CALENDRIC SYSTEM AND

MEASUREMENTS IN
THE TAMIL LANGUAGE

Submitted To:

Prof. Viswanath Naidu

Centre for Applied Linguistics and Translational Studies
University of Hyderabad.

ANANYA PILLAI
23IHML03
I.M.A. LANGUAGE SCIENCE
COLLEGE FOR INTEGRATED STUDIES
 CONTENTS

1. CALENDRIC SYSTEM

2. CALENDRIC SYSTEM IN THE TAMIL LANGUAGE

3. MEASUREMENT SYSTEM

4. MEASUREMENT SYSTEM IN THE TAMIL LANGUAGE

5. DATA COLLECTED FROM PARTICIPANT ONE

6. DATA COLLECTED FROM PARTICIPANT TWO

7. CONCLUSION
CALENDRIC SYSTEM

A calendric system organizes and measures time that is usually based on cycles, such as the motion
of the moon and sun. Throughout history, numerous cultures and civilizations have created calendric
systems, each with a unique way of keeping track of the days, months, and years.

Typical calendric system types include the following:

1. Solar Calendars: The Earth's orbit around the sun is the foundation for solar calendars. Usually,
they divide the year into months, with each month roughly representing a lunar cycle. The Julian
calendar and the Gregorian calendar, which are currently the most popular calendar systems, are two
examples.

2. Lunar calendars: These rely on the moon's phases. In lunar calendars, a month normally starts with
the new moon and ends with the subsequent new moon. The Hebrew calendar and the Islamic Hijri
calendar are two examples.

3. Luni Solar Calendars: Calendars that combine aspects of the solar and lunar cycles are called
lunisolar calendars. Although they usually base their months on the moon's phases, they also modify
the calendar year to align it with the solar year. The Hindu and Chinese calendars are two examples.

4. Alternative timekeeping methods: Certain societies have employed more intricate timekeeping
systems, like the Mayan calendar, which combined solar and ceremonial cycles.

Calendric systems play a significant role in agricultural planning, timekeeping, and the organization
of social, religious, and economic activities. The selection of a calendric system, however, can differ
significantly based on practical, historical, and cultural factors.
CALENDRIC SYSTEM IN THE TAMIL LANGUAGE

"Calendric system" can be translated as “Nāḷāṇṭu amaippu” or just “Nāṭkāṇam” in Tamil. In this
case, "calendar" or "time reckoning" is denoted by “Nāḷāṇṭu”, and "system" or "arrangement" is
denoted by “amaippu”. In the same way, “Nāṭkāṇam” means "day reckoning" or just "calendar."

In Tamil, you can therefore refer to the idea of the calendric system using either " Nāḷāṇṭu amaippu "
or " Nāṭkāṇam."
The lunisolar nature of the Tamil calendar allows it to incorporate aspects of both solar and lunar
calendars. The Tamil calendar system has several important features.

• Days (Nāṭkaḷ): The days in a Tamil month are separated according to the solar day. Every day
has its name and meaning, and certain activities are associated with certain days being
auspicious or inauspicious.

• Months (Mātham): There are twelve months in the Tamil calendar. Starting with the new
moon, every month is determined by the phases of the moon. Usually, Tamil months have 29
to 32 days. In Tamil month names are distinctive and frequently have cultural or agricultural
connotations. In Tamil calendar year starts with the month “Chittirai”, and ends with the
month “Panguni”.

• Years (Āṇṭu): The Tamil calendar also uses a year system, though the exact formula for
calculating years varies. Years are traditionally counted in sixty-year cycles, with a unique
name for each year in the cycle.

• Festivals and Events (Vilākkal Maṟṟum Nigazcikaḷ): Based on the lunar and solar cycles, the
Tamil calendric system encompasses a rich tapestry of festivals, religious observances, and
cultural events. These occasions are highly significant to Tamil culture and are frequently met
with fervorous celebrations.

