Dative in Early Old Tamil

7/28/2019 Dative in Early Old Tamil

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D A T I V E I N E A R L Y O L D T A M I Lb y

K A M I L Z V E LE B ILP r a h a

T h e p u r p o s e o f th i s s h o r t s t u d y i s to d e s c r i b e t h e u s e o f th e d a t i v e a n di t s f u n c t i o n s i n t h e E a r l y O l d T a m i l 1 t e x t Na_r_rin.ai.~ A g a i n a n d a g a i n Ir e m e m b e r t h e w o r d s o f R o l a n d G . K e n t ( in " L i n g u i s t i c S c ie n ce a n dO r i e n t a l i s t , " J A O S , 5 5, 1 1 9) : " T h e f i rs t s t e p t o w a r d t h e s c i e n ti f i c k n o w -l e d g e o f a l a n g u a g e i s t o d r a w a c a r e f u l d e s c r i p t i v e s t u d y o f i t . " A s f a ra s th e D r a v i d i a n l a n g u a g e s a r e c o n c e r n e d , I r e g a r d t h is " f i r s t s t e p " a s ac o n d i t i o n s i n e q u a n o n , a s a t a s k o f b a s i c a n d u t m o s t i m p o r t a n c e . W h e ni n v e s t i g a t i n g a l a n g u a g e i n w h i c h , f o r t u n a t e l y e n o u g h , a n c i e n t t e x t s h a v eb e e n p r e s e r v e d , i t i s n a t u r a l t h a t s u c h d e s c r i p t i v e s t u d y s t a r t s w i t h t h ea n a l y s is o f t h es e t ex t s, w h i c h f o r m b o t h m a t e r i a l l y a n d h i s t o r ic a l l y ac e r t a i n c o m p l e t e a n d c l o s e d u n i t . B e s i d e s, i t i s a f a c t t h a t " o u r s p e e c hd e p e n d s e n t i r e l y u p o n t h e s p e ec h o f t h e p a s t " ( B l o o m f ie l d ) . O n l y a f t e rw e h a v e a s e r i e s o f s e e m i n g l y v e r y s i m p l e s y n c h r o n i c d e s c r i p t i o n s o fd i f f e r e n t s t ag e s o f e v o l u t i o n o f t h e l a n g u a g e i n q u e s t i o n , i t w i l l b ep o s s i b l e t o a d v a n c e t o h o n e s t h i s to r i c a n d c o m p a r a t i v e w o r k , w h i c h w i l lr e s u l t i n p e r f e c t k n o w l e d g e o f th e l a n g u a g e i n i t s d i a c h r o n y .

H a v i n g t h is in m i n d , I b e g a n t o a n a l y s e t h e E a r l y O l d T a m i l te x tTen ta t ive ly , a s a so l t o f work ing hypo thes is , we p resume th a t the re a re th ree pe r iodso f t h e e v o lu t i o n o f T a m ih OM Tamil , Middle Tamil , New Tamil . A s O l d T a m i l w ede te rmine the language o f the ea r ly tex ts beg inn ing wi th the poems o f E~ tu t toka i(Ear ly Old T ami l , ca . the f i rs t th ree o r fo ur cen t . A.D.); then com es M idd le Old Tam i l(Ci lappa t ik~ t ram and the e a r ly d idac t ic poems , e .g . T i rukku_ra .l ) and La te Old Tam i l( the language of la te1 didact ic texts , e .g . I0n_~nfi_rpatu) . I t is fa ir ly obvious that thelanguage o f the Sha iv i te and Va ishnav i te hymns (beg inn ing wi th the 7 th -8 th cen t . )shows w e l l -marked changes , wh ich enab le us to regard th i s type o f languag e as a newper io d in the deve lopmen t , a s M idd le Tam i l . How ever , i t i s necessa ry to be cau t ious .Th is pe f iod iza t ion , based o n ly on l i t e ra ry monum ents , i s fu l ly ten ta t ive , and the ch ron o-logy on ly re la t ive . On ly a f te r we have accom pl ished fu l ly the ana lys is o f a l l l i t e ra rya n d epigraphic mo num ents w i l l i t be poss ib le to base our conc lus ions on a m ore so l idsoil .2 Na_r.ri.nai s one o f the co l lec t ions o f the g rea t an tho logy E t~u t toka i . Na tu ra l lyenoug h , the re a le ea r l ie r and la te r s t ra ta in a l l these co l lec t ions . The m ajo r i ty o fNa_r_rioai poem s m ay pe rhaps be long to the l s t -3 rd cen t . A.D. I t co n ta ins 400 s tanzas ;t h e t o t a l n u m b e r o f l i n es i s 41 81 ( a c c o r d in g t o t h e e d i t i o n o f A . N f i r ~y a n a s ~m i A iy a r ,The Sou th I nd ia Sa iva S iddhan ta Wo rks Pu b l i sh ing Soc ie ty , T inneve l ly , 1952) .


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DATIVE IN EARLY OLD TAMIL 55Na_r.rin.a i . T h i s s h o r t s t u d y a b o u t t h e d a t i v e is a v e r y s m a l l p a r t o f as e ri e s o f s y n t a c t i c s tu d i e s w h i c h w o u l d f o r m t h e b a s is o f a d e s c r i p ti v es y n t a x o f O l d T a m i l .w 1 . I t is n o t w i t h i n t h e s c o p e o f t h i s s t u d y t o t r y t o s o l v e t h e p r o b l e mo f c a s e s i n T a m i l a n d D r a v i d i a n i n g e n e ra l . S o f a r , t h e D r a v i d i a n i s t sh a v e n o t r e a c h e d a n y o t h e r c o n c l u s i o n t h a n t h a t w h i c h h a d b e e n s o m e -w h a t v a g u e l y in d i c a t ed b y C a l d w e l l a n d m o r e d i st in c t ly f o r m u l a t e d b yB l o c h : t h e r e i s s o m e i m p o r t a n t d i f f e re n c e b e t w e e n t h e c a se s w i t h t e rm i -n a t i o n s o f c o n c r e t e m e a n i n g , o f c o n c r e t e v a l u e , e . g . l o c a t iv e , s o c i a ti v e ,i n s t ru m e n t a l , a n d c a se s w i t h t e r m i n a t i o n s o f g r a m m a t i c a l v a l u e ( a cc u s a-t i v e, g e n i ti v e , d a t i v e ) :

I n E a r l y O l d T a m i l w e f i nd t h e o p p o s i t io n o f a b as ic f o r m w i t h z e r o -m o r p h e m e a n d a n o b l i q u e f o r m . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , w e h a v e t h e su b j ec t -c a s e ( n o m i n a t i v e ) , a w e l l - m a r k e d c a s e o f i n d i r e c t o b j e c t ( d a ti v e ) , a c a seo f a d n o m i n a l r e l a ti o n ( ge n it iv e ), a n u n b a l a n c e d a n d e m b r y o n i c c a se o fd i r e c t o b j e c t ( a c c u sa t iv e ) . O t h e r c a s e s a r e s im p l e b a s ic o r o b l i q u e f o r m s( i n c i d e n t a l ly e x t e n d e d b y i n f l e x i o n a l i n c r e m e n t s , c a r i y a i ) p l u s d i f f e r e n tt e r m i n a t i o n s w i t h c o n c r e t e v a l u e , e. g . -o!u , -6 t .u , -u t .a_nf o r s o c i a ti v e r e l a t i o n ,k o n . ! u f o r i n s t r u m e n t a l r e l a t i o n , - i n , - i l , - u [ f o r l o c a t i v e r e l a ti o n .

