Fluxus Editions

Abstract. In this paper, we look into two Tamil orthography reforms, one attributed to Constanzo Beschi, who wrote a Tamil grammar in 1728, and one attributed to E.V. Ramasamy, which was implemented by a government order in 1978. We evaluate their contributions to the reforms and introduce them in the contemporary historical and political context. This includes topics of ranslit{puḷḷi}, distinguishing short and long vowels, and alternative forms of letters.

References References in BIB How to cite How to cite in BIB

@ARTICLE{Ada48,
   TITLE = {Adapting Tamil Script for Lino Printing},
}

@BOOK{Bes38,
   AUTHOR = {Beschi, Constanzo Giuseppe},
   TITLE = {Grammatica Latino-Tamulica Ubi de Vulgari Tamulicæ Linguæ Idiomate \‍tamil{கொடுநதமிழ} dicto},
   PUBLISHER = {Typis Missionis Danicæ},
   ADDRESS = {Trangambariae},
}

@BOOK{Bes13,
   AUTHOR = {Beschi, Constanzo Giuseppe},
   TITLE = {Grammatica Latino-Tamulica in qua de Vulgari Tamulicæ Linguæ Idiomate \‍tamil{கொடுநதமிழ} dicto},
   PUBLISHER = {Typographeum Collegium},
   ADDRESS = {Madraspatnam},
}

@BOOK{Bes48,
   AUTHOR = {Beschi, Constanzo Giuseppe},
   TRANSLATOR = {Mahon, George William},
   TITLE = {A Grammar of the Common Dialect of the Tamul Language, called \‍tamil{கொடுநதமிழ}},
   PUBLISHER = {Reuben Twigg},
   ADDRESS = {Madras},
}

@BOOK{Bla03,
   AUTHOR = {Blackburn, Stuart},
   TITLE = {Print Folklore, and Nationalism in Colonial South India},
   PUBLISHER = {Permanent Black},
   ADDRESS = {Delhi},
   YEAR = {2003},
}

@BOOK{Bur68,
   AUTHOR = {Burnell, A. C.},
   TITLE = {Elements of South-Indian Palæography from the Fourth to the Seventeenth century A.D. Being an Introduction to the Study of South-Indian Inscriptions and MSS},
   PUBLISHER = {Indological Book House},
   ADDRESS = {Varanasi},
   YEAR = {1968},
}

@ONLINE{Con22,
   AUTHOR = {{Contextual Alternate}},
   TITLE = {Picturing practice: people, places, and print artefacts in South Asia},
   YEAR = {2022},
   URL = {https://www.contextualternate.com/collection02},
}

@ARTICLE{Evo49,
   TITLE = {Evolution of Tamil Linotype Machines: Minister emphasises need},
}

@BOOK{Fab09,
   AUTHOR = {Fabricius, Johann Philipp and Breithaupt, Johann Christian},
   TITLE = {A Malabar and English Dictionary},
   PUBLISHER = {English Missionaries at Madras},
   ADDRESS = {Vepery},
   YEAR = {1809},
}

@BOOK{Gov94,
   AUTHOR = {Govindaraj, R.},
   TITLE = {Evolution of Script in Tamil Nadu},
   PUBLISHER = {Tamil Nadu Archaeological Society},
   YEAR = {1994},
}

@BOOK{Har65,
   AUTHOR = {Hardgrave, Robert L.},
   TITLE = {The Dravidian Movement},
   PUBLISHER = {Popular Prakshan},
   ADDRESS = {Bombay},
   YEAR = {1965},
}

@ARTICLE{Kai79,
   AUTHOR = {Kailasapathy, K.},
   TITLE = {The Tamil Purist Movement: A Re-Evaluation},
   JOURNAL = {Social Scientist},
   YEAR = {1979},
   VOLUME = {7},
   PAGES = {23--51},
}

@ARTICLE{Kal07,
   AUTHOR = {Kalapura, Jose},
   TITLE = {India Inscribed: Development of Printing Technology in India, 16-18 th Centuries},
   JOURNAL = {Proceedigns of the Indian History Congress},
   YEAR = {2007},
   VOLUME = {68},
   PAGES = {436--463},
}

@BOOK{Kan05,
   AUTHOR = {Kandasamy, W.B. Vasantha and Smarandache, F. and Kandasamy, K.},
   TITLE = {Fuzzy and Neutrosophic Analysis of Periyar's Views on Untouchability},
   PUBLISHER = {Hexis},
   ADDRESS = {Phoenix},
   YEAR = {2005},
}

@TECHREPORT{Kan86,
   AUTHOR = {Kandiah, A.},
   TITLE = {Modification of Tamil Scripts},
   PUBLISHER = {The Open University},
   ADDRESS = {Nawala},
   YEAR = {1986},
}

