[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Archaeology, epigraphy and coins](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy) › [Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D.](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003) › c27.s17 # Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c27.s17: 7.15 Addition Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c27.s17 - **Language:** English ## Contents - [c27.s17.t1 7.15.1 Addition of glide -y-](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s17.t1) — 9 parts - [c27.s17.t2 7.15.2 Addition of glide -v-](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s17.t2) — 6 parts - [c27.s17.t3 7.15.3 Doubling of the final consonant](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s17.t3) — 7 parts - [c27.s17.t4 7.15.4 Doubling of the initial consonant](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s17.t4) — 13 parts ### 7.15 Addition ### 7.15.1 Addition of glide -y- ### [c27.s17.t1.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s17.t1.1) The glide \*-y-\* is inserted between two vowels when the preceding one is a front vowel or the diphthong \*-ai\*. ### [c27.s17.t1.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s17.t1.2) @ \*karu-iya\* 'which was carved' 17.2 \*karu(k)kiya\* 'which was carved' 112.4 \*ko(t)tiy-avaṉ\* 'he who engraved' 4.3 @ \*cē-iya\* 'which was made' 2.10 \*tāyiyaru\* 'mother' (honorific singular) 83.3 † \*na(l)li-y-ūr\* 65.1.a-b † \*nalli-y-ūr\* 66.1.a-b \*uraiyuḷ\* '(in) the abode (of ascetics)' 60.2.a-b † \*eḷai-y-ūr\* 34.1.a-b † \*mukaiyuru\* 112.1.a-b ### [c27.s17.t1.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s17.t1.3) @ In these cases, the glide does not occur after the stem, but occurs after the past tense marker. ### [c27.s17.t1.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s17.t1.4) † In these cases, \*-y-\* may also be considered as the paragogic suffix added to nouns ending in \*-i\* or \*-ai\*. ### [c27.s17.t1.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s17.t1.5) \*Exceptions\* ### [c27.s17.t1.6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s17.t1.6) In the following 2 items, addition of the glide \*-y-\* is exceptional in the place of the glide \*-v-\* prescribed by traditional grammar. ### [c27.s17.t1.7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s17.t1.7) \*iḷayar\* 'a clan name' (Cf. LT \*iḷaiyar\*) 49.6 \*mēṟcēriku-y=āṭi\* 'having fought for Mēṟcēri' 112.2.b-3 In this case the preceding dative suffix \*-ku\* was probably pronounced \*-ki\* being influenced by the front vowel preceding it, leading to the use of the glide \*-y-\*. ### [c27.s17.t1.8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s17.t1.8) There are also cases where the glide \*-y-\* is absent resulting in a vowel-cluster at the junction. ### [c27.s17.t1.9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s17.t1.9) | \*(ā)-iṉa\* (cf. LT \*āyiṉa\*) | 'who is' | 41.2 | | \*veṇi\* (\*veṇṇi\*) \*ātaṉ\* | | 70.2.a-b | | \*ti(ṭ)ṭi-il\* | | 33.1.a-b | | \*kā(p)pi-ūr\* | | 74.1.a-b | | \*ko(ṭ)ṭi-ōr\* | 'they who carved' | 6.3 | | \*cē-iya\* | 'which was made' | 2.10 | | \*antai ariyti\* | | 25.1. a-b | | \*antai a(s)sutaṉ\* | | 3.7.a-b | | \*antai irāvataṉ\* | | 26.1.a-b | | \*viṉtai-ūr\* | | 57.1.a-b | ### 7.15.2 Addition of glide -v- ### [c27.s17.t2.