T h e c l a s si f ic a t io n o f c a se s f r o m t h e e t y m o l o g i c a l s t a n d p o i n t i n t o t h o s ew h i c h m a y b e a n a l y s e d a s b a s e s p l u s p o s t p o s i t i o n s w i t h c o n c r e t e v a l u e( i l " p l a c e , h o u s e " , u [ " i n t e r i o r " , vay i_n " p l a c e " , ko.n t .u " h a v i n g t a k e n ,w i t h " e t c . ) a n d i n t o t h o s e w h e r e i t i s s o f a r i m p o s s i b l e t o e t y m o l o g i z e ,c o i n c i d e s w i t h t h e c l a ss i fi c a ti o n o f c a s es i n t o t h o s e w i t h c o n c r e t e v a l u ea n d t h o s e w i t h g r a m m a t i c a l v a lu e . L . V . R a m a s w a m i A i y a r ' s a r ti c le s i nI n d i a n H i s t o r i c a l Q u a r t e r l y 1 9 2 8 a n d 1 9 2 9 i n d i c a t e o t h e r p o s s i b i l i t i e s ,d i s t in g u i s h i n g b e t w e e n " e a r l i e r " a n d " l a t e r " c a se s . H o w e v e r , i n t h eE a r l y O l d T a m i l t e x ts b o t h t y p e s o f c a s es s e e m to b e a l r e a d y i n f u l ld e v e l o p m e n t .w 2 . O n e o f t h e t y p i c a l D r a v i d i a n r e l a t i o n a l c a s e s w i t h t e r m i n a t i o n o fg r a m m a t i c a l v a l u e i s t h e d a t i v e . I t s t e r m i n a t i o n i n T a m i l i s - ( k ) k u . I tm a y b e c h a r a c t e r i z e d p a r t l y a s t h e c a s e o f i n d i r e c t o b j e c t , p a r t l y a s t h ec a se in i m m e d i a t e c o n s t i tu e n c y w i t h a v e r b a l o r n o m i n a l b a s e . I n T a m i l

Says Caldwell: "The Dravidian dative has, therefore, assumed the character of areal gramm atical case" ( 2n d ed., p. 93) . Cf. J. Bloch, Structure , p. 15: "Le premiercas est celui d es d6 sinences h valeur gram maticale, accusatif, datif, g6 nitif; le second,celui des d6sinences ~ valeur con cr6te comme celle de locatif et souvent d'ablatif."


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5 6 KAMIL ZVELEBILg r a m m a t i c a l t e r m i n o l o g y i t i s c a l le d k o l a i v ~ r r u m a i , w h i c h i s t h e s a m e a so u r t e r m d a t i v e .

W e m a y d i s t i n g u is h b e t w e e n t h e d i r e c t d a t i v e ( th e o n l y o b j e c t o f av e r b a l o r n o m i n a l b a s e ) a n d t h e i n d i r e c t d a t i v e ( f o u n d a s i n d i re c t o b j e c tt o g e t h e r w i t h a d i r e c t o b j e c t ) ; t h e d a t iv e c o m m o d i e t i n c o m m o d i h a s o f t e na d v e r b i a l c h a r a c t e r .

A. DIRECT DATIVE

1 . L o c a l r e l a t io n .

a. d a t i v e t e r m i n a t i v e :1 . c e lv a r k o l . . . t a m . . . ~ r k k e - ? , w i l l t h e y g o . . . t o t h e i r v il la g e ? ( 4,

7 . . . 1 2 ) .2 . m a k a t , k e y t a c ce_ n_ ru ,h a v i n g a p p r o a c h e d t h e g i rl (6 , 4 - 5) .3 . n e l l i _ r k u . . . m a . l a i p o l i n t a t i k ~ , a s i f r a in p o u r e d . . , o n p a d d y ( 22 ,

1 0 . . . 1 1 ) .4 . e l li v a n t a . . . v i r u n t i _ r k u . . , v~ .n fu v 6r & h e w h o h a s d e s i r e , h a v i n g

c o m e i n t h e n i g h t t o t h e f e a s t ( 4 1 , 6 . . . 1 0 ) .5 . c i . ru n a l l ~ rk k & . . ( c e _ n _ ru ) , h a v i n g g o n e t o t h e s m a l l g o o d v i l l a g e

(49, 10) .6 . e m a k k ~ v a r u k a t i l v ir u n t~ ! t o u s l e t t h e g u e s t s c o m e ! ( 1 2 0 , 1 0).7 . ~ r k k u p p 6 v a y ~ k i , w h e n t h o u g o e s t t o t h e v i l la g e (2 0 0 , 7 ).8 . c i_ ru k u _ ru m p a . ra v a i k k 6 t . i, h a v i n g f l o w n t o t h e s m a l l s h o r t b i r d

(277 , 9 ) .9 . c e lv a _ n c e l l u l i k o l ta _ n~ . . . f t r k k ~ ? w i l l t h e l o r d h i m s e l f p e r h a p s g o . . .

t o t h e v i l l a g e ? ( 3 4 4 , 8 . . . 1 2 ) .k ~ t a l i . . . e m a k k u m ~ t r v a r u m ~ , t h e s w e e t h e a r t w i ll c o m e t o u s( 3 5 6 , 8 . . . 9 ) .10 .

b . m o t i o n f r o m ( t o e s c a p e ) :1 . m a l a i y a n a t u [ o r u v ( r k u 6 t i, h a v i n g e s c a p e d f r o m t h e u n i q u e s c e p tr e

o f M a la iya_n (170 , 7 -8 ) . 4C. o t h e r l o c a l r e l a ti o n s :

1 . c ~ n _ r 6 r . . .k u _ r u m a k a l k u [ a y a l 6 r , t h e w i se m e n . . . a r e n e i g h b o u rst o th e y o u n g w o m a n ( 22 0 , 5 . . . 1 0).

