>Monkbot: Task 18 (cosmetic): eval 1 template: hyphenate params (1×);

2021-01-18T22:16:01Z

Task 18 (cosmetic): eval 1 template: hyphenate params (1×);

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The '''Jaffna Tamil dialect''' is a [[Sri Lankan Tamil dialect|Tamil dialect]] native to the [[Jaffna Peninsula]] and is the primary dialect used in [[Northern Province, Sri Lanka|Northern Sri Lanka]]. The Jaffna Tamil dialect has very similar intonation to [[Malayalam]] and is sometimes mistaken for Malayalam when heard in [[Tamil Nadu]].<ref>Indrapala, K The Evolution of an ethnic identity: The Tamils of Sri Lanka, p.45</ref> Although, audibly, quite distinct from the spoken Tamil dialects of Tamil Nadu, it nevertheless shares the same standard written Tamil as Tamil Nadu, and is mutually intelligible in standard forms. In contrast, Sri Lankan Tamil dialects are not mutually intelligible with [[Malayalam]].

This dialect is largely distinct from other South Indian dialects and to a lesser extent from that of the [[Batticaloa Tamil dialect|Eastern]], [[Negombo Tamil dialect|Western]] and [[Hill Country Tamils|Upcountry]] dialects of Sri Lanka.

==Commonalities==
Jaffna Tamil and the [[Malayalam]] language of [[Kerala]] have certain common linguistic features that are not found in most Indian Tamil dialects. In fact it is a common occurrence that a person from Jaffna is mistaken for a Malayali in [[Tamil Nadu]].<ref>Indrapala, K The Evolution of an ethnic identity: The Tamils of Sri Lanka, p.45</ref> Both preserve certain archaic words and phonemes which have gone out of vogue in Indian Tamil. Consequently many consider the Jaffna dialect to be a purer form of Tamil.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sri Lanka: Whether there are recognizable and distinct Batticaloa and Jaffna accents of Tamil language-speakers, and whether it is possible to determine an individual's place of origin based on his/her accent |url=https://www.refworld.org/topic,463af2212,463af3be2,3ae6aaf99c,0,,,.html |website=[[United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees]] |publisher=[[Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada]] |access-date=14 July 2019 |location=1 April 1998}}</ref>

A subdialect retained by the [[Paraiyar]] people of [[Kayts]] still retains a number of [[proto-Dravidian language|archaic words]] and Prakrit loans not found in any other dialects of Tamil. These drummers had historically played an important role as ritual players of drums at funerals and folk temples and as heralds and traditional [[Weaver (occupation)|weavers]]. They also maintained the family records of their [[feudalism|feudal]] [[lord]]s and even practised medicine and astrology in folk traditions<ref>Ragupathy, ''Tamil Social Formation in Sri Lanka: A Historical Outline'', p.1</ref>

==See also==
*[[Sri Lankan Tamil dialects]]
* [[Batticaloa Tamil dialect]]
* [[Negombo Tamil dialect]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Sri Lankan Tamil people}}
{{Tamil language}}

[[Category:Languages of Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Jaffna District society]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan Tamil society]]
[[Category:Tamil dialects]]

Jaffna Tamil dialect - Revision history

>Monkbot: Task 18 (cosmetic): eval 1 template: hyphenate params (1×);