• Seasons (Kālaṅkaḷ): In the oldest Tamil grammar text, the “Tolkappiyam” mentions about the
six seasons in a year.

In general, the agricultural, religious, and cultural practices of the Tamil people are reflected in the
Tamil calendric system. It offers a structure for allocating time and planning different activities in
compliance with societal norms and beliefs.
MEASUREMENT SYSTEM

In our lives, measurements are essential because they help us understand the world and advance in
many different areas. Measurements give us a common language to quantify, analyze, and
communicate anything from the subtlety of artistic expression to the precision needed in science and
engineering. This paper investigates the value of measurements in various fields and how they affect
human endeavors.

Measurement is used extensively in cultural and artistic endeavors in addition to practical ones. The
proportions and aesthetics of buildings, monuments, and urban areas are determined by
measurements in architecture. Time and frequency measurements are used in music to determine a
composition's rhythm, pitch, and harmony. Measurements are used in visual arts to determine the
balance, perspective, and proportions of paintings, sculptures, and designs. Even though artists
sometimes stray from precise measurements for artistic effect, knowing measurement principles
improves their capacity to express meaning and arouse feelings in the viewer.

To sum up, measurements are an international language that cuts across disciplines and enhances
human endeavors in a myriad of ways. Measurements are essential to our understanding of the world
and our place in it, whether they are advancing scientific knowledge, spurring technological
innovation, easing economic transactions, or inspiring artistic expression. The importance of precise
and trustworthy measurements will only increase as we tackle global challenges and open up new
frontiers, emphasizing their importance in determining the course of human history.
MEASUREMENT SYSTEM IN THE TAMIL LANGUAGE

Any language must have measurement systems to quantify, describe, and compare different aspects
of the physical world. A rich heritage of measurement systems in Tamil has developed over centuries,
catering to the linguistic, cultural, and utilitarian requirements of the Tamil-speaking populace. The
measurement systems utilized in Tamil and their practical implications are examined in this essay.

• Historical Origins and Cultural Significance: The Tamil language's measurement systems
have a long history that extends back to the Sangam era. The Tolkāppiyam and the
Silappadikaram are two pieces of Tamil literature that refer to a variety of measurement units
used in trade, agriculture, and administration. These measures, which established norms for
trade, taxes, and land management, were essential to the way Tamil society operated. They
also show the Tamil people's strong ties to the land and their understanding of natural cycles,
like the moon's phases and the seasons changing.
• Types of Measurement Systems: Tamil has several measurement systems that are employed
for various purposes. The metric system, which has units like the kilogram “kilōkirām” for
weight, the meter “mīṭṭar” for length, and the litter “liṭṭar” for volume, is one of the most
widely used systems. These units are in line with international standards and are widely used
in contemporary Tamil Nadu.
Tamil Nadu has traditional measurement systems that are still in use in some situations in
addition to the metric system. For instance, in markets, agriculture, and construction, units
like the “māṉi” for weight, the “viraku” for length, and the “aṇi” for area are frequently used.
These customs are deeply ingrained in culture and are frequently handed down through the
generations.
• Practical Applications and Daily Life: In many facets of daily life, measurement systems in
the Tamil language are essential. In agriculture, farmers measure land and rainfall using units
like “kāṇṭi” and “kāḷaṇi”, which help them make decisions about irrigation and crop
cultivation. To ensure fairness and transparency in transactions, traders in commerce rely on
precise measurements when buying and selling goods. Measurements are also necessary in
industries that depend heavily on accuracy and consistency, like engineering, healthcare, and
construction.
• Preservation and Modernization: To satisfy the needs of the modern world, traditional
measuring systems must be modified and updated even though they are still significant
cultural relics. To promote the use of the metric system and bring Tamil Nadu into line with
 international standards, efforts have been made to standardize units of measurement and ease
cross-border communication. To ensure that measurement systems in the Tamil language
continue to develop and flourish in the contemporary era, it is crucial to strike a balance
between appreciating technological advancements and protecting cultural heritage.
• In conclusion, measurement systems are essential to the Tamil language and reflect the
communities that speak it, their technological advancements, and their cultural heritage.
Measurements play a vital role in daily life, influencing economic activities, scientific
endeavors, and cultural practices. These range from ancient units of measurement rooted in
tradition to modern systems aligned with international standards. We can respect our history
while seizing the opportunities of the future by maintaining and updating measurement
systems in the Tamil language.
DATA COLLECTED
FROM PARTICIPANT 1
Calendar questionnaire