2 . v a y a p p u l i [ i r a i n a c a i i p p a r i k k u m a l a i m u t a l ci.r un e_ ri, a s m a l l p a t h

4 Cf. New Ta. cavukkuttappipp6_n~n "Ie h entging dem Todr (Beythan, Pr ak t i s cheGrammatik der Tamilsprache, p. 183).


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DATIVE IN EARLY OLD TAMIL 57a t t h e m o u n t a i n - b a s e , w h e r e a m i g h t y ti g er , l o n g i n g f o r p r a y , ( is )i n h id e (332 , 6 -7) . 5

2. T h e r e l a t i o n o f s i m i l a r i t y , a g r e e m e n t ( d i s s i m i l a r i t y , d i s a g r e e m e n t ) ,s u i t a b i l i t y a n d c o m p e t e n c y .

a . t o b e l i k e :1 . t ~ t u k k u a n _ _ n a. ., t i t t i , y e l lo w s p o t s . . . s i m i l a r t o p o l l e n (1 5 7, 9 -1 0 ).

b . t o a g r e e :2 . v 6 y m a i k k u ~ r p a I n a m a r , t h o s e o f o u r p a r t y a g r e e w i th t h e w o r d(393, 9-10) .

e . t o be r i gh t , fi t, su i t a b l e :3 . n a ll at a_ r I k u r i y a i . . , e_n n e ~ c ~ , t h o u a r t r ig h t , m y h e a r t , w i th r e g a r d

t o t h e g o o d ( 16 , 3 . . . 4 ) . ~4 . p i_ ra r I v i t .u t t a _ r k a k a t u p i . n i t t a v e n n e ~ c ~ , m y c a p t u r e d h e a r t i s n o t

f i t t o b e r e l e a s e d b y o t h e r s ( 9 5 , 9 - 1 0 ) .5 . v a l l a i y a k u t a l o l l u m 6 n i_ n ak k ~? d o e s t h e b e c o m i n g o f t r o u b l e

p e r h a p s s u i t t h e e ? ( 1 6 2 , 1 2). 73 . D a t i v e o f c a u s e a n d p u r p o s e .

1. ~ l .v i_naikku aka_n_ r6r , h e t h a t h a s l e ft f o r t h e s a k e o f m a n l y d e e d s(69 ,10) . S imi l a r ly i n 103 ,10 ; 214 ,8 ; 246 ,6 ; 333 ,7 .

2 . y ~ c e y t o l v in _ a i k k u e v a n p ~ tu _ r_ ra n ai ? w h y a r t t h o u b e w i l d e re d w i t hr e g a r d t o ( b e c a u s e o f ) t h e o l d d e e d s d o n e b y u s ? ( 88 , 1 ).

3 . k u . r u m a k a t k u [ u y a v i n _ ~ , I a m i n d is tr e ss b e c a u s e o f th e y o u n ggi r l (106 ,4-5) .

4 . n o t u m a l ~ t . t .i k k u n 6 m en_ n e ~ c ~ , b e c a u s e o f t h e w o m a n f r o m t h en e i g h b o u r h o o d m y h e a r t a c h e s ( 1 1 8 , 1 1 ) .

5 . c ~ r p p a _ r k u ] y ~ n _ i n a i n tu i _ r a ~ k ~ , I d o n o t c r y b e c a u s e o f t h e c h i e f ,t h i n k i n g ( o n h i m ) ( 2 7 5 , 6 - 7 ) .

6 . k o k k i n u k k u o l in t a f fm p a . la m , t h e s w e e t f r u i t w h i c h f e l l d o w n o na c c o u n t o f t h e h e r o n ( 2 8 0, 1) .

For dative with local meaning, cf. Ka. tumkfirige s~ridaru, they arrived at Tumkur(Spencer); Br. i khane rasengat . , I came up to the khan; shahre khurk k ar~ nar r~ , whenhe go t near to the town h e ~an off (Bray); Ko l. a . n . . , b o m b o i ~ s a a t u n , I will go toB o m b a y ; a m d u . r u ~ v a t t e n , he cam e to the vi llage (Emeneau). Cf. also New T a.a r r u k k u i p pu r a m , at this side o f the river; kOyilukkup pi_n,behind the temple; ava_nukkumu_n, in front of him.6 Cf. the Czech b f, i p r d v n ~ e m u , to be right w ith regard to something, with dative.7 Cf. Ka. a d a k k ~ i d a k k a b a h u h e c hc h u k ad . am e i de , there is a great difference betw eenthat and this (Spencer).


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58 KAMIL ZVELEBIL7 . o t t i y a [ n i_n t61 . an . ip er a vara _rku m [ a_n_r6 , t6 l_ i , a va r ce_n .ra t i . r am 6 , his

gone excellence is not, O friend, to come a nd a dorn thy lean arms(286,7-9).

8 . a v a _ n f i r v i_ n av ic c e _n m 6 . . . . t 6 ! i . . . . v a ra _ rk ~ , go and inquire after hisvillage . . . O friend . . . . for the sake o f coming (365,9).

9 . v a t. ap u la v d t a i k k u p p i r i v 6 r I m a ! a v a r , those who leave on accountof the north-wind fro m n orthern regions (366,11-12) 8

. T e m p o r a l r e l a t i o n .1 . n i l a v i l . . . k a n . t .a _ rk u m a y i r u n t a .l i k a v i p p a , so that (I) may be buriedin the big black urn before I had to go in search (of her) in the

moo nl ight (271,10-11). 92 . t a l a i n a t . k e t i r i y a t a n . p e y a l e l_ ili, the cloud of cold rain which appeared

on the previous day (362,3). TM5 . R e l a t i o n o f r e g ar d , e v e n t , k i n s h i p .

1 . a ca iy ut.a _n i r u n t 6 r k k u a r u m p u n . a r v u i _n m , there is no real friendshipwith those who have been idle (214,2).

2 . k f i t a l k a i m m i k a k k a t . f iy a _ r k u I y a h k f i k u v a h k o l , t6 l i ? how shall we,O friend, come into contact with the one who has been filled withpain when love had exceeded the limits? (313,5-6).

3 . v fi n _ a ra m a k a l . i r k k u m 6 v a l f i k u m v a l. ar @ p f ir p p i_ r k u, to the un-grown fledgelings who come into contact with the celestialmaidens (356,4-5).

4 . u _ r u v i _ n a i k k a c a v a . . . k a m m i y a _ n , the smith...not slack toward thework done (by him) (363,4).

5 . t 6 r & k u o t.t.a _n em a l l , m , we shall not come into contact with thecharioteer (380,6).

