The Tamil Script

The Tamil script is a South Dravidian abugida used to write the Tamil language. Unlike alphabetic scripts, it's an abugida, meaning each consonant has an inherent vowel sound, and vowel modifications are indicated by diacritics.

Structure of the Script

The script comprises a set of basic consonants, vowels, and consonant conjuncts (ligatures). These elements combine to form syllables and words.

Basic Consonants

The basic consonant inventory forms the foundational elements. These consonants, when written alone, inherently carry a short 'a' vowel sound (அ).

Vowel Signs

A series of vowel signs (diacritics) are used to modify the inherent vowel sound of a consonant, indicating other vowels like i, u, e, o, ai, au, etc. These are written either before, after, above, or below the consonant.

Consonant Conjuncts

Consonant conjuncts or ligatures represent two or more consonants combined into a single grapheme. These are formed by joining the basic consonant characters in specific ways, creating a more efficient writing system for complex consonant clusters.

Number of Graphemes

While a precise count varies depending on the inclusion of certain less-common or archaic characters, the core set of consonants, vowels, and common consonant conjuncts used in modern Tamil script totals approximately 120 graphemes. The actual number used in everyday writing is considerably lower.

Other Script Features

Aspects such as punctuation marks, numerals, and symbols are additional components of the written system.