[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) › c28.14 # Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c28.14 Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D. c28.14 - **Language:** English ### [c28.14](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.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. - [Previous: c28.13](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c28.13) - [Next: c28.15](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c28.15) - [Up: c28](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c28) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c28.14](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.epigraphy.mahadevan-2003.c28.14) · Pramāṇa