DYNAMICS OF TAMIL FINITE SYSTEM by cict archives

DYNAMICS OF TAMIL FINITE SYSTEM

R. KOTHANDARAMAN

CENTRAL INSTITUTE OF CLASSICAL TAMIL KAMARAJ SALAI, CHEPPAKKAM CHENNAI 2010

Title of the Book

DYNAMICS OF TAMIL FINITE SYSTEM

Author

R. Kothandaraman Fellow, Central Institute of Classical Tamil, Chennai. (Res: 19, Tolkaappiyar Street, Ashok Nagar, Puducherry– 605 008)

Language

English

Subject

Tamil Grammar and Linguistics

Publication No

Edition

First

Year of Publication

Tai-t Thiṅgaḷ Thiruvaḷḷuvar Era 2040 (January 2010)

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be copied, transmitted or reproduced electronically or otherwise in any form without written permission from the Central Institute of Classical Tamil. Quoting in research deliberation is permitted with due acknowledgment. Violation will be dealt with according to law. Publisher

Director, Central Institute of Classical Tamil, Kamarajar Salai, Chepakkam, Chennai – 600 005.

Phone

044 - 28448800 (Office) 044 - 28448841 (Director)

E-mail

http://www.cict.in

Fax

044 - 28448833

Book size

Demy 8vo

No. of pages No. of copies printed

500

Paper used

80 GSM

ISBN

978-81-908000-0-6

Typeset

GAAMA DTP Division, Puducherry

Font

Times – 10.5/12.6 – 26 Ems

Printed at

Price

M. KARUNANIDHI Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Chairman CENTRAL INSTITUTE OF CLASSICAL TAMIL

Secretariat CHENNAI – 600 009

FOREWORD The Tamils may be justly proud of the fact that Tamil has won the status of a Classical language, the status it richly deserves and should have got long, long ago. The Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT), established in Chennai, has mapped out various plans including preparation of definitive editions of forty one Classical Tamil texts and translation of these works into English and other major European languages as well as into major Indian languages and writing of a historical grammar of Tamil. Language being the autobiography of a people, our objective is to preserve and safeguard the invaluable treasure of the literary compositions in our language. If only we could delve into our past and recover the riches and wealth of the mighty treasure trove of Classical Tamil poetry, we will be amply rewarded by its lofty poetry, the poetry that strengthens and purifies the holiness of heart’s affection and enlarges our imagination. Apart from these, reading the ancient Tamil texts such as Tolkāppiyam, Eṭṭuttokai, Pattuppāṭṭu Tirukku aḷ provides a foundation for scholarship for the present and in this sense provides enlightened education. It is heartening to write this foreword to the series of publications to be brought out by CICT, which I am sure, will do full justice to the masterpieces in Tamil without compromising on the quality of production. The Caṅkam corpus being a repository of our glorious culture, it behoves our present and future generations to study them and to convey their message and the vision of life embodied in them to the public at large. Let me, therefore, commend the series to the enlightened beings the world over. Sd/-

(M. KARUNANIDHI)

CONTENTS

PREFACE

xiii

AUTHOR

xviii

1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16

Redefining S–P Agreement Decisively Impersonal – Further Observations Manifestations of Ceyyuntu Finite System Descendants of Ceyum Finite System Extended Finite System Forgotten Suffix Variants Formal Distortion Reanalysis of Verbal Suffixes Finite System – A Vital Player of Syntax Problems and Resolutions Diphthongs in Tamil – An Impossed Burden Reinterpretation of Glides in Tamil The Plosive Increments in Tamil Composition of Past Tense Suffix -i First Person Marker om and ōm Is a ik-ilār a Nonpast Ability Verb

2. BEGINNINGS OF FINITE SYSTEM IN TAMIL 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 2.11

Finite System in General Impersonal Finite System Subject-Predicate Agreement – A Later Development Dating of Classical Tamil Tenseless Finite System – Untenable Hypothesis Tensed Impersonal Finite System Ceytici Finite System Relative Participle as Impersonal Finite System A Hypothesis Called into Question Predicate Verb as Nominal Constituent Ceytu Verbal as Nominal Constituent

