Iyengar Tamil: Difference between revisions

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{{Multiple issues|
{{short description|Dialect of Tamil}}
{{unreferenced |date= December 2011}}
{{notability|date=November 2014}}
}}
{{Infobox language
{{Infobox language
|name=Iyengar Tamil
| name             = Iyengar Tamil
|region=Karnataka, Tamil Nadu
| region           = Primarily Tamil Nadu and Karnataka
|speakers=Unknown,<br /> various Iyengars from around the world speak the language in their respective regions.
| speakers         = Unknown
|familycolor = Dravidian
(The Iyengar community employs the dialect in tandem with standard Tamil)
|fam2= [[Southern Dravidian languages|Southern]]
| familycolor     = Dravidian
|fam3= [[Tamil–Kannada languages|Tamil–Kannada]]
| fam2             = [[Southern Dravidian languages|Southern]]
|fam4= [[Tamil–Kodagu languages|Tamil–Kodagu]]
| fam3             = [[Tamil–Kannada languages|Tamil–Kannada]]
|fam5= [[Tamil–Malayalam languages|Tamil–Malayalam]]
| fam4             = [[Tamil–Kodagu languages|Tamil–Kodagu]]
|fam6= [[Tamil languages]]
| fam5             = [[Tamil–Malayalam languages|Tamil–Malayalam]]
|fam7= [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
| fam6             = [[Tamil languages]]
|glotto          = aiya1239
| fam7             = [[Tamil language|Tamil]]
|glottoname      =
| glotto          = aiya1239
|glottofoot      =  
| glottoname      =  
|glottorefname    = Aiyangar
| glottofoot      =  
|isoexception=dialect
| glottorefname    = Aiyangar
| isoexception     = dialect
}}
}}


'''Iyengar Tamil''' is a dialect of the [[Tamil language|Tamil]] language spoken mostly in [[Karnataka]], [[Tamil Nadu]] and
'''Iyengar Tamil''' is a dialect of the [[Tamil language|Tamil]] language spoken mostly in [[Tamil Nadu]] and [[Karnataka]], as well as other neighbouring regions of [[South India]]. It is spoken by the [[Iyengar]] community, a sect of Tamil Brahmins whose members adhere to [[Sri Vaishnavism]].<ref>{{Cite book |title=Encyclopaedia of Hinduism |date=1997 |publisher=Centre for International Religious Studies |editor=Nagendra Kr Singh |isbn=81-7488-168-9 |location=New Delhi |oclc=37795201}}</ref> Iyengars are present in considerable numbers in the states of [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Karnataka]], and [[Andhra Pradesh]], though their spoken dialect varies from state to state.<ref>{{Cite journal |author=Kamil Zvelebil |date=1 January 1964 |title=Spoken Language of Tamilnad |journal=Archív Orientální |volume=32 |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1304095347 |url-access=subscription |access-date=2022-03-12 |via=Proquest |language=en}}</ref>
the adjoining areas in South [[India]].
 
Iyengars are followers of the Visishtadvaita philosophy propounded by
During the ancient period, Brahmin Tamil was spoken only by those Brahmins who were associated with the [[Smarta tradition|Smartha]] tradition, including the [[Iyer|Iyers]]. The Iyengars developed a unique dialect of their own over the centuries, called the Sri Vaishnava [[Manipravalam]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bright |first=William |last2=Retnamma |first2=K. |date=March 1978 |title=A Linguistic Study of Early Manipravalam |journal=Language |volume=54 |issue=1 |pages=248 |doi=10.2307/413039 |issn=0097-8507}}</ref> Owing to the development of a homogenised Brahmin identity during the medieval period, the Vaishnavite Brahmins of [[Tamilakam]] largely assimilated Brahmin Tamil with their own dialect, retaining several words of the Vaishnava Manipravalam in their lexicon. The Hebbar and Mandyam Iyengars who reside outside the Tamil country, however, continue to use Iyengar Tamil as their mother tongue.
[[Ramanuja]]. They are also followers of [[Sri Vaishnavism]]. [[Iyengar|Iyengars]] are present in large numbers in various regions of India, such as [[Tamil Nadu]], [[Karnataka]], and [[Andhra Pradesh]]. However, the spoken dialect differs from state to state.


The Hebbar Tamil variety is spoken by the [[Hebbar Iyengars]]. The closely related Mandyam Tamil is spoken by [[Mandyam Iyengars]], originally concentrated in the Mysore and Mandya regions of Karnataka.
A unique characteristic of Iyengar Tamil is its retention of a lexicon associated with sacredness, with its roots usually from Sanskrit. For example, Iyengar Tamil makes distinctions between potable water (''tirtham'') and non-potable water (''jalam''), with the former bearing a sacred connotation. The Tamil vernacular, in comparison, employs the terms ''taneer'' or ''tanni'' to refer to potable water. Similarly, Iyengars employ the term ''bhakshanam'' to refer to religious offerings of food, which is otherwise absent in standard Tamil.


