Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c28.14

c28.14

**Text:** At the next stage, the *aksharas* are combined into words, and the text (marked **B** and printed in *italics*) is constituted in accordance with the orthographic norms applicable to the inscriptions. The 'inherent' -a is omitted from basic consonants, and the correct vowel-lengths are adopted. Thus, for example, **tā na tai ya** is read as *tantai-y* 'father', **mā kā ṉa** as *makaṉ* 'son', **ū ṟai** as *uṟai* 'abode', **ne la** as *nel* 'paddy', **ko ṉa** as *kōṉ* 'chieftain', etc. Again, the word *kal* 'stone' occurs as **kā la** or **ka la** or **ka l** in the successive (but marginally overlapping) orthographic systems (TB I-III). It is necessary to emphasise that these emendations are not 'corrections' but the intended readings of the original inscriptions. See Chapter 6 (Orthography) for details.