1 1 2 3 4 5 9 10 12 17 18 18 20 21 21 22 22 23 23 25 26 28 29 30 31 32 34 34 37

viii 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 2.18 2.19 2.20 2.21 2.22 2.23 2.24 2.25 2.26 2.27 2.28 2.29 2.30

CONTENTS

Future Negation Means Differ But Goal Same Source of Personal Finite System Relative Participle as Finite Verb – Further Observations A Nonpast Finite System Parallel to ceyt– a+PM Type Reflexes of the Increment –am Impersonal Finite System of NP and PP Types Extended Impersonal Finite System Nonpast Impersonal Finite System Ceyal Type of Finite System Ceytal Type of Finite System Ceyum Type of Finite System Ceyum Verbs – Stages of Development Finite System of Ceypu Type Source of Ceypu Finite System Finite System of Ceyku Type Source of Ceyku Finite System Evolution of Extended Personal Finite System Remarks on Single Window Conjugation

3. SYNTAX OF COMPLEMENTIZER 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 3.18

Complers in Traditional Treatment Complers – A New Perspective Compler Types Lexical Semantics of Compler Internal Reconstruction of the Compler – um Complers in Dative Constructions The Complers -a and -i Again Looking Back at -am The Compler -*av The Compler -ē Consonantal Compler Historical Constraint The Compler -i u The Complers tā-/ta- and tām/tam The Compler -a u Functional Divergence – A Note Sentential Complers Adverbial Compler

38 40 42 49 50 53 56 58 59 59 60 63 68 70 71 72 75 76 79 84 84 85 87 87 89 91 92 104 106 107 109 110 117 119 123 125 126 127

CONTENTS

3.19 3.20

Adjectival Compler Nominal Compler

4. INTRICACIES OF TAMIL FINITE SYSTEM 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20

Verbal System – General Observations Tense Implied Finite System Post Nominal Negative Finite System Tensed Personal / Gender Verbal Noun A Digression Accusative Negation Nominal Finite System Person / Gender Marker as Cliticized Be Verb Kannada Situation Person / Gender Markers – Further Observations Extended Predicate System Loss of a Paradigm Deflection of Verbal System Finite System of Ceyum Type Verbal System of ceyuntu Type Emergence of Past Finite System Emergence of ceyyiyar Finite System Finite Verbal Bases The -cu / -su Factor in Telugu / Kannada From Inflectional to Derivational System

5. SYNTAX OF NEGATION 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.9 5.10 5.11 5.12

Negation at First Glance Nonpast Negative Paradigm Personal Negation Syntax of Classical Negation A Digression Nonpast Negation of Ceyki u+il– Type Nonpast Negation of VB+al– Type Negative Finite System – Further Development Finite Verb as Nominal Construction Imperative System Speculating Negative System Negative Nominals

ix 130 133 136 136 140 149 152 158 159 161 163 168 179 180 191 196 203 208 211 215 217 227 233 235 235 238 245 247 252 253 257 262 266 266 278 280

CONTENTS

5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 5.18 5.19 5.20 5.21 5.22 5.23 5.24 5.25 5.26 5.27 5.28 5.29 5.30

Reduplicative Finite System Impersonal Negation Tag Question Short Versus Long Negation Ability Phrase Kil– A Newly Emerging Ability Verb Double Negation Optative Negation A Problem to be Resolved Negative Participial Nouns Negative Participles Negative Adverbial Participles Negative Conditionals Negative Adnominal Participles An Effort to Resolve a Problem Adnominal Participle as Functional Category The Lost Paradigm Tamil Negation Through Centuries

6. FORGOTTEN RELATIVE CLAUSE CONSTRUCTIONS 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 6.9 6.10 6.11

Forgotten Syntax of Relative Clause Retrieving the Lost Finite System Classification of X+Ceyal+NP Constructions Moving From Inflectional to Derivational Stage Relative Clause of NP1–am+NP2 Type Tol’s Treatment of –am A Digression Reflexes of –am Plosive and Nasal Increments in External Sandhi A Note on viḷa–m palam Sentential Sources of NP1–am+NP2 Type

