Vanakkam to the Tamil Language Quiz

Answer: Greetings

'Vanakkam' is the word that Tamilians use to greet people. It is also used to indicate 'goodbye' in some situations. This is an aspect quite unique to Tamil because the corresponding words in Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam are all derived from the Sanksrit root word 'Namaha'.

However, in a dialect of Tamil that is used by the Brahmin community of Tamil Nadu (a state of India), 'Namaskaram' is used instead of 'Vanakkam'. The Tamil word for welcome is 'Nalvaravu'.

Answer: Dravidian

The Dravidian family, which is predominant in south India, also includes Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam. Almost all the other major languages of India belong to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European family. However Sino-Tibetan and Mon-Khmer languages are spoken in the north east of India.

Answer: Enakku more vendum

The actual Tamil word for water is 'Thanneer'. But in colloquial Tamil, 'Neer' or 'Thanni' is allowed. 'Jalam' is a Sanskrit word but it is used in some Tamil dialects. If you ask for 'More', you'll be given buttermilk. Interestingly, most people in Tamil Nadu, especially in the rural areas, give buttermilk to tired visitors because it cools the body!

Answer: Aangilam

It may be quite weird that 'English' itself is known by different names in different languages. For example, in Hindi it is called 'Angrezi'. The Tamil word 'Aangilam' is from the Sanskrit word 'Aanglam'. Colloquially, people also use 'Engilishu'. Sometimes to mock the language, 'Engilipish' is used! Also a local who boasts in English is jokingly called 'Peter'!

Answer: The Maldives

Dhivehi is the Maldivian language. Interestingly, Tamil is the only Indian language that is official in many other countries. Tamil is also a major language in Mauritius, Malaysia and the UAE mainly because of Tamil immigrants.

Answer: Merku Vangam

'Merku' is the Tamil word for west. The region that is now called Bengal was previously known as Vanga. So the old Tamil name for the state stuck and it is called 'Vangam'. However, some people also use the new name and call it 'Vangalam'. On the same lines, Bangladesh is called 'Vangadesam' in Tamil, the word 'Desam' meaning nation.

Another interesting name is 'Amirthasarasu', for the Sikh holy city of Amritsar in northern India. It literally means 'Pool of immortal nectar'.

Answer: Enakku tamil theriyum

'Enakku tamil puriyum' means I understand Tamil. The other two options are the opposites of these two. The word 'Enakku' literally means 'for me', but the rules of grammar in Tamil are very different from that of English. It is quite funny to see people replying to you in Tamil, 'Enakku tamil theriyadhu' when you ask them if they can speak the language!

Answer: Kamban

Kamban, also called Kambar was a 11th century scholar of both the great ancient languages of India - Sanskrit and Tamil. Strictly speaking, his work 'Kambaramayanam' aka 'Ramavatharam' is not an exact translation but his own version of the original epic. Kalidas was another great scholar who is famous for his Sanskrit works. Agasthya, called 'Agaththiyar' in Tamil, was a legendary saint who was the patron of south India. Thiruvalluvar is by far the greatest Tamil poet ever.

His 'Thirukkural', which is a collection of 1330 'kurals' or couplets of wisdom, is the most revered Tamil literary work.

It has been translated into various world languages. There is a giant statue of Thiruvalluvar at Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of mainland India.

Answer: Malayalam

Malayalam is the language that is closest to Thamizh. It is spoken in Kerala state, close to Tamil Nadu in southern India. Also,the Malayalam script is similar to the Thamizh script. Many Tamilians find it amusing when people mispronounce the name of the language.

The correct pronunciation is like this: the first consonant 'Tha' is like 'thu' in the word 'thunder'. Then comes 'mi', as in 'miss'. The retroflex is more complex. Approximately, 'zh' is like 'r' in 'red', pronounced in the British or American way.

Some phonologists say that a similar consonant sound is found in Mandarin Chinese.

Answer: Thanks, goodbye

Nandri. Vanakkam.