Calendric time defines event types: hours, parts of the day, days of the week, months, seasons, and
festival names are all tokens of event types, i.e. periodic times.

Try to find out as many of these as possible.

Priority: High

1. CALENDAR

What are the calendrical units (days, weeks, months, seasons, years?) This could potentially be quite
complex (e.g., the Balinese apparently have 10 different 'cycles' of different duration akin to our
week, month, and year), so it is important to not only ask for translations but also ask more general
questions. A reasonable point to start might be a concept of a moon-based time-unit, i.e. our 'month',
and a sun-based unit, i.e. our 'day'. Ask for names of months before you ask for translations of the
Portuguese terms.

Day - Nāḷ

Sun - Cūriyaṉ

Month – Mātam
Moon - Nilā

When you have found out what the Amondawa for 'month' is, you can

ask more general questions such as:

"What are the parts/elements of a 'month"?"

WEEKS - Vāraṅkaḷ

DAYS - Nāṭkaḷ

"Do several 'months' together form another unit of time?"

3 MONTHS- Kālāṇṭu

6 MONTHS- Araiāṇṭu

The information we are looking for here is the equivalents of:

Week- Vāram

Year- Varuṣam

However, as mentioned, be aware that the number of cycles might itself differ from ours, i.e. there
might be a 5-day-cycle with a particular terminology, a 10-day-cycle etc.

SEASONS

Try to get information on the seasons indirectly, before you ask for translations. For example, ask:

"When do you plant the paddy?"

Aadi month - Āṭi mātam

When do you harvest the paddy?"
Tai Month - Tai mātam

Additionally, you might ask for translations:

Spring -Vacanta kālam

In the spring - Vacanta kālattil

Summer – Veyil Kālam

In the summer - Veyil kālattil

Autumn - Ilaiyutir kālam

Winter - Paṉi kālam

What is the beginning of a calendrical unit? Is it a particular 'month' (e.g., January) or 'now'?

Cittirai

How are demonstratives used with calendrical units (cf. curiosities like this in English: this morning=
morning of current day (i.e. in the past) vs. this February = next February (i.e. in the future)

This moring= Iṉṉaikku kālaiyila

This February=Inta pipravariyila

Next February=Aṭutta pipravariyila

Ask people about their favourite time and their least favourite time:

Evening=Cāyaṅkālam, favourite time

Afternoon=Matiyam, least favourite time

"What is your favourite time of the year?"
Winter season= Paṉi kālam
"What are the year activities, what happens in a typical year"?

You should now have an idea of the terminology of 'units of time'. Additionally, you might ask what
the closest equivalents of our January - December are. Ask also for the use of these names in time
reference, i.e.:

January - Cittirai

In January -Cittiraiyil

February - Vaikāci

In February - Vaikāciyil

Etc.

December - Paṅkuṉi

In December - Paṅkuṉiyil

2. NAMES FOR FESTIVALS:

Ask your informant to explaining their annual 'cycle': the seasons and

Festivals
Ask your informant to make a drawing of the year and the sequence of

the main events.

If possible, videotape these explanations. Analyses of gesture here might address the following
question: is the idea of the 'cyclicity' of time ("Christmas comes around each year") really an idea
shared by indigenous populations (much anthropological research suggests that 'exotic' times are
somehow more cyclical than ours and less linear), or is this idea of cyclicity imposed onto periodic
times from the Western point of view, e.g., motivated by artifacts such as clocks?