7. CONCLUSION 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4

What has been done? What has to be done? Reinterpretation of Personal Suffixes Short Pronouns without Case Marking

283 286 288 290 291 299 314 315 321 322 328 330 342 345 349 351 358 363 370 370 372 373 381 384 391 394 395 402 406 407 412 412 416 417 418

CONTENTS

7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 7.9 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14 7.15 7.16 7.17

Relative Clause in Tamil Demonstrative and Interrogative Systems in Tamil Roots of Subordinate Clause Ceypu Type of Verbal Participle Ceyyā Type of Verbal Participle As If Clause in Tamil Lexical and Gender Head Nouns Onomatopoeic Constructions Coordinate Syntax Passive Syntax Reflexive Syntax Tensed Finite System Ending in –ay Concluding Remarks

xi 419 440 443 448 450 453 455 456 458 460 462 464 466

ABBREVIATIONS

467

REFERENCES

471

SUBJECT INDEX

477

AUTHOR INDEX

482

PREFACE

New proposals and counter proposals against the existing ones are theoretically significant in promoting the advancement of knowledge in any discipline. While new proposals are path-breaking ventures, counter proposals seek to evaluate the existing theories and convictions. Exponents of new and counter proposals are trendsetters, and traditionalists are the guardians of the existing theoretical models. It is not uncommon that traditionalists and trendsetters are taking defensive and offensive positions respectively. As for the study of linguistic system, there has always been a conflict between the trendsetters and traditionalists of whom the former are the pillars of counter proposals. Theoretically, the traditionalists are very much in alignment with the principles of external adequacy whereas the trendsetters who move ahead out of reach of the traditionalists adhere to internal adequacy. Externally adequate description is very much concerned with the goals disregarding the means, and this is not the case with respect to the deliberations based on internal adequacy. Internally adequate exposition is not only particular about the goals but also about the means. The linguistic system obtained in Tamil has been traditionally described with reference to the principles governed by external adequacy. It is to be noted that externally adequate description is performance oriented without regard to the linguistic competence of the speaker. The Chomskyan distinction between competence and performance of the speaker is the core issue of the present monograph. The main concern and objective of this work is to capture the linguistic competence of the speaker marginalizing the linguistic performance. Internally adequate description has therefore reference to linguistic competence seeking to identify the deep-seated regularities of the speech system in the underlying representation. It is to be taken into consideration that linguistic system is a manifestation of a series of diachronic layers of different stages and periods. Since this factor is not explicit in the synchronic system, the grammarian is constrained to resort to different descriptive strategies to reach the surface representation. More often than not, these strategies employed in traditional description without any diachronic perspective are highly adhoc and arbitrary. Notice, for instance, the underlying

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DYNAMICS OF TAMIL FINITE SYSTEM

representations of makattu ‘son’ (oblique base), marattu ‘tree’ (obl.), and a©attu ‘death ritual’ (obl.) are maka+attu, maram+attu, and a©a+attu where attu is an instance of inflectional increment according to the phonological description obtained in Tolkāppiyam (Tol.). Tol. proposes that attu loses a- after nouns ending in a-. Consequently, maka+attu becomes makattu. With a view to generalizing the application of the rule under reference, Tol. is taking for granted the deletion of the word final labial and alveolar nasals of maram and a©a before attu. This follows the deletion of a- of attu after the contrived versions mara- and a©a-. There are several anomalies in this analysis. First, what is the justification to propose the inflectional increment attu in the oblique constructions under reference? Second, does the deletion of word final consonant before attu have any phonological motivation? Third, is the deletion of the initial vowel of attu after nouns constrained to lose the word final labial and alveolar nasals phonologically justified? Fourth, is there no scope to resort to internal reconstruction within the framework of synchronic description? Traditionally, the foregoing analysis has been upheld without its sustainability being evaluated with reference to the issues raised above. In the counter proposal, not only attu is replaced by the inflectional increment tu, but also the strategy of internal reconstruction is pressed into service. The nouns maka and a©a are associated with the internally reconstructed variants *makam, and *a©am. These variants are morphologically definable occurring both in internal and external sandhi. E.g. *a©am+tu > a©an+tu > a©at+tu, *makam+tu > makan+tu > makattu, *a©am+kuṭam > a©aṅ+kuṭam > a©ak+kuṭam, *makam+pē u > makap+pē u. This analysis is in consonance with the analysis of nouns ending in labial nasal, and this is the reason why maka and a©a are internally reconstructed into *makam and *a©am on the basis of makattu / makap+pē u and a©attu / a©ak+kuṭam which are analogous to marattu / marak+kiḷai. Contrary to the traditional analysis, the alternative proposal meeting the requirements of internal adequacy renders justice not only to the goals but to the means as well. This proposal maintains that the nasal assimilates to voiceless plosive before single and double voiceless plosives, of which the first process is an earliest phonological process belonging to either PDr or pre PDr linguistic system. The rule N>P/-P belonging to PDr phonological system is retained in the individual Dravidian languages in general and Tamil in particular. On the other hand, the rule N>P/-PP is located in the intermediate stage of derivation. The derivation of e ku ‘to me’ from eakku through *ekku is a case in point in this regard.

