Tolkāppiyam (தொல்காப்பியம் in Tamil) is a book on the grammar of the Tamil language. Tolkaappiyam which was published in about the 6th century BC by Tolkaappiyar, is said to be the world's oldest surviving grammar for any language.

Tolkaappiyam classifies the Tamil language into "senthamil" and "kotunthamil". The former refers to the classical Tamil used exclusively in literary works and the latter refers to the colloquial Tamil, spoken by the people. The book is based on the analysis of both spoken and written Tamil.

Urubiyal

This section talks about the word modifiers that are added at the end of nouns and pronouns when they are used as an object as opposed to when they are used as subjects.

Uyir Mayangial

PuLLi Mayangial

KutriyalukarappunaRiyal

Sollathikaaram

Sollathikaaram deals with words and parts of speech. It classifies Tamil words into four categories -

1. iyar chol - Words in common usage

2. thiri chol - Words used in Tamil literature

3. vata chol - Words borrowed from Sanskrit

4. thisai chol - Words borrowed from Other Languages

There are certain rules to be adhered to in borrowing words from Sanskrit. The borrowed words need to strictly conform to the Tamil phonetic system and be written in the Tamil script.

The chapter Sollathikaaram is sub divided into the following 9 sections.

1. KiLaviyaakkam

2. VEtRumaiyiyal

3. VEtrumaimayangial

4. ViLimaRabu

5. Peyariyal

6. Vinaiyiyal

7. Idaiyiyal

8. Uriyiyal

9. Echchaviyal

KiLaviyaakkam

KiLaviyaakkam literally translates to word formation. This section deals with gender, number, person etc.

VEtRumaiyiyal

VEtrumaimayangial

ViLimaRabu

Peyariyal

This section deals with nouns.

Vinaiyiyal

This section deals with verbs.

Idaiyiyal

Uriyiyal

This literally translates to the nature or science of qualifiers and deals with adjectives and adverbs.

Echchaviyal

PoruLathikaaram

Tolkaappiyam is possibly the only book on grammar that describes a grammar for life. PoruLathikaaram gives the classification of land types, and seasons and defines modes of life for each of the combinations of land types and seasons for different kinds of people. This chapter is subdivided into the following 9 sections. 1. AkaththiNaiyiyal 2. PuRaththiNaiyiyal 3. KaLaviyal 4. KaRpiyal 5. PoruLiyal 6. Meyppaattiyal 7. Uvamayiyal 8. SeyyuLiyal 9. Marabiyal

AkaththiNaiyiyal

This section defines the modes of personal life i.e. life of couples.

PuRaththiNaiyiyal

This section defines the modes of one's public life.

KaLaviyal

KaRpiyal

PoruLiyal

Meyppaattiyal

Uvamayiyal

The name Uvamayiyal literally translates to the nature or science of metaphors.

SeyyuLiyal

This interesting section deals with a grammar for classical Tamil Poetry based on principles of prosody.

Marabiyal

External links

• Tolkaappiyam Complete (http://www.tamil.net/projectmadurai/pub/pm0100/tolkap.pdf)
• Tolkaappiyam PoruLatikaaram (http://arutkural.tripod.com/tolcampus/akam.htm)
• Tolkaapiyam partial list (http://www.araichchi.com/Learn/eng-tolkaapiyam.htm)