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s17.t2.1) The glide \*-v-\* is inserted between two vowels when the preceding one is a central or back vowel. ### [c27.s17.t2.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s17.t2.2) | \*(il)lavōṉ\* | | 10.3 | | \[\*i\*⸮\]\*ḷavaṉ\* | | 67.1.c | | \*iṭtavaṉ\* | 'he who gave' | 12.3 | | \*kuṇāviṉ\* | 'of Kuṇā ' | 89.1 | | \*ko(ṭ)ṭiy-avaṉ\* | 'he who carved' | 4.3 | | \*koṭu(p)pi(t)ta-avaṉ\* | 'he who caused to be given' | 44.3 | | \*koṭu(p)pi(t)tavaṉ\* | 'he who caused to be given' | 11.2 | | \*cētavar\* | 'they who made' | 35.3 | | \*iruvar\* | 'two persons' | 48.5 | | \*kōvātāṉ\* (\*-ātaṉ\*) | 'King Ātaṉ' | 82.1-2 | | \[\*kō\*⸮\]\*viṉ\* | 'of the chief' | 88.4 | ### [c27.s17.t2.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s17.t2.3) \*Exceptions\* ### [c27.s17.t2.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s17.t2.4) There are also several cases where the glide \*-v-\* is absent, resulting in a vowel-cluster at the junction. ### [c27.s17.t2.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s17.t2.5) | \*eḷa-a\* | (attributive form of \*eḷa(v)aṉ\*) | 46.3.a | | \*paṇa-aṉ\* | 'servant' | 1.6 | | \*piṇa-u\* | 'cleft (cave) ' | 3.8 | ### [c27.s17.t2.6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s17.t2.6) \*muḻa-ukai\* 'cave' 17.3.b \*avviru-a-ar-um\* 'those two persons also' 45.3 \*karu-iya\* 'which was carved' 17.2 \*karu-ūr\* 69.1.a-b \*ku-aṉ\* 2.2.c ### 7.15.3 Doubling of the final consonant ### [c27.s17.t3.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s17.t3.1) The final consonant (nasal or liquid) of a monosyllabic stem with a short vowel is doubled (\*iraṭṭittal\*) when followed by a vowel. ### [c27.s17.t3.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s17.t3.2) \*avviru-a-ar-um\* (\*av\* + \*iru\*-) 'those two persons also' 45.3.a-b \*uḷḷāṟu\* (\*uḷ\* + \*āṟu\*) 'fitted inside' 114.2.a-b \[\*ce\*\\\*\]\*llirumpuṟai\* (\*cel\* + \*irumpuṟai\*) 62.7.b-c \*cellirumpoṟai\* (\*cel\* + \*irumpoṟai\*) 61.7.b-c ### [c27.s17.t3.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s17.t3.3) \*Exceptions\* ### [c27.s17.t3.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s17.t3.4) Words are written separately without joining or consequent doubling of the final nasal or liquid consonant of a monosyllabic stem. ### [c27.s17.t3.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s17.t3.5) \*veḷ-aṟai\* (cf. LT \*veḷḷaṟai\*) 6.1.a-b \*piṉ-aṉ\* (cf. LT \*piṉṉaṉ\*) 63.4.a ### [c27.s17.t3.6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s17.t3.6) Another interesting category of exceptions to this rule is the doubling of the word-final consonant of a stem which is not monosyllabic. Such exceptions are also numerous in later Tamil inscriptions. (see Commentary on 63.4 for discussion and citations). ### [c27.s17.t3.7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s17.t3.7) \*amaṇṇaṉ\* (\*amaṇ\* + \*aṉ\*) 'Jaina monk' 61.2 \*kaṭummi\* (\*kaṭum\* + \*i\*) 80.1.a \*kurraṇṇ\*-\*aṟu\*(\*p\*)\*pitta\* (\*kurraṇ\* + \*aṟuppitta\*) 'caused to be carved by Kurraṉ' 63.4.b-5 \*tuṟukayyuḷḷāṟu\* (\*tuṟukay\* + \*uḷ\* + \*āṟu\*) 'fitted inside the vent of a sluice' 114.1-2.a ### 7.15.4 Doubling of the initial consonant ### [c27.s17.t4.