@BOOK{Kot23,
   AUTHOR = {Kothari, Rajni},
   TITLE = {Politics in India},
   YEAR = {[1970?]},
}

@BOOK{Mah03,
   AUTHOR = {Mahadevan, Iravatham},
   TITLE = {Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century A.D.},
   PUBLISHER = {Cre-A},
   ADDRESS = {Chennai},
   YEAR = {2003},
}

@BOOK{Mah21,
   AUTHOR = {Mahadevan, Iravatham},
   EDITOR = {Edition, Third},
   TITLE = {Early Tamil Epigraphy: From the Earliest Times to the Sixth Century C.E.},
   PUBLISHER = {Central Institute of Classical Tamil},
   ADDRESS = {Chennai},
   YEAR = {2021},
   VOLUME = {I},
}

@ARTICLE{Mar69,
   AUTHOR = {Marr, J. R.},
   TITLE = {Some manuscripts in Grantha script in Bangkok},
   JOURNAL = {Bulleting of the School of Oriental and African Studies},
   YEAR = {1969},
   VOLUME = {32},
   PAGES = {281--322},
}

@ARTICLE{Mel18,
   AUTHOR = {Meletis, Dimitrios},
   TITLE = {What is natural in writing?},
   JOURNAL = {Written Language \& Literacy},
   PUBLISHER = {John Benjamins},
   YEAR = {2018},
   VOLUME = {21},
   NUMBER = {1},
   PAGES = {52--88},
}

@ARTICLE{Min53,
   AUTHOR = {Minakshi Sundaran, T. P.},
   EDITOR = {aṭikaḷār, taṉināyakam},
   TITLE = {Tamil Script Reform},
   JOURNAL = {Tamil Culture},
   PUBLISHER = {International Institute of Tamil Studies},
   ADDRESS = {ceṉṉai},
   YEAR = {1953},
   VOLUME = {II},
   PAGES = {28--35},
}

@ARTICLE{Nor53,
   AUTHOR = {Norman Brown, W.},
   TITLE = {Script Reform in Modern India, Pakistan, and Ceylon},
   JOURNAL = {Journal of the American Oriental Society},
   YEAR = {1953},
   VOLUME = {73},
   PAGES = {1--6},
}

@BOOK{Pri58,
   AUTHOR = {Priolkar, Anant Kabra},
   TITLE = {The Printing Press in India: Its Beginnings and Early Development},
   PUBLISHER = {Marathi Samshodhana Mandala},
   ADDRESS = {Bombay},
   YEAR = {1958},
}

@ARTICLE{Ref49,
   TITLE = {Reform of the Tamil Script: Changes Recommended},
}

@BOOK{Rheas,
   AUTHOR = {Rhenius, G.},
   TITLE = {Abridgement of the Rev.d G. Thenius's Tamil Grammar},
   PUBLISHER = {Examiner Press},
   ADDRESS = {Madras},
   YEAR = {1838},
}

@ARTICLE{Ros89,
   AUTHOR = {Ross, Fiona},
   TITLE = {Form Metal Type to Digital Letterforms -- a Straightforward Transition for Indian Scripts?},
   JOURNAL = {Matrix 9},
   YEAR = {1989},
   PAGES = {128--136},
}

@BOOK{Sha83,
   AUTHOR = {Shanmugam, S. V.},
   TITLE = {Aspects of Language Development in Tamil},
   PUBLISHER = {All India Tamil Linguistics Association},
   ADDRESS = {Annamalainagar},
   YEAR = {1983},
}

@ARTICLE{Sir79,
   AUTHOR = {Siromoney, Gift and Bala, S.},
   TITLE = {Public opinion survey on prohibition, Tamil script reform and declaration of emergency},
   JOURNAL = {Madras Christian College Magazine},
   YEAR = {1979},
   VOLUME = {48},
   PAGES = {16--17},
   URL = {https://www.cmi.ac.in/gift/Surveys/surv_emergency.htm},
}

@TECHREPORT{Tai21,
   AUTHOR = {Tai, Sophia},
   TITLE = {Visual analysis of Tamil character},
   PUBLISHER = {University of Reading},
   ADDRESS = {Reading},
   YEAR = {2021},
}

@ARTICLE{Tam50,
   TITLE = {Tamil Script Reform},
}

@BOOK{Vie08,
   AUTHOR = {Vielle, Christophe},
   TITLE = {Manuel de Malayāḷam},
   PUBLISHER = {Societas Belgica Indiae Orientalis - Institut orientaliste de Louvain},
   ADDRESS = {Bruxelles - Louvain-la-Neuve},
   YEAR = {2008},
}

@BOOK{Zve92,
   AUTHOR = {Zvelebil, Kamil},
   TITLE = {Companion Studies to the History of Tamil Literature},
   PUBLISHER = {E.J. Brill},
   ADDRESS = {Leiden},
   YEAR = {1992},
}

