[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.s44 # Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c27.s44: 7.40 Syntax in Early Tamil inscriptions Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c27.s44 - **Language:** English ### 7.40 Syntax in Early Tamil inscriptions ### [c27.s44.1](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s44.1) The Tamil-Brāhmī and Early Vaṭṭeḻuttu inscriptions included in the Corpus are all very brief records. The two longest inscriptions (Nos. \*61\* & \*62\*) have only 15 words each. The average length of an inscription is 3 to 4 words only. Only a few inscriptions have two sentences each (Nos. \*1\*, \*2\*, \*24\*, \*49\*, \*55\*, \*61\*, \*62\*, \*63\*, \*73\*, \*76\* & \*115\*). At the other extreme, there are several inscriptions with only a single word (e.g., Nos. \*109-111\*) or a string of nouns and attributes without structural features (e.g., No. \*56\*). These inscriptions are excluded from the following discussion. ### [c27.s44.2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s44.2) It is convenient to classify the sentences in the Corpus on the basis of verbs as follows. ### [c27.s44.3](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s44.3) (1) Sentences with participial nouns as verbs. (2) Sentences with adjectival participles as verbs. (3) Sentences without verbs. (4) Adverbial clauses. --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s44](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c27.s44) · Pramāṇa