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s17.t4.1) The initial consonant (\*k\*- \*c\*- \*t\*-or \*p\*-) of the succeeding part is doubled in various environments. The rules governing this usage (\*mikutal\*) in traditional grammar are numerous and rather complex with many exceptions. The actual occurrences in the Corpus are listed below. ### [c27.s17.t4.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s17.t4.2) 7.15.4.1 \*After a vowel ### [c27.s17.t4.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s17.t4.3) | \*\*\*āṭi-kkaru(k)kiya\*\*\* | \*\*'engraved after fighting'\*\* | \*\*112.3-4\*\* | | \*\*\*e-kkāṭṭūru-kkōṉ\*\*\* | \*\*'chieftain of Ekkāṭṭūru'\*\* | \*\*117.1-2\*\* | | \*\*\*kīḻ (kīl)-ccēri-kkōḻi\*\*\* | \*\*'(fighting) cock of Kīḻccēri'\*\* | \*\*113.1.b-2\*\* | | \*\*\*cē-kkanti\*\*\* | | \*\*83.2.a-b\*\* | | \*\*\*ti (!) ṭi-kkāttāṉ\*\*\* | \*\*'Kāttāṉ of Tiṭṭi'\*\* | \*\*58.1-2\*\* | ### [c27.s17.t4.4](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s17.t4.4) 7.15.4.2 \*After a consonant (liquid) ### [c27.s17.t4.5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s17.t4.5) | \*\*\*kīḻ (kīl)-ccēri\*\*\* | | \*\*113.1.a-b\*\* | | \*\*\*tāvaṇ-ūr-ppiṇ-aṇ-\*\*\* | \*\*'Piṇṇaṇ- of Tāvaṇūr'\*\* | \*\*63.3.b-4.a\*\* | ### [c27.s17.t4.6](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s17.t4.6) 7.15.4.3 \*Exceptional doubling ### [c27.s17.t4.7](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s17.t4.7) | \*\*\*kuṟu-mmakaḷ\* (cf. LT \*kuṟumakaḷ\*)\*\* | \*\*'young daughter'\*\* | \*\*65.3. a-b\*\* | ### [c27.s17.t4.8](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s17.t4.8) Alternatively, this may be regarded as two words \*kuṟum makaḷ\* in sandhi without change. ### [c27.s17.t4.9](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s17.t4.9) \*Exceptions\* ### [c27.s17.t4.10](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s17.t4.10) In the following cases the initial consonant (\*k-\* \*c-\* \*t-\* or \*p-\*) of the succeeding part is not doubled. ### [c27.s17.t4.11](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s17.t4.11) | \*\*\*kāviti-kōṉ\*\*\* | \*\*'chief \*kāviti\*'\*\* | \*\*52.2.a-b\*\* | | \*\*\*campoykaipēṭu\*\*\* | | \*\*101.1.b-c\*\* | | \*\*\*teṇku-ciṟupocil\*\*\* | | \*\*49.5.a-b\*\* | | \*\*\*nākapērūr\*\*\* | | \*\*56.1.a-b\*\* | | \*\*\*paṇaiturai\*\*\* | | \*\*50.1.a-b\*\* | | \*\*\*pētalai\*\*\* | | \*\*21.1.a-b\*\* | | \*\*\*mattiraikē\*\*\* | \*\*'of Matirai'\*\* | \*\*38.1\*\* | | \*\*\*mācakōṭu\*\*\* | | \*\*120.1.a-b\*\* | | \*\*\*mēṟcēriku\*\*\* | \*\*'for Mēṟcēri'\*\* | \*\*112.2.b\*\* | ### [c27.s17.t4.12](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s17.t4.12) 7.15.4.4 \*Addition of -m- \> -ṅ- in sandhi ### [c27.s17.t4.13](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s17.t4.13) | \*\*\*pāṅkā(ṭ)ṭa\* (\*pā\* + \*m\* + \*kāṭu\* + \*a\*)\*\* | \*\*'of Pāṅkāṭu'\*\* | \*\*8.1.a-b\*\* | --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s17](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s17) · Pramāṇa