@ARTICLE{ira35,
   AUTHOR = {\‍tamil{இராமசாமி} [Irāmacāmi], \‍tamil{ஈ. வெ.} [Ī. Ve.]},
   TITLE = {\‍tamil{தமிழ் எழுத்துச் சீர்திருத்தம்} [Tamil script reform]},
   JOURNAL = {\‍tamil{குடி அரசு} [Kuṭi Aracu]},
   PAGES = {10--11},
}

@BOOK{ill79,
   AUTHOR = {\‍tamil{இளந்திரையன்} [Iḷantiraiyaṉ], \‍tamil{சாலை} [Sālai]},
   TITLE = {\‍tamil{எழுத்துச் சீர்திருத்தம் களத்திலே கடிதங்கள்} [Letters from the field of script reform]},
   PUBLISHER = {\‍tamil{தமிழ்ப் புத்தகாலயம்} [Tamiḻp Puttakālayam]},
   ADDRESS = {\‍tamil{சென்னை} [Chennai]},
   YEAR = {1979},
}

@BOOK{kir85,
   AUTHOR = {\‍tamil{கிருஷ்ணமூர்த்தி} [Kiruṣṇamūrtti], \‍tamil{இரா.} [Irā.]},
   TITLE = {\‍tamil{பிற்காலத் தமிழ் வட்டெழுத்து} [Later Tamil Vatteluttu]},
   PUBLISHER = {\‍tamil{இரா. கிருஷ்ணமூர்த்தி} [Irā. Kiruṣṇamūrtti]},
   ADDRESS = {\‍tamil{சென்னை} [Chennai]},
   YEAR = {1985},
}

@ARTICLE{kur34,
   AUTHOR = {\‍tamil{குருசாமி} [Kurucāmi], \‍tamil{குத்தூசி} [Kuttūci]},
   TITLE = {\‍tamil{எழுத்தில் சீர்திருத்தம்} [Reform in the script]},
   JOURNAL = {\‍tamil{பகுத்தறிவு} [Pakuttaṟivu]},
   PAGES = {11--12},
}

@ARTICLE{kur35,
   AUTHOR = {\‍tamil{குருசாமி} [Kurucāmi], \‍tamil{குத்தூசி} [Kuttūci]},
   TITLE = {\oldtamil{ணா, றா, னா, ணை, லை, ளை, னை எழுத்துக்கள் மாற்றம்} [Changing the letters ṇā, ṟā, ṉā, ṇai, lai, ḷai, ṉai]},
   JOURNAL = {\‍tamil{பகுத்தறிவு} [Pakuttaṟivu]},
   PAGES = {11},
}

@ARTICLE{kur351,
   AUTHOR = {\‍tamil{குருசாமி} [Kurucāmi], \‍tamil{குத்தூசி} [Kuttūci]},
   TITLE = {\‍tamil{தமிழ் எழுத்திலும் புரட்சியா?} [A revolution in the Tamil script too?]},
   JOURNAL = {\‍tamil{குடிஅரசு} [Kuṭiaracu]},
   PAGES = {12--13},
}

@BOOK{kul68,
   AUTHOR = {\‍tamil{குழந்தை} [Kuḻantai], \‍tamil{புலவர்} [Pulavar]},
   TITLE = {\‍tamil{தமிழெழுத்துச் சீர்திருத்தம்} [Tamil script reform]},
   PUBLISHER = {\‍tamil{ஈரோடு} [Erode]},
   ADDRESS = {\‍tamil{வேலா பதிப்பகம்} [Vēlā Patippakam]},
   YEAR = {1968},
}

@BOOK{can78,
   AUTHOR = {\‍tamil{சண்முகம்} [Caṇmukam], \‍tamil{செ. வை.} [Ce. Vai.]},
   TITLE = {\‍tamil{எழுத்துச் சீர்திருத்தம்} [Script reform]},
   PUBLISHER = {\‍tamil{அனைத்திந்தியத் தமிழ் மொழியியல் கழகம்} [All India Tamil Linguistics Association]},
   ADDRESS = {\‍tamil{அண்ணாமலைநகர்} [Annamalainagar]},
   YEAR = {1978},
}

@BOOK{cam80,
   AUTHOR = {\‍tamil{சம்பந்தன்} [Campantaṉ], \‍tamil{மா. சு.} [Mā. Cu.]},
   TITLE = {\‍tamil{அச்சும் பதிப்பும்} [Printing and publishing]},
   PUBLISHER = {\‍tamil{தமிழர் பதிப்பகம்} [Tamiḻar Patippakam]},
   ADDRESS = {\‍tamil{சென்னை} [Chennai]},
   YEAR = {1980},
}