6 . y a n_ 6 n i e m a k k u ? who art thou to us? (395,1). 118 Cf. Parji pa l nendug pa.rf ioto, the fruit has ripened on account of the wa rmth o f thesun; d. ivin t6lu g and. it er, they killed the tiger for its skin; nu.r~ilug dn tufiena, I did notsleep for mosquitos (Bmrow); Ka. nimmannu n6d. vudakke bandenu, I have come inorder to see you (Spencer); Br. shahrana p ul ing ki h inane, he's gone to sack the village(Bray); the Tamil interrogative eta.rku ("what for") "why" is dative of purpose, likeKol. t a . ~ an d tandur why?9 Cf. Ka. ninu hut..tuvudakkinta mufiche ngmu f ~rinalli vfisamg~duttiddenu, I was livingin this town before you were born, and avaru baruvudakke modalu kelasavellavumugidittu, the wor k was all comple ted before they came (Spencer).lo Cf. Ka. s d y a n g k a l a k k e b a , come in the evening; d ivasakke m aru sdr i , three timesa day (Spencer); Parji t icer cenvarug, on the third Saturday (Burrow); Kol. in nat.urt a k t e n , he remained for two days only; sittena" t .lu~ oppa~lan, in the evening he will befound; a-/e~ at night (Emeneau).11 Difficult to say whether the dative in this line means kinship relation; the context


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DATIVE IN EARLY OLD TAMIL 5 9

6 . P o s s e s s i v e d a t i v e .1 . n e k i l . n t a n a v a l . a i y & . . p o r u n t r l . a t . k ~ , l o o s e n e d a r e t h e b r a c e l e t s . . .

o f h e r w h o h a s b r o a d s h o u ld e r s ( 2 6 , 1 . . . 9 ) .2 . n a l a _ r p a t . a r n t r r k k u k I k an .n , u m p a t .u r n 6 ? d o p e r h a p s t h e e ye s o f

t h o s e w h o h a v e b e e n t h i n k i n g u p o n t h e c h ie f , c l o s e? ( 6 1, 9 -1 0 ) .3 . u r a i y a y . . . n i_ n a kk u p p e r u n t u y a r a m a k i y a n r y ~ , t e l l a b o u t t h e p a i n ,

w h i c h h a s b e c o m e g r e a t g r ie f t o t h ee ( 1 2 3 , 1 . . . 1 2) .4 . k a n. n . & . . v a t . iv i [ a n t a n _ a v & . . a i m p a l m a y r t . k ~ , t h e e y e s o f t h e d a r k

w o m a n w i t h f i v e - fo l d t r es s e s h a v e l o s t ( t h e ir ) b e a u t y ( 1 3 3 , 1 . . . 5 ).5. a_r_rum a k u r n a h _t u a _ r i y a t r r k k ~ , t h u s th a t b e c o m e s t o t h o s e w h o d on o t k n o w ( 1 7 4 , 8 ) .6 . e _ n a k k & . . p a i y u l , t ir u m , i t s t o p s . . . m y d i s tr e ss ( 2 0 9 , 6 . . . 7 ) .7 . p o ru l. va y in _ [ p i r i t a l a t . a v a r k k u i y a l p ( u ) , i t i s t h e n a t u r e o f m e n t o g o

a w a y f o r t h e s a k e o f r i c h e s s (2 4 3 , 9 -1 0 ) .8 . a _ r iv u h k a r i t 6 . . , n i_ na kk ~, a n d t h o u v e r i l y h a s t b l a c k m i n d ( 2 7 7, 4) .9 . i v a t . k r . . . p f ~v e _ n a p p a c a l a i f ~ ru m m a _ n n_ 6 , l o , to h e r . . . f l o w e r - l i k e

p a l e n e s s i s s p r e a d i n g ( 3 4 9 , 8 ) .10 . n e t . u v r t . k u 6 t a m u t . a i t t r ? i s i t p e r h a p s t h e g u i l t o f N e . du v ~ l?11 . nan_n_u ta .rku I yahkak in__ru k o l pa ca pp r? h o w d i d t h e pa l e n e ss o f t h ef a i r f o r e h e a d a p p e a r ? ( 3 8 8 ,1 - 2 ). 12

7 . D a t i v e w i t h d if fe r e n t v e r b a l a n d n o m i n a l b a s e s .a . t o k n o w , u n d e r s t a n d , t r u s t in , i n v e s t i g a t e i n t o :

1 . n i _ n a k k 6 a _ ri yu n a[ , n e g c 6 . . . . m a k a l . 6 ? e i t h e r 1. d o s t t h o u u n d e r s t a n dt h e d a u g h t e r , O h e a r t ? o r 2 . d o e s s h e u n d e r s t a n d t h e e, O h e a r t . . . .t h e g i r l ? ( 4 4 , 5 ) . l z

i s no t aga ins t th i s in te rp re ta t ion , and in New Ta . k insh ip re la t ion i s genera l ly expressedb y t h e d a t i v e : e it h e r ava_n e_n m aka_ n o r ava_n e_nakku m aka_n, h e i s m y s o n ; c f . al s o Ka .avanu ninage tammanr? i s he your b ro the r? (Spencer ) ; nin_ akk u yah_ ki[ai~an_ alla n,I am no t a re la t ive to thee (A kam 342).lz Cf . Ka . avanige baha [a kr pa u.nt.u,he i s ve ry angry (Spencer ) ; Br . kane ira kharasarE, I ' v e a c o u p l e o f b u l l o c k s (Br a y ) ; K o l . pat .laku~ ok ko t p i l l (a) and. n , t h e h e a d m e nhad one daugh te r (Emeneau) .13 Cf . com me nta ry ninn_dl6ava.l a.riyattakka[? T h e c o m m . d e n o t e s t h e d a t iv e ni_nakkua s urupumayakkam, "c o n f u s io n o f c a s e " . C f . ho we v e r Br . sarkare sardfzteat, r~ia kmuch kar i fo i o , t h e t r i b e s m e n a r e t o b e c o l le c t e d b y G o v e r n m e n t t h lo u g h t h e c h ie f s(Bray 53) wi th the da t ive o f agen t (sarkare). A l s o K o l . ga . li~ ma " k d.ola, the t ree wi l lb e f e ll e d b y t h e w in d ; podne uba~ s ivval a 'rav , the fue l d r ie s in the hea t o f the sun( r a th e r : b y the hea t ) ; these cases , however , m ay be ana lyse d as da t ives o f cause , bu tinu~ ta . ne t kanqlakt eddin , wh a t wa s s e e n b y y o u ? ( E m e n e a u) . H o we v e r , i f we dismisst h e c o m m e n ta r y , we m ig h t t r a n s l a t e "d o e s t h e d a u g h te r u n d e i s t a n d t h e e ? " , a.ri- withda t ive ; however , c f . Ko l . imuo ke la to . te , y o u ( p l . ) d o n ' t u n d e r s t a n d , wh ic h s u p p o r t sra the r the f i r s t in te rp re ta t ion .


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60 KAMIL ZVELEBIL

2. nin_ [ pi_laiya na_nmol_i t (r iy a iva lk~ , t h y g o o d s p e ec h w i t h o u t f a u l thas b een t rus te d by h er (10 ,9).

