Lesson 2

Vannakam

The Tamil Alphabet is divided into 4 main categories:

·          Vowels

·          Consonants

·          Combination Letters (Vowel + Consonant)

·          Special Characters

 

The vowels are called Uyir Yezhuthukkal. Uyir means LIFE, so our vowels are our “life-giving letters”.

Yezhuthukkal is the plural from of the word Yezhuthu, which means LETTER.  There are 12 vowels.

 

SOME TIPS:

If you have kids, encourage your child to learn each letter, one at a time.

Attached is a worksheet with the entire chart of vowels, including one special character, Print it out and make flashcards or keep it as a reference sheet.

Flashcards are fun and encourage audio, visual and tactile learning, thus reinforcing the letters 3-fold.

Method: First show the letter to the child, then say it (e.g. “Ah” - the first vowel), then mix it in with the other letters and allow the child to choose the correct letter.

If you are teaching yourself or encouraging other adults, you will be amazed at how well this method will work for you as well!

You do not need dedicated time and effort to do these exercises. Do it in the car on the way to work/school, or even at the dinner table. Make it a discussion, not a quiz, and not a lesson. Ask them to ‘help  you learn’ and they are usually very eager to do that.

For the rebellious or reluctant child, teach that  a part of his/her identity is knowing his/her language, and that learning Tamil is as important as learning English.

Reward kids with TV time (or playstation time/ or whatever works for you) for every 10 minutes spent learning Tamil. Try not to punish them, because then they resent the language and see it as a task and a punishment. Bribery, otherwise known as ‘positive reinforcement’ works well every time ;) but just keep it reasonable and affordable or you’ll be the one avoiding the lessons!  Learn with them. It makes it more fun.

 

 

2nd Vowel

The second letter of the alphabet is ~ : AAH.    It is a longer sound of the first letter : Ah : `.

Now you know the first two

 vowels. We will learn all the vowels in the coming weeks.

The easiest way to recite and remember the vowels is

 phonetically.

"AH... AAH" would be the first 2

 phonetic sounds.

You will soon notice that the vowels are made up of short and long sounds.

Next week we will learn the next two vowels. It is important to be able to recognise the letters before you can write them, so we

 will work on recognition first and then writing technique. Practice, practice, practice and you'll soon recite the entire set of the 12

 Tamil Vowels.

 

Tamil is one of the major South Indian ("Dravidian") Languages, currently spoken by over 70 million people worldwide.

the reader:

Ulagelaam

Learning this prayer is easy. Make the effort to say the prayer out loud with a group when you have the opportunity (such as at a prayer or temple).  It will help you to learn the pronunciation and rhythm of the words as they are recited or sung. Do not be shy, afraid or embarrassed. You are learning and you should be proud of that!

Here’s Last Week’s Verse with a differently worded interpretation, but essentially the same meaning:

Ulagelaam unarnthu-odharku ariyavan

Nila vulaviya neermali veniyan

Alagil sodhiyan ambalathu aaduvaan

Malar silambadi vaazhthi vananguvaam.

 

Another interpretation: C. Munsamy Hons. Tamil (UDW) :

He is unperceivable through the five senses and his unique nature cannot be expounded even by great men.

He has matted locks where the crescent moon moves above and the Ganges abound.

He is abundant effluent light and he dances at the hall of wisdom.

His flowerlike feet adorned with anklets, we shall praise and worship him.

 

2^nd Verse of Ulagelaam

Although this verse is almost never recited, it is written as part of the complete prayer. The translation is from the Panniru Thirumurai Thirattu and again, remember that it is written by an Indian person for whom English is a second language. 

 

Contextualise the meaning after reading it and remember it in your own words if and when you recite this prayer.

 

Madhivalar sadaimudi manrularai mun

thudhiseyum nayanmar thooya solmalar

Podhinalan nugardharu punidhar paravai

Vidhimurai ulaginil vilangi velgava

Trans:  The great Assemblage consists of pure devotees who appreciate the sweetness from the wreath of sacred verses composed by the Saivaite Masters in the past, praising Lord with the braided hair and the Crescent Moon thereon. Let this shine forth in the righteous path in this world.

 

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