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Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c27.s4.t3: 7.3.3 The āytam (ẖ)

Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c27.s4.t3

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7.3.3 The āytam (ẖ)

c27.s4.t3.1

The unique Tamil sound *āytam* (*ẖ*) is mentioned in *Tolkāppiyam* (*Eḻu.* 2). The sound has been reconstructed to Proto-Dravidian (Bh. Krishnamurti 1997: pp. 147-151). Even though the *āytam* does not occur in the Tamil-Brāhmī or Early Vaṭṭeḻuttu inscriptions, its presence in the language may be inferred from the words:

c27.s4.t3.2

*ittā-a* < *iẖtu* + *ā-a* 'lo, behold, look here !' (1.4)
*ītā* < *iẖtu* + *ā* id. (2.4, 16.1)
(cf. LT *itā* / *ītā* in the same sense.)

c27.s4.t3.3

*itta* < *iẖtu* + *a* 'this (accusative case)' (13.3)
(cf. LT *itai* / *ittai* in the same sense.)

c27.s4.t3.4

In these words, the *āytam* (*ẖ*) seems to be elided with compensatory doubling of the succeeding stop or lengthening of the preceding vowel (see Bh. Krishnamurti 1997: p. 160 for the rule).

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