INTRODUCTION. THE following Grammar of the Tamil language was composed several years ago. I had found the grammatical works, previously published, defective in various respects, especially in regard to Syntax; and originally purposed to publish only a Treatise on Tamil composition; but having been advised by various friends, to whom I submitted the manuscript, to add the other parts of Grammar, and thus form at once a complete work, I yielded to their advice. In constructing the chapters on Orthography and Etymology, I have followed more the order of the native Grammars, than that of European languages, because I judged it expedient to introduce the student at once to the native manner of treating the subject; and to facilitate the study of the native Grammars themselves. I have, however, every where noticed the difference between the Tamil and the European languages, and in the Appendix given a translation of the English particles into Tamil, noticing various other differences between the English and Tamil idioms. It is not the object of the above observation to detract any thing from the valuable works of Ziegenbalg, Beschius, and others. They did in their days what they could in Tamil literature, and we are greatly indebted to them for the degree of knowledge they have given us of the Tamil language. But they all have failed in giving us pure B |