Additionally, you might ask for festivals of this type:

Harvest festival - Poṅkal

during the harvest festival - Poṅkal appō

sowing festival - Āṭi paṭṭam

longest day festival - Poṅkal

shortest day festival - Taippūcam

Try to find out more names for festivals and what they are about/what

is done during these festivals

Tamiḻ puttāṇṭu – Tamil New Year

Kārttikai tīpam – festival of lights

3. PARTS OF THE DAY

The complexity of subdividing the day into parts evidently varies across languages. Do not just ask
for translations of English/Portuguese terms, but also ask your informant:

"Please explain the different parts of the day to me"

"What are the parts of the day?"

Morning = Kālai, Afternoon = Matiyam, Evening = Cāyaṅkālam, Night = Irāttiri

"What are the day's activities; what happens on a typical day?"

Kālai = wake up and have food,

Matiyam = have lunch,

Cāyaṅkālam = playing and relaxing,

Irāttiri = have dinner and sleep.

Once you have an idea of the segmentation of the day, and there are unexpected gaps (e.g., your
informant hasn't mentioned a name for 'morning'), you can ask for translations for the Portuguese
terms:

Morning = Kālai

Early morning = Viṭiyaṟkālai

Late morning

Noon

Afternoon = Matiyam

Early evening

Evening = Cāyaṅkālam

Late evening

Night = Irāttiri

Midnight = Naṭu rāttiri

Dusk =

Dawn = Viṭiyaṟkālai

Ask when the day's activities begin. Ask further clarifying questions. For example, if your informant
says that the day's activities begin 'at sunrise", you can ask: "Exactly at sunrise?" This might give us
an initial
idea of terms for temporal sequencing, possibly derived from locational markers, as in the case of
"shortly after sunrise" and "just before sunrise", "at sunrise", "in the morning"

shortly after sunrise = Cūriyaṉ uticcatukku appōrō

at sunrise = Cūriyaṉ utikkapōtu

in the morning = Kālaila

4. DEICTIC TIME ADVERBIALS

If possible, find out the basic vocabulary for deictic time reference:

Ask about plans for the day, the close future: tomorrow, next week; and activities in the close past:
yesterday, last week. If possible, videotape these interactions.

You should find out the vocabulary to express the following ideas:

Today = Iṉṉaikku

this day (=today) = Iṉṉaikku

this morning (=today morning or tomorrow morning?) = Iṉṉaikku kālaiyila

Now = Ippō

Yesterday = Nēttu
that day = Aṉṉaikku

Tomorrow = Nāḷaikku

the day before yesterday = Muntā nēttu

day after tomorrow = Nāḷāṉaikku

3 days ago = Mūṇu nāḷaikku muṉṉāṭi

in 3 days' time = Mūṉu nāḷaikkuḷḷē

many days ago = Pala nāḷaikku muṉṉāṭi

in a couple of days = Iṉṉo koñca nāḷukkuḷḷa

a moment ago = Koñca nēra muṉṉāṭi

in a moment/soon = Koñca nērattala

5. OTHER

If

you have a hunch that some temporal terminology is derived from

other vocabulary, try to follow up on this hunch. It could be that times of

the day (such as noon) have the same name as cardinal directions, as is the case in some languages
(e.g., Polish: poludnie = south & noon) or are based on the word for the sun (as in Bororo). Try to
find out the normal expressions for the following meanings:

Sun = Cūriyaṉ

Moon = Nilā

Morning star = Kālai naṭcattiram

Evening star = Mālai naṭcattiram

Absolute directions, e.g.:

