On the Etymology of the Present Tense in Tamil

Bibliographic Data

ID4889754
AuthorsSanford B Steever (corresponding author)
Year1989
Volume109
Issue2
Pages237
Publication date1989-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of the American Oriental Society (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0003-0279 • E-ISSN: 2169-2289
PublisherJSTOR (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.2307/604428
OpenAlexW2331598068
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited10

The evolution of the present tense markers -(k)kinrand -d-ninrin Tamil is considered in light of comparative Dravidian grammar. Both are shown to descend from compound verbs in early medieval Tamil. Bloch's (1946) etymology is brought up to date with new, explicit arguments, buttressed with cognate evidence from Toda. Comparison of the argumentation used in three different etymologies reveals that Bloch's best integrates these forms and their evolution into the synchronic and diachronic grammar of Tamil. This evolution is then placed in the context of the common Dravidian historical development which re-establishes central verbal functions by innovating new simple verb forms from ancient compound verbs

Etymology · Linguistics · Tamil · Historical Linguistics and Language Studies · History · Linguistics and language evolution · Philosophy · Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic Variation