In ancient times, Brahmin Tamil was used only by Smartha Brahmins, the Vaishnavite Iyengars having a unique dialect of their own, called the Sri Vaishnava Manipravalam which interested linguistics for its peculiar grammatical forms and vocabulary. However, due to the development of a homogenised Brahmin identity during the medieval period, Vaishnavite Brahmins in the Tamil country have largely assimilated Brahmin Tamil with their own dialect, retaining several words of the Vaishnava Manipravalam in their vocabulary. The Hebbar and Mandyam Iyengars who reside outside the Tamil country, however, continue to use Iyengar Tamil as their mother tongue.
In terms of grammar, enquiries in Iyengar Tamil often involve substitutions in the suffixes present in the vernacular, namely with ''ela'' and ''ono.'' For instance, an Iyengar would be likely to ask "sapt''ela''?" or "sapte''ono''?" rather than the colloquial "sapte''ngla''?" to enquire, "Eaten?". Iyengar Tamil also possesses the vowel substitution of "a" with "o" at the end of words when it comes to directives. For instance, an Iyengar would be likely to say "pong''o''" rather than the colloquial "pong''a''" to direct someone to go.


A peculiar characteristic of Iyengar Tamil is its retention of divine or holy food terminology. For example, Iyengar Tamil makes distinctions between potable ([t̪iːrt̪o]) and non-potable water ([d͡ʒʌlo]), the former considered sacred but both borrowed from Sanskrit. Standard Tamil exhibits only the generic term for 'water'.
For a more comprehensive list of the variations between standard Tamil and Iyengar Tamil, refer to [[Brahmin Tamil]].  


== References ==
== References ==

Latest revision as of 04:40, 8 May 2022


Iyengar Tamil
RegionPrimarily Tamil Nadu and Karnataka
Native speakers
Unknown (The Iyengar community employs the dialect in tandem with standard Tamil)
Language codes
ISO 639-3
Glottologaiya1239

Iyengar Tamil is a dialect of the Tamil language spoken mostly in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, as well as other neighbouring regions of South India. It is spoken by the Iyengar community, a sect of Tamil Brahmins whose members adhere to Sri Vaishnavism.[1] Iyengars are present in considerable numbers in the states of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh, though their spoken dialect varies from state to state.[2]

During the ancient period, Brahmin Tamil was spoken only by those Brahmins who were associated with the Smartha tradition, including the Iyers. The Iyengars developed a unique dialect of their own over the centuries, called the Sri Vaishnava Manipravalam.[3] Owing to the development of a homogenised Brahmin identity during the medieval period, the Vaishnavite Brahmins of Tamilakam largely assimilated Brahmin Tamil with their own dialect, retaining several words of the Vaishnava Manipravalam in their lexicon. The Hebbar and Mandyam Iyengars who reside outside the Tamil country, however, continue to use Iyengar Tamil as their mother tongue.

A unique characteristic of Iyengar Tamil is its retention of a lexicon associated with sacredness, with its roots usually from Sanskrit. For example, Iyengar Tamil makes distinctions between potable water (tirtham) and non-potable water (jalam), with the former bearing a sacred connotation. The Tamil vernacular, in comparison, employs the terms taneer or tanni to refer to potable water. Similarly, Iyengars employ the term bhakshanam to refer to religious offerings of food, which is otherwise absent in standard Tamil.

In terms of grammar, enquiries in Iyengar Tamil often involve substitutions in the suffixes present in the vernacular, namely with ela and ono. For instance, an Iyengar would be likely to ask "saptela?" or "sapteono?" rather than the colloquial "saptengla?" to enquire, "Eaten?". Iyengar Tamil also possesses the vowel substitution of "a" with "o" at the end of words when it comes to directives. For instance, an Iyengar would be likely to say "pongo" rather than the colloquial "ponga" to direct someone to go.

For a more comprehensive list of the variations between standard Tamil and Iyengar Tamil, refer to Brahmin Tamil.

References[edit]

  1. Nagendra Kr Singh, ed. (1997). Encyclopaedia of Hinduism. New Delhi: Centre for International Religious Studies. ISBN 81-7488-168-9. OCLC 37795201.
  2. Kamil Zvelebil (1 January 1964). "Spoken Language of Tamilnad". Archív Orientální. 32. Retrieved 2022-03-12 – via Proquest.
  3. Bright, William; Retnamma, K. (March 1978). "A Linguistic Study of Early Manipravalam". Language. 54 (1): 248. doi:10.2307/413039. ISSN 0097-8507.