North = Vaṭakku

South = Teṟku

West = Mēṟku

East = Kiḻakku

Time = Nēram
To see = Pāru

Fire = Neruppu

Light = Oḷi

Dark = Iruṭṭu

White = Veḷḷa

Black = Karuppu

Red = Cevappu

Blue = Nīlam

Green = Pacca
I. General Information

1.1 Name: Rigsanth.S

1.3. Gender: M

1.5 Occupation: Student

1.6 Contact Address:

Questionnaire

Participant Code: Date :

1.2 Age/D.O.B: 19

1.4 Marital Status: Unmarried

1.7 E-mail ID: cherigsanth005@gmail.com

II Language Profile

2.1 State your Native Language (if you grew up with more than one, then please specify)

TAMIL

2.2 List all the other languages you can communicate in.

Tamil, English
Informed consent form

I hereby consent to participating in a linguistic study related to calendric system and measurements
in my native language.

I am aware that my participation is voluntary and I have the right to terminate the elicitation task any
time without having to give an explanation. I am informed that the collected data is solely for
academic purposes. I am also informed that the research results derived from the data collected will
be completely anonymous.

Place and Date: University Of Hyderabad, 02/03/2024

Signature: Rigsanth
Time season and weather

This domain is for time and related words, for example, seasons of sowing, planting, harvesting,
hunting, snowing, etc.

• The names of week/days and months should be elicited as well.

Each culture has different terms for timing. For instance, certain community has a term for the time
of going to field, time of returning from the field and so on.

• Include words of the movement of sun, moon, star etc. that determine time calculation for the
community.

Time = Nēram

Season = Kālam

weather = Pōṉa varuṣam

today = Iṉṉaikku

yesterday = Nēttu

day before yesterday = Muntā nēttu

two days before yesterday = Nēttukku reṇṭu nāḷaikku muṉṉāṭi

last week = Pōṉa vāram

last year = Pōṉa varuṣam

last month = Pōṉa Mācam

last two years = Pōṉa reṇṭu Aṭutta

tomorrow = Nāḷaikku

day after tomorrow = Nāḷāṉaikku

two days after tomorrow = Nāḷaikku reṇṭu nāḷukku appuṟam

next week = Aṭutta vāram

next month = Aṭutta Mācam

next year = Aṭutta varuṣam

next two years = Aṭutta reṇṭu Aṭutta

morning = Kālai

noon = Naṇpakal

afternoon = Matiyam

Evening = Cāyaṅkālam

Night = Irāttiri

Midnight = Naṭu rāttiri

Dawn = Viṭiyaṟkālai

sunrise = Cūriya utayam

sunset = Cūriya astamaṉam

day = Nāḷ

Sunday = Ñāyittu kiḻama

Monday = Tiṅka kiḻama

Tuesday = Cevvā kiḻama

Wednesday = Putaṉ kiḻama

Thursday = Vyaḻa kiḻama

Friday = Velli kiḻama

Saturday = Sani kiḻama

Week = vāram

Fifteen days = Patiṉaintu nāṭkaḷ

Month = Mācam
January = Chittirai

February = Vaikāsi

March = Āni

April = Ādi

May = Āvaṇi

June = Puraṭṭāsi

July = Aippasi

August = Kārtikai

September = Mārgaḻi

October = Tai

November = Māsi

December = Panguni

Month = Mācam

Year = varuṣam

Century = Nūṟṟāṇṭu
Summer = Veyil Kālam
Winter = Paṉi kālam
spring/fall = Vacanta kālam
autumn = Ilaiyutir kālam
rainy = Maḻai peyyutu
sunny = Veḷiccamāṉa nāḷ
Cloudy = Mēka mūṭṭam nāḷ
Hot = Cūṭāṉa
humid/moist = Īramāṉa
cold = Kuḷir
hour = Maṇi Nēram
minute (look for local terms) = Nimiṣam
Second (look for local terms) = Noṭi
Moment = Kaṇam

