>> if the person wants to study one of the literary works
>> or one of the śāstric works.
>> 
>> For someone intending to read (non technical) literature,
>> a good starting points might be
>> the book by S. Agasthialingom
>> about பதிற்றுப் பத்து [patiṟṟup pattu].
>> 
>> However, I would be much more useful to read Agasthialingom
>> after reading the book by V.S. Rajam.
>> A Reference Grammar of Classical Tamil Poetry (150 B.C.--pre-fifth/sixth
>> Century A.D.)
>> 
>> See:
>> "http://books.google.co.in/books/about/A_Reference_Grammar_of_Classical_Tamil_P.html?id=n6VhXLdmdKkC"
>> 
>> 
>> Another useful set of books to read is:
>> 
>> "http://www.efeo.fr/fiche_publication.php?code=298&fid=644"
>> 
>> "http://www.efeo.fr/fiche_publication.php?code=298&fid=643"
>> 
>> 
>> If the person is really interested in reading Tamil śāstric texts do
>> tell me,
>> I can provide more pointers ;-)
>> 
>> Best
>> 
>> -- Jean-Luc Chevillard (Paris/Pondichéry)
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On 15/11/2012 19:02, Adriano Aprigliano wrote:
>>> Dear colleagues,
>>> 
>>> A friend asks me about good materials for the study of Old Tamil. What
>>> would you recommend?
>>> Best wishes
>>> Adriano Aprigliano
>>> 
>>> Post-doc researcher
>>> Universidade de São Paulo
>>> São Paulo/SP
>>> Brasil
>> 



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