@BOOK{cup35,
   AUTHOR = {\‍tamil{சுப்பையா} [Cuppaiyā], \‍tamil{அ. சி.} [A. Ci.]},
   TITLE = {\‍tamil{தமிழ் வரிவடிவ ஆராய்ச்சி} [Research on the Tamil letter-forms]},
   PUBLISHER = {\‍tamil{பகுத்தறிவு நூற்பதிப்புக்கழகம் லிமிட்டெட்} [Pakuttaṟivu Book Publishing Society Ltd.]},
   ADDRESS = {\‍tamil{ஈரோடு} [Erode]},
   YEAR = {[1935]},
}

@ARTICLE{tir51,
   AUTHOR = {\‍tamil{திருநாவுக்கரசு} [Tirunāvukkaracu], \‍tamil{வை.} [Vai.]},
   TITLE = {\‍tamil{எழுத்துச் சீர்திருத்தத்தால் ஞாலமெலாம் பரவும்} [Through script reform it will spread over the whole world]},
   JOURNAL = {\‍tamil{தமிழ் முரசு} [Tamiḻ Muracu]},
   PAGES = {4},
}

@BOOK{paa82,
   AUTHOR = {\‍tamil{பாலசுந்தரம்} [Pālacuntaram], \‍tamil{இரா.} [Irā.]},
   TITLE = {\‍tamil{தமிழ் எழுத்துச் சீர்திருத்தம்} [Tamil script reform]},
   PUBLISHER = {\‍tamil{பொன்னம்மை பதிப்பகம்} [Poṉṉammai Patippakam]},
   ADDRESS = {\‍tamil{திருச்சி} [Tiruchi]},
   YEAR = {1982},
}

@ARTICLE{mur30,
   AUTHOR = {{\‍tamil{முருகப்பா} [Murukappā]}},
   TITLE = {\‍tamil{தமிழ் எழுத்தில் திருத்தம்} [Reform in the Tamil script]},
   JOURNAL = {\‍tamil{குமரன்} [Kumaraṉ]},
   YEAR = {1930},
   PAGES = {\‍tamil{௧௧} [11]},
}

@ARTICLE{rat31,
   AUTHOR = {{\‍tamil{ரத்னம்} [Ratnam]}},
   TITLE = {\‍tamil{எழுத்துக்களும் அவற்றின் சரித்திரமும்} [The letters and their history]},
   JOURNAL = {\‍tamil{குமரன்} [Kumaraṉ]},
   YEAR = {1931},
   PAGES = {21},
}

@BOOK{vee89,
   EDITOR = {\‍tamil{வேலு} [Vēlu], \‍tamil{சு.} [Cu.] and \‍tamil{செல்வராஜி} [Celvarāji], \‍tamil{சொ.} [Co.]},
   TITLE = {\‍tamil{தமிழ் எழுத்துச் சீர்திருத்தம் உண்மை வரலாறு} [Tamil script reform: the true history]},
   PUBLISHER = {\‍tamil{குத்தூசி குருசாமி பதிப்பகம்} [Kuttūci Kurucāmi Patippakam]},
   ADDRESS = {\‍tamil{வேலூர்} [Vellore]},
   YEAR = {1989},
}

@BOOK{mala06,
   AUTHOR = {\malayalam{സാം} [Sāṃ], \malayalam{എൻ.} [En.]},
   TITLE = {\malayalam{കേരളത്തിലെ പ്രാചീനലിപിമാതൃകകൾ} [Ancient script specimens of Kerala]},
   PUBLISHER = {\malayalam{സംസ്ഥാന പുരാരേഖാവകുപ്പ് കേരളസർക്കാർ} [Kerala State Archives Department, Govt. of Kerala]},
   ADDRESS = {\malayalam{തിരുവനന്തപുരം} [Thiruvananthapuram]},
   YEAR = {2006},
}

Jan Kučera (2024), “Tamil Orthography Reforms,” in Proceedings of Grapholinguistics in the 21st Century, 2024 (Yannis Haralambous, Ed.), Grapholinguistics and Its Applications, Vol. 12, Brest: Fluxus Editions, 417–441.


@INPROCEEDINGS{gla12-kuce,
   AUTHOR = {Jan Kučera},
   EDITOR = {Haralambous, Yannis},
   TITLE = {{Tamil Orthography Reforms}},
   BOOKTITLE = {{Proceedings of Grapholinguistics in the 21st Century, 2024}},
   SERIES = {{Grapholinguistics and Its Applications}},
   VOLUME = {12},
   PUBLISHER = {Fluxus Editions},
   ADDRESS = {Brest},
   YEAR = {2024},
   PAGES = {417--441},
   DOI = {https://doi.org/10.36824/2024-graf-kuce},
}