Template:Infobox language Template:Tamil transliteration
Kongu Tamil or Kovai Tamil is the dialect of Tamil language that is spoken by the people in Kongu Nadu, which is the western region of Tamil Nadu. It is originally known as "Kangee"`[1] or "Kongalam"[2] or "Kongappechu or Kongu bashai or Coimbatore Tamil".
Variations
The speciality of Kongu Tamil is the use of the alveolar ற - Tra/Dra (as in the English word track) instead of retroflex T/D (ட) of standard Tamil. For example, 'ennuDaya' (mine) of standard Tamil is pronounced enRa in the Kongu dialect. However, only Coimbatore district people use this. Additionally the use of guttural nasal (ங்) that sounds "ng" as in the English word Gang, is more prevalent in Kongu Tamil, leading to situations where the grammar of Kongu Tamil would not fit into the grammar of standard Tamil. One of the examples is the use of ங் to end a word like வாங் "vaang" or "vango" means 'come' expressed in a respectful tone, which in standard Tamil would be "vaanga". Both of these are stereotyping Kongalam with regional, professional variations.[3][4]
Kongu Tamil also uses certain Tamil words that are archaic to Kongu region and are not used in modern Tamil.[5][6]
See also
- Kongu Nadu, region in South India
- Kongu Vellalar, community in South India
- Coimbatore, metropolis in Tamil Nadu, India
References
- ↑ Toponomy of Canara{{#if:Silva|, Silva}(1963)
- ↑ Tamil̲umaiṅakilēcumāyirukakir̲a akarāti{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Oxford University(1809)
- ↑ Remembering the Dictionary of Kongu Thamizh, Team, SimpliCity News. simplicity.in(2020-06-21). Retrieved 2021-07-12.
- ↑ Kongu Tamil dialects, Kongu Tamil, Tamil dialects. Google Scholar(June 20, 2021). Retrieved 20 June 2021.
- ↑ On how Kongu Nadu was a Jain bastion. The Hindu(2017-10-12). Retrieved 2021-07-12.
- ↑ Kongu Nadu Anthology, Kongu Tamil dialect, Anthology. Google Scholar(20 June 2021). Retrieved 10 June 2021.