PREFACE

Internally adequate linguistic description is an effort to capture the diachronic factors within the synchronic net work, although this is not an essential requirement. In this respect, descriptively sustainable structurally relevant and semantically identical paraphrase versions are taken into account leading to the integrated description. Consider, for instance, the NP construction taṇ-e+katir ‘the cool rays’, taṇ-am+tu ai ‘the cool water yard’ and the relative clause constructions taṇ varal vāṭai (Ku u. 35.5) ‘the north wind that comes cool’. The semantic import of e and am, and the functional import of varal figuring in these constructions are enigmatic in the synchronic description. However, this is resolved once their systematic paraphrase versions are identified. The semantically and structurally related constructions of the NPs and the relative clause constructions under illustration are taṇṇ-iya/ taṇṇit-ākiya katir, taṇṇ-iya / taṇṇit-ākiya tu ai, and taṇṇ-ea / taṇṇit-āy varum vāṭai. Notice the expression ākiya is a Be verb functioning as tense implied noun modifier, and varum being a complementary variant of varal is functionally a nonpast noun modifier. It is significant that ākiya and –iya(<iy-a) occurring in taṇṇ-iya are in complementary distribution. This provides the basis to treat –iya as an instance of Be verb functioning as tense implied noun modifier. The structurally and semantically related paraphrase constructions make it possible to identify e and am occurring in taṇe+katir, and taṇ-am+tu ai as Be verbs functioning as noun modifiers, and varal figuring in taṇ varal vāṭai are functionally equivalent to varum occurring in taṇṇ-ea / taṇṇit-āy varum vāṭai. Traditionally, e has no functional and semantic explanation, am is empty morph, and the functional significance of varal (=varum) has not received proper treatment. Note that varal in the present deliberation is not an instance of case declinable verbal noun since it is modified by an adverb as evidenced in the constructions vēkamāka varal. In the absence of the analysis presented above through counter proposal, the NPs under reference cannot be structurally accounted for particularly with respect to e, am and varal. The grammarian no doubt is at liberty to formulate a theory to describe the linguistic system without straining it. Tol’s description has however complicated the phonological system that obtained in Tamil disrupting its genius. We consider that the theory of phonology should not offend the integrity of the linguistic system. This cannot be achieved without theoretically sustainable alternative models. Counter proposals being alternative models are inevitable for deepening the knowledge base. The present monograph entitled Dynamics of Tamil Finite System is the

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DYNAMICS OF TAMIL FINITE SYSTEM