3 . ne~ca~ ceyv i_naikku cavay . . . v a r u n t u ~ i k o l l o - ? wil l perhaps thehe ar t suffer, inves t igat ing in to the de eds done? (5 6 ,5 . . . 6 ).

b . t o pas s bey ond :4 . c e y a lp a t .u m a _ n a t t ar c e y p o r u t t k a k a l v a r , t h o s e w h o h a v e t h o u g h t

abo u t deeds , pass beyo nd t he ve ry es sence o f do ing (24 ,8 -9 ).c . to help :

5 . n i _ n . . . p a c a l a i k k u t a v a m a . r ~ , s ince (he ) does no t he lp t h y . . , pa l eness(47 ,10 . . . 11) .6 . n ~ r i_ la i k a t . u m p u t a i k k a l u ~ c f d n a t i k u t i k k u u t a v i , (she of) wel l -

fo rm ed j ewe l s, t he pos ses s ion o f (ou r ) f ami ly , hav ing he lped ou rclan (af ter ) in tens ive pr egn anc y (370,1-2) .

d . t o h ide f rom :7 . n i_nakkiya_n ma_ ra i tta l ya va tu? w hat d id I h ide f ro m thee? (72 ,4).

e . t o hon our , wo rsh ip :8 . k a r u vi ra _ n m a n t i k k u v a r u v i r u n t u a y a r u m [ v ~ _ n t6 y v e .r p a . 0 c h i e f o f

the h i ll s, soak ed b y ra in , ( the h ill s?) which ho no ur b lack-f ingeredm onk eys as c om ing gues t s (353,6-7).

9 . t a m a r a i k k u i .r a i~ c u m . . . ft ra _ n , t h e v i l l a g e r . . . w o r s h i p p i n g l o t u s(300,4).

10 . nin_akkiya_n. . .ma.npi_n~, I ho no ur (.9) t hee (128 , 3 . . . 4 ) .f . to be af ra id of :

11. at .aintata.rku I i_naiyal , be no t afra id o f goin g (372,9-10). 1~g . t o obey :

12 . c ~ r p p a . r k u . . . k ~ t . f a n _ r 6 i l a m ~ , w e h a v e c e r ta i n ly n o t o b e y e d . . , t h ech ief (239,8-9).

h . to be p leased wi th :13 . k u . r u m a k a l . . . . n a k a i k k u m a k i . l n t 6 y ~ , t hou has t been p l eased wi tht h e s m i l e . . , o f th e y o u n g w o m a n ( 1 9 0 , 8 . . . 9).

i . to be difficult , to be ea sy :14 . m a . r a tt a .r k a ri ta l , p a k a . . . . n il a iy ~ , since the s tate is diff icul t tofo rge t, O char io t ee r (42 . 1 . . . 12) .

1~ Regular also in New Ta., cf. kat.avulukkup payantavar, one who feared God(Rajaraja_n, a modern novel); also Ka. adakke hedarikot~lenu, I was terrified by (at)it (Spencer); Parji d. vug narcemed, he is afraid o f the tiger (Burrow).


8/12

D A T I V E I N E A R L Y O L D T A M I L 6 1

j .

1 5 . m a . r u t a r a . r k u ] a r i y a , t h e y a r e d i f f i c u l t t o r e j e c t ( 3 2 , 6 - 7 ) .1 6 . k o y a _ r k a r u n t a . l a i y ~ , l e a v e s d i f f i c u l t t o p l u c k ( 3 5 9 , 9 ) .1 7 . a r u ~ c u r a m e l . i y a m a n n i _ n a k k ~ , t h e d i f f i c u l t p a t h s ( a r e ) o n l y e a s y

f o r t h e e ( 1 4 1 ,7 ) . C f . a l s o 3 5 2 , 9 . . . 1 0.t o l o v e :

1 8 . a v a t k l a v a ! ~ I k a t a l a ! 3 , s h e 2 l ~ h e r ~ ( 1 7 6 , 3 - 4 ) .19 . n a t.a _ rk u k I k a t a l c e y t a l , t o m a k e l o v e t o t h e c h i e f t a i n ( 2 68 ,5 -6 ) .

B . I N D I R E C T D A T I V E.

.

4 .5 .

N O T E :

D a t i v e p r o p e r . 1~1 . c i_ ru ve n, k a k k a i . . . p e t a i k k u . . , e u r a k k u ~ [ c i r u vi ~ _ l al , t h e ~a_lal o f

s m a l l b l o s s o m s b e i n g g iv e n b y t he l i t tl e w h i t e c o r m o r a n t t o t h eh e n ( 3 1 , 2 - 5 ) .

2 . a r u m p in , i u . r u n a r k k u v 6 t . t a tu k o t a t u , n o t g i v i n g t h a t w h i c h i s l o n g e df o r t o t h o s e w h o s u f f e r f r o m s e r i o u s i l l n e s s (1 3 6 , 2 ).k o l u v a y p p ~ t a i k k u [ m u t .a m u t ir n a r a i k a t a _n m ~ o y y u m , t h e o l dh e r o n g i v e s s e a - fi s h t o th e c r o o k e d - b e a k e d f e m a l e (2 6 3 ,6 - 7) .f i r a .r k u . . .m a k a t . k o l a i y e t i r n t a . . . p e ~ t 6 , 0 w o m a n . . . . w h o h a s to p p o s e d t o th e g i f t o f t h e d a u g h t e r . . , t o th e c h i e f t a in ( 3 1 0 , 4 . . . 5 ).v a l . a r a p p a r p p i . r k u . . , i_ ra i o y y u m , g i v i n g p l u m a g e . . , t o th e u n g r o w nf l e d g e l i n g ( 3 5 6 , 5 ) .I n N a_ r_ rin .ai 1 0 , 6 . . . 8 t h e d a t i v e - p r o p e r - r e l a t i o n i s e x p r e s s e d b yt a x e m e o f o r d e r a n d z e r o - a l l o m o r p h : eO_lar .. .pa_ la iya_n v6 l va y t tu ,t h e C h o l a , h a t i n g g i v e n t h e la n c e t o t h e P a l a i y a n . l e

. D a t iv e c om m u n ic at iv e ( w it h v e r b a d i c e n d i e t d e c l a r a n d i ) .1 . a_n _na i . . . nam akk e_n a k~_r in_ , i f m o t h e r te l l s u s t h a t . . . ( 4 , 5 . . . 6 ) .2 . k ~ _ n a k a n d f a . r k ( u ) . . . k f l _ r i _ n , i f ( I) s a y u n t o t h e c h i e f o f t h e f o r e s t

( 4 7 , 6 . . . 7 ) .3 . u r a i m a t i . . , tu _ ra ik il _a v 6_ r k6 , s a y t h o u . . , u n t o t h e c h i e f ( 5 4 , 8 . . . 11 ).