introductory part of the Historical Syntax of Tamil assigned to me as a major project. This is a monograph with several counter proposals persuading reconsideration of the existing traditional as also modern descriptive strategies. The inflectional increments am, um, and –m occurring in the dative constructions eakku ‘to me’, makaukku ‘to the son’, and elikku ‘to the rat’ are identified in the alternative proposal of linguistic description. E.g., eakku < e-am+ku, makaukku < maka-um+ku, elikku < eli-m+ku. Verbal constructions of ceytu, ceyku, ceypu, and pāṭi u types occurring in different syntactic contexts in early and middle Tamil are identified to belong to the impersonal finite system. Person / Gender markers and pronouns are treated as complementary variants. With reference to the structurally and semantically related paraphrase versions, the inflectional increments such as i, a, am, um, ē etc., are identified as Be verbs of suffix type. The expression e is a homophonous form referring to Be and Say meanings, and quite misleadingly it is always associated with the Say meaning only. These are all counter proposals made in this monograph, the description of which is governed by the principles of internal adequacy. Due to intellectual limitation, no researcher will be able to explore the intricacies of the linguistic system in its entirety. It is but natural that knowingly or unknowingly there may be theoretically blind spots. The acceptance of and reluctance to subscribe to the findings in this monograph will be a reflection of the mindset of the scholars of traditional and trendsetting streams. This we anticipate and consider natural in any theoretical exploration. This monograph has been made possible by the active and productive cooperation of the Centre of Excellence for Classical Tamil (CECT), a component of Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysore. The CECT, now CICT (Central Institute of Classical Tamil), invited me to work on the project on Historical Syntax of Tamil. The work was started on April 10, 2006 and completed on August 08, 2007. The present work is the first part of the research programme assigned to me. It is a matter of great pleasure for me to express my immense gratitude and heartfelt thanks to Prof. Udaya Narayana Singh, Director, CIIL, and Dr.K. Ramasamy, Professor - cum - Deputy Director, CIIL and the Chief of CECT for providing me an ideal academic environment to finish this work without any strain and hardship. The cooperation and encouragement of these two academic gems were excellent beyond verbal expression. Their participation in every respect in shaping this monograph is praiseworthy and I will cherish it until I breathe my last.

PREFACE

xvii

It is a matter of great pleasure for me to seek persuasive comments from Prof. P. Marudanayagam and Prof. M.S. Nagarajan of CICT. Their contribution in shaping the present work is commendable. I have great pleasure in conveying my deep debt of gratitude to them. I must make a reference to my wife Thirumati R. Santhagunabushanam. She helped me to carry on my research activities without any hindrance by spending liberally from her pension resource. I am nothing without her. My thanks are due to her. The first draft of this monograph was prepared by Thiru P. Thiyagarajan in Puduchery. It was really a painful and challenging task for him. I am bound to remember his exemplary service in this respect. The final version of this work had the benefit of the expertise of Selvi V. Gayathri and Thiru.A. Murugesan, Data Entry Operators, CICT. I have great pleasure in placing on record my sincere thanks to them. The service rendered by GAAMA DTP Division in respect of typesetting and pagemaking of this publication is commendable. I would be failing in my duty if I do not place on record my gratitude to Thiru P. Sudhakaran, the man behind this grand performance.

AUTHOR

Kothandaraman was born in 1937 to Ramanuja Reddi and Kuppammal as their first son in a small agricultural Konda Reddi Telugu family. He had his collegiate education in Pachaiyappa’s College (Chennai) and obtained his post graduate degree in Tamil in 1959 from Madras University. Later in 1968 he got his post graduate degree in Linguistics from Annamalai University, and was awarded the Ph.D. degree in 1973 for his thesis on Tamil syntax. He taught Tamil to American students under American Institute of Indian Studies programme for seven years, and grammar and linguistics in the Faculty of Tamil Studies, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai for nine years from 1973. He was Senior Fellow cum Professor in the Faculty of Linguistic Theory in the International School of Dravidian Linguistics, Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) from 1982–’89. He assumed the position of Directorship of Pondicherry Institute of Linguistics and Culture (PILC), Puducherry in 1989 and served the institute in this capacity for sixty-three months. The institute achieved tremendous growth during his tenure as Director. Several institutional research publications were brought out besides the publication of PILC Journal of Dravidic Studies, a half-yearly research journal. The author has published several research papers in Tamil and English on Dravidian linguistics in general and Tamil linguistics in particular. Tamil Syntax: New Perspectives (1990. PILC, Puducherry), Tamizheappaṭuvatu (2004. International Institute of Tamil Studies (IITS), Chennai), and Vāzhiya Centamizh (2006. IITS, Chennai) are his collected works on Tamil and Dravidian Linguistics. He has been a Fellow in the Central Institute of Classical Tamil (Chennai) since September 2007.