15 Fo r t he t e r m dat ive , c f . Na_nnM, s . 297 ; when enumer a t ing the f unc t ions o f da t i ve ,Na_nn_~l m ent ion s a t the f i r s t p lace the c on cep t o f dare , kot .ai , g iv ing ; f u r the r i t m en t ion sp a k a i , d i sag r eemen t , enmi ty , n ~ r c c i , ag r eemen t , f r i endsh ip , takuti , fitness, atal,mate r i a l , porut.t.u, cause , mu.rai , kinship . Cf . a l so Beschi , Grammatiea la t ino- tamul ica( ed . 1917), w 20~ "4 u8 Cas us k u . . . c o r r e s p o n d e t n o s t r o d a t i v o " ; P o p e H I , w 6 0 : "ita_npo rul kot.a i , pak ai , takut i , n imi t tam mu tal iyavaiydm ".as Cf . e .g . Tel . naku ~ pustakam u iccina ad.adi, t he w o m a n w h o g a v e m e t h a t b o o k( M a s t e r ) ; Parj ipapkulug in na c irat , w h a t w i ll y o u g i v e t o t h e c h i l d r e n ( B u r r o w ) ; K o Lavrur inam s i . a tun , I w i ll g ive t hem a r ewa r d ( Em eneau ) .


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62 KAM IL ZVELEBIL4 . m a k i l _ n a r k k e _ n . . . p a r u v a r a l c e p p a t 6 y 6 , t h o u h a s t n o t s a id ( a b o u t )

m y . . . a f f l ic t io n t o t h e l o v e r ( 7 0 , 8 . . . 9 ) .5 . in__na ta i . . .n i_n iku[a ikku un .a r t t u , ' d e c l a re s u c h t h in g s t o t h y c o m -

p a n i o n ' ( 7 1 , 1 . . . 2 ) .6 . n i_n [ ma _na iy6 t .ku ura ip pa l , I s h a l l t e l l t o t h y w i f e ( 1 0 0 , 6- 7 ) .7 . a m m a l a i k i l_ a v 6 r k ku u r a i m a t i , t e l l t o t h e c h i e f o f t h a t h i l l ( 1 0 2, 7 ).8 . e _ n a k k u n i u r a i y a y a y i n _ a i , t h o u h a s t n o t t o l d m e ( 1 2 8 , 3 ) .9 . n a m v a r a v ( u ) . . . p u [ [ a . r i v u r ~ i y i _ n a k o l 1 6 . . , t ~m o l_ iy a t. k~? t h e s i g n o f

o u r c o m i n g , d i d t h e c r o w s t e l l ( i t ) t o t h e w o m a n o f sw e e t s p e e c h ?( 1 6 1 , 8 . . . 1 2 ) .10 . ku n_ _ra n a t . a n . . . a r u m a i t an _ a kk u u r a i p p a , w h e n t h e m o u n t a i n - c h i e fi s t a l k i n g t o h i m s e l f a b o u t ( t h y ) e x c e l l en c e ( 1 6 5 , 5 . . . 6 ).

1 1. y a r k k u n o n t u r a i k k 6 ya n_ 3? t o w h o m s h a l l I , b e i n g a f f li c t e d , t e l l?( 2 1 1 , 1 ) .

12 . i_ niy ev a_ n m o l _ ik 6 y ~ _ n ~ . . . a r u ~ c u r a m m u _ n n i y 6 r k k ~ ? w h a t s h a l l I s a yn o w t o t h a t o n e w h o l e f t p r e v i o u s l y f o r th e t e r r i b l e d e s e r t? (2 2 4 ,8. . . 1 1 ) .

13 . n a t . a _ rk u u r a i t t a l o _ n_ r 6. ., a ~ j n a i k k u r a i t t a l o _n_ r6, s a y i n g o n e th i n g t ot h e l o r d . . , a n d s a y i n g o n e ( o t h e r ) t h i n g t o t h e m o t h e r ( 2 4 4, 5 .. .7 ) .14 . a n n a i k k u . . , v ~ la n u r a i k k u m en _p a, t h e y s a y t h e g o d V Ela_n s p e a k s. . . t o t h e m o t h e r ( 2 7 3 , 4 . . . 5 ).

1 5 . i _ r a n tg r k k u ] e n n i l a i u r a i y a y , t h o u d i d s t n o t s a y a b o u t m y s t a te t oh i m w h o w e n t a w a y ( 2 7 7, 11 - 12 ) .

S i m i l a r l y th e c o m m u n i c a t i v e d a t i v e i s f o u n d i n N a_r_ri.nai 2 3 6 ,5 ; 2 6 3 , 1 . . .4 ; 2 9 1 , 5 ; 4 2 6 , 5 ; 3 7 6 , 9 ; 3 8 9 , 3 a n d 2 9 6 , 8 - 9 . 1 ~aT I t i s necessa ry in th i s conne c t ion to d raw a t ten t ion to the fac t tha t the re a re severa linsta nce s of e_n-, o say , te l l , u t ter , ex press (verbum dicendi), h a v in g t h e i n d i r e c t o b j e c tin the accusat ive . O ut of fou r case s in Na_r_rin. i , in three the verb e_n- is used in them e a n in g " to s a y ( s o m e th in g ) about s o m e b o d y , t o t e l l w i th r e g a r d t o s o m e b o d y , t o s a ys o m e b o d y t o b e s o a n d s o " , c f. peru m alai nat.a_nai varu um ~r6 ]~, she sa id (abou t ) thech ie f o f the lo f ty h i l l tha t he was coming (65 ,9 ) ; peruitkat.a_r c6rppa_nai [ etilala_nume_npa, they say (abou t ) the ch ie f o f the b ig ocean tha t he i s a l so a s t ran ger (74 ,5 -6) ;m am ala i nat.a_naic ca_n Oy alla i e n.ra_nam, w e s a id ( a b o u t ) t h e c h i e f o f t h e l o f t y h i l l :thou a r t no t an exce l len t one (365 ,8 -9) . The la s t case , however , may be in te rp re ted a l so :w e s a id to the c h i e f . . , e tc . The cons t ruc t ion e_n- p lus accusa t ive migh t be reg arded asa s o r t o f e l li p s e o f a p o s tp o s i t i o n m e a n in g with regard to, concerning to, about (in N e wT a . pa_r_ri, ku .r it tu e tc . , govern ing the accusat ive ). On the o the r hand , the four thin s tance , 38 9 ,3 . . . 7 de f in i te ly po in ts to a d i f fe ren t in te rp re ta t ion : a_n_naiyumamarntun6kki_nal6, e_n_naiyum...~ a l ka va l i_niye_n.r6]6,m o th e r l o o k e d a s i f p l e a s e d a n d s a id t om e : . . . ' ( L e t t he e ) g u a r d n o w th e m i l l e t- f ie l d '. W h ic h i n t e r p r e t a ti o n is ri g h t?I t is in teres t ing to not e t ha t e_n- as a verbum dicendi w i th d a t i v e i s n o t a t a l l fo u n d i no u r t e x t. T h i s , h o w e v e r , i s o n ly a n a r g u m e n t ex silentio. H o w e v e r , i n K o la m i ( c f .E m e n e a u , Kolami, A Dravidian Language, 1955, p. 119) the ver b i.d.d-, ell, show , has ad a t i v e , " i t s d i re c t o b j e c t b e in g e it h e r a d i r e c t q u o t a t i o n o r s o m e o th e r n o u n n o t i n t h e


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DATIVE IN EARLY OLD TAMIL 6 3C . D A T I V E C O M M O D I A N D I N C O M M O D I

T h i s d a t i v e i s e x p r es s iv e , b r o a d l y s p e a k i n g , o f a n a c t i o n o r s t a te w h i c ht a k e s p l a c e o r e x i s t s f o r t he s a k e o f s o m e b o d y o r s o m e t h i n g ( b o t h in t h ep o s i t i v e a n d n e g a t i v e s e n s e ) .

1 . kumi l_ i_n . . . ka_n i. . . ma t .ama_rk u v a l c i ya ku m , t h e k u m i l _ - f r u i t b e c o m e sf o o d f o r th e f e m a l e o f t h e d e e r ( 6 , 7 . . . 8). S i m i l a r ly i n 4 2 , 4 . . . 5 .

2 . e m a k k u n a la _n e va _n 6? w h a t g o o d is (i t) p e r h a p s f o r u s ? (4 5 ,7 ).3 . y a h k u c c e y v a h k o l , t6 l_ i . . . m a la i kk il _ av 6 .r k ~ ? w h a t s h a l l w e d o , O

f r ie n d , t o t h e m o u n t a i n - c h i e f ? ( 5 1 , 1 . . . 1 1).4 . p a y a n i r a i k k u e t .u t ta m a n . i n ir , t h e c r y s t a l -c l e a r w a t e r t a k e n f o r t h e

m i l k - g i v i n g h e r d o f c o w s ( 9 2 ,6 ).5 . v i r u n t e v a n _ c e y k 6 . . . i m m a l _ a i k k ~ ? w h a t s h a l l I d o i n r e t u r n . . . t o

t h i s r a i n ? ( 1 1 2 , 1 . . . 9 ) .6 . k i l . a v i . . .n e g c i _ r k u ( m a m a ~ c i_ rit(, t h e s p e e c h . . . b e c o m e s a l it tl e

c o n s o l a t i o n f o r t h e h e a r t ( 1 3 3 , 1 1 ) .7 . 6 m a i . . . a r u ~ c u r a ~ c e l v 6 r k k u . . . n i l _ a l a k u m , t h e 6 m a i - t r e e . . . b e -

c o m e s s h a d e . . , t o t h o s e w h o l ef t f o r th e t e rr ib l e d e s e r t ( 1 3 7 , 7 . . . 8 ).8 . u l a k i _ r k u an . i y a k a , t o b e c o m e t h e s u p p o r t f o r t h e w o r l d ( 1 39 ,1 ).9 . m a r u n t u p i_ ritu i l l a i y a _ n u .r .r a n 6 y k k ( , t h e r e i s n o o t h e r r e m e d y f o r

t h e p a i n I h a v e s u f f e r e d ( 1 4 0 , 1 1 ) .10 . p i _ r a r k k e _ n a m u y a l u m p ( r a r u l , n e ~ c a m o t . u , w i t h a h e a r t f u ll o f g r a c e

t r y i n g f o r ( t h e b e n e f i t o f ) o t h e r s ( 1 8 6 , 8 ) .1 1 . e m a k k u [ ~ m a m a k u m , w e a r e s a f e ( li t. t o u s s a f e t y b e c o m e s )

( 1 9 2 , 1 1 - 1 2 ) .12. e n t 6 l _ i k k u . . . k a u v a i y a k i _ n _ r a t u , a i y a , n in _ a ru l. ~, t o m y f r i e n d , 0 s ir ,

t h y g r a c e b e c a m e s l a n d e r ( 2 2 7 , 4 . . . 1).13 . c ~ v a l . . . p ~ t . a i k k u I i ru ~ c ~ _ r u a y i r a i t~ r i y a , t h e c o c k , g o i n g t o f i n d

s m a l l f i s h ( i n ) b l a c k m u d f o r t h e f e m a l e ( 2 7 2 , 1 . . . 5 ) .14. i n n a i a k u t a l t a k u m 6 . . . ni_n c o l n a y a n t 6 r k k ~ ? i s i t r i g h t ( t h a t ) t h o u

immedia te cons t ruc t ion" . The ve rb en-, say (so-and-so), ha s its object in th e accusative.Em eneau g ives one ins tance : t am ba 'nun ennen , he said to his father, and refers to5 more examples in his texts; con tra is only one instance where en- is used with theda t ive : ma.sa lu~ ennen , he said to his wife; accord ing to Emeneau, " this dat ive m aybe a mistake for the accusative". Th e Ko l. t a m h a ' n u n e n n e n i s in analogy withEar ly Old Ta . a_ nn aiyu m .., en __na iyum .., e_nr61~"a n d m o t h e r . . , s a i d . . , t o m e " ( 38 9,7 ).Ac cordin g to a wel l -educated T am il speaker , in N ew Ta. the verb en- is used onlyin the meaning "to say so and so", i ts object being direct quotat ion: i f the speakerwa nts to use a n indirect object in the dat ive or w ith the suffix - i t .am, he m us t use theverb col-, to tell , say : i t is possible to sa y ava_n ataiye_nra_n "he sa id tha t " , bu t no t ava_navalukku ataiye_n.ra_n"he sa id tha t to he r" ; i t mus t be ava_n av alu kk u (o r aval. i tam) ata i(o r ataiy e_n ru) co_n_nan.


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64 KAM IL ZVELEBIL

a r t l ik e t h i s . . , t o t h o s e w h o h a v e d e s i re a f t e r th y w o r d ? ( 2 8 3 , 5 . . . 9 ).1 5 . k u_ n_ ra n a [ a n k r n . m a i n a m a k k ~ [ n a _n r al , s i n c e t h e l o v e o f t h e c h i e f

o f t h e h i l l s i s g o o d f o r u s ( 2 8 5 ,8 - 9 ).T o q u o t e f u r th e r e x a m p l e s w o u l d m e a n t o a m a s s t h e m a d n a u s e a m .T h e D a t i v e c o m m o d i i s f o u n d a l s o i n Na_r_rin. i 4 3 , 8 0 , 8 8 , 9 4 , 1 4 4 , 1 7 4 ,1 9 3 , 1 9 4 , 2 4 7 , 2 5 2 , 3 0 9 , 3 2 2 , 3 3 2 , 3 7 3 , a l l i n a l l i n 3 0 c a s e s , i s

w 3 . A s f a r a s t h e e t y m o l o g y o f d a t i v e s u ff ix is c o n c e r n e d , w e a r e u n -f o r t u n a t e l y a b l e o n l y t o r e p e a t C a l d w e l l ' s v ie w , e x p r e ss e d a h u n d r e dy e a r s a g o : " T h e l o c a t i v e su ff ix e s i l a n d in c a n b e e x p l a i n e d a b i n t r a ; b u tI d o u b t w h e t h e r k u i s c a p a b l e o f a n a b i n t r a e x p l a n a t i o n . " A c c o r d i n gt o C a l d w e l l , t h e r e is a c o n n e c t i o n b e t w e e n t h e d a t i v e t e r m i n a t i o n - k u ,t h e f o r m a t i v e o f v e r b a l n o u n s , a n d t h e s i gn o f f u t u r i t y , th e c o m m o n" r o o t - i d e a " b e i n g th a t o f " t r a n s i t i o n " . S o f a r , a l l a t t e m p t s t o e x p la i nt h i s s uf fi x o f d a t i v e h a v e p r o v e d f u t i l e . 10 A . C h a n d r a S e k h a r , E v o l u t i o no f M a l a y a l a m ( P o o n a , 1 95 3) , p . 7 5, f o o t n o t e , w r i t e s : " F r o m a c o m p a r i s o no f t h e d a t i v e e n d i n g s i n t h e p r i n c i p a l D r a v i d i a n s p e e c h e s, i t i s p o s s i b l et o s u gg e s t a p r o t o - D r , f o r m * - k o . " T h i s i s a p r o b l e m o f h i s to r i c a n dc o m p a r a t i v e i n v e s t i g a t i o n , w h i c h h a s n o t b e e n t h e t a s k o f t h is s t ud y .

N o w , o u r f u n c t i o n a l i n v e s t ig a t i o n r es u l ts i n t h e f o l lo w i n g c o n c l u s i o n s :a . I n c o n t r a d i s t i n c t i o n to t h e I n d o - A r y a n la n g u a g e s , e s p e c i a l ly t o

H i n d i w h i c h p r e f e r s t h e g e n it i v e , T a m i l u s e s t h e d a t i v e c a s e v e r y f r e q u e n t l y .T h i s r i c h u s e o f d a t i v e i n m a n y d i f fe r e n t f u n c t i o n s i s o b v i o u s l y t y p i c a l f o rT a m i l , s i n c e i t i s m e t w i t h i n t h e e a r l i e s t t e x t s e x t a n t , a n d i n N e w T a m i lt h i s u s e is e v e n m o r e v a r i e g a t e d a n d r i ch .

b . M o s t n o t a b l e a n d n u m e r o u s i s t h e u s e o f t h e d a t iv e as a c a se o fi s j . B lo c h se es in t h i s f u n c t io n o f t h e D r a v . d a t i v e o n e o f i t s t y p i c a l a n d m o s t im -po r tan t func t ions , cf . h is S t r u c t u r e . . . p . 1 7: "L e d a t i f ~ g u t t u r a l e . . , d o i t d o n c a v o i ru n e v a l e u r p lu s i n d ir e c t e ; c ' e s t c e q u e n o t e B r a y p o u r l e b r a h u i ; w 3 9 i l l e t r a d u i t p a r" f o r , f o r t h e s a k e o f " e t l e d r s i g n e w 5 8 s o u s l e n o m d e d a t i f d ' i n t r r ~ t : ~" Pnd bdvaki ddr das~t., I s o w e d t h i s l a n d f o r m y f a th e r " .1~ T h u s , e . g. , t h e a t t e m p t o f L . V . Ra m a s w a m i A iy a r t o c o n n e c t t h e d a t iv e -k u witha n " e l e m e n t ar y D r a v i d i a n b a s e " ka i , "h a n d " , "m a k e " . V e r y v a g u e a n d u n c e l t a in isa l s o t h e c o n n e c t i o n b e tw e e n t h e D r . g u t t u r a l d a t i v e a n d t h e I n d o - A r y a n -ke , -ko .I f t h e r e i s s o m e r e l a t i o n b e tw e e n t h e tw o , i t i s c e r t a in ly m o r e p r o b a b l e t o p l e s u m e th a tt h e r e h a d b e e n s o m e inf lu en ce e x c e rc i se d b y D r a v id i a n o v e r I n d o - A r y a n , t h a n viceversa . The o r ig in o f t h e I A . d a t i v e s -ke , - ko i s , so fa r , ve ry uncer ta in ( i t has beenc o n n e c t e d w i th kr te , k r tam, o r , o n t h e o th e r h a n d , w i th kam). I t i s f a ir l y o b v io u s t h a tt h e D r a v . d a t i v e i n -k u ( w h a t e ve r it s o r i g in a l f o r m m a y h a v e b e e n) i s o f v e r y a n c i e n to r ig in , w h ic h i s p ro v e d , o n t h e o n e h a n d , b y i t s o c c u rr e n c e i n a l l D r a v id i a n s p e e c he sin c lu d in g Br a h u i, o n t h e o th e r h a n d , b y i t s e x i st e n ce in t h e o ld e s t li t e r a r y m o n u m e n t so f T a r n i l 20 00 y e a r s a g o. I t s e e m s t h a t t h i s e a se - f o r m b elo n g s t o t h a t s t r a tu m o fg r a m m a t i c a l p h e n o m e n a w h ic h h a d b e e n p a r t o f t h e comm on s tock o f Proto-Dravidian.


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DATIVE IN EARLY OLD TAMIL 65commodi t y a n d incommodity ( i n t h e t e x t o f Na.r.rin.a i i n 3 0 c a s e s) . O f t e ni t i s used a l so in communicative f u n c t i o n ( 2 2 c as e s) a n d i n d i f f e r e n t localr e l a t i o n s .

c . W h e n a s k i n g a f t e r a c e r t a i n basic idea, a " r o o t - i d e a " o f th e T a m i ld a t i v e , w e r e a c h t h e c o n c l u s i o n t h a t i t i s , i n a n a b s o l u t e m a j o r i t y o fi n s t an c e s , t h e e x p r e s s i o n o f a n a c t i o n w h i c h aims at something, beingdirected fr o m somebody or something towards somebody or something else,t h e r e s u l t o f th i s a c t i o n b e i n g o f t e n a change i n t h e g o a l o r i n t h e a c t o r .T h u s , w h e n c o m p a r e d e .g . w i t h t h e l o c a t iv e o r g e n i t iv e i n T a m i l , i t i s ac a s e w i t h dynamic force , i n d i c a t i n g motion, cha nge , transition.

Dative in Early Old Tamil

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