Directions
This domain is for names of directions natively used by the community.
Direction = Ticai
East = Kiḻakku
West = Mēṟku
North = Vaṭakku
South = Teṟku
Northeast = Vaṭakiḻakku
Southeast = Teṉ kiḻakku
Southwest = Teṉ mēṟku
Northwest = Vaṭamēṟku
left side = Iṭatu pakkam

right side = Valatu pakkam

front = Muṉ
back = Piṉ pakkam
up = Mēla
down = Kīḻa
. Measurements
•
This domain is used for terms related to measurement words of the native system that indicate
distance, time, quantity, liquid, volume, grain, powder etc.
The investigator may ask as to how the concepts such as length, width, height, volume, quantity, time
etc., are expressed. The process of measurement may also be inquired from here itself as per the
investigator's convenience even though this would be dealt in ethno-linguistic section.
It should be noted that a particular culture will have different ways of measuring distance. For
example, it may not use a system such as feet, metre, or kilometre but simply use finger length, hand
length or 'distance of a field'.
Include other local measure words in the empty slots provided.

Measurement = Aḷavīṭu
Feet = Aṭi
Width = Akalam
Metre = Mīṭṭar
Quantity = Aḷavu
Finger-length = Viral nīḷam

Distance = Tūram
Length = nīḷam
Height = Uyaram
Area = Parappaḷavu
Volume = Koḷḷaḷavu
Depth = Āḻam
level (of water) = Nīr maṭṭam
time = Nēram
half = Pāti
quarter = Kāl
three-fourth = Mukkāl
fraction = Piṉṉam
DATA COLLECTED
FROM PARTICIPANT 2
Calendar questionnaire

Calendric time defines event types: hours, parts of the day, days of the week, months, seasons, and
festival names are all tokens of event types, i.e. periodic times.

Try to find out as many of these as possible.

Priority: High

1. CALENDAR

What are the calendrical units (days, weeks, months, seasons, years?) This could potentially be quite
complex (e.g., the Balinese apparently have 10 different 'cycles' of different duration akin to our
week, month, and year), so it is important to not only ask for translations but also ask more general
questions. A reasonable point to start might be a concept of a moon-based time-unit, i.e. our 'month',
and a sun-based unit, i.e. our 'day'. Ask for names of months before you ask for translations of the
Portuguese terms.

Day - Nāḷ

Sun - Cūriyaṉ

Month – Mātam
Moon - Nilā

When you have found out what the Amondawa for 'month' is, you can

ask more general questions such as:

"What are the parts/elements of a 'month"?"

WEEKS - Vāraṅkaḷ

DAYS - Nāṭkaḷ

"Do several 'months' together form another unit of time?"

3 MONTHS- Kālāṇṭu

6 MONTHS- Araiāṇṭu

The information we are looking for here is the equivalents of:

Week- Vāram

Year- āṇṭu

However, as mentioned, be aware that the number of cycles might itself differ from ours, i.e. there
might be a 5-day-cycle with a particular terminology, a 10-day-cycle etc.

SEASONS

Try to get information on the seasons indirectly, before you ask for translations. For example, ask:

"When do you plant the paddy?"

Aadi month - Āṭi mātam

When do you harvest the paddy?"
Tai Month - Tai mātam

Additionally, you might ask for translations:

Spring -Vacanta kālam

In the spring - Vacanta kālattil

Summer – Veyil Kālam

In the summer - Veyil kālattil

Autumn - Ilaiyutir kālam

Winter - Kuḷirkālam

What is the beginning of a calendrical unit? Is it a particular 'month' (e.g., January) or 'now'?

Cittirai

How are demonstratives used with calendrical units (cf. curiosities like this in English: this morning=
morning of current day (i.e. in the past) vs. this February = next February (i.e. in the future)

This moring= Iṉṉaikku kālaiyila

This February=Inta pipravariyila

Next February=Aṭutta pipravariyila

Ask people about their favourite time and their least favourite time:

morning=Kālai, favourite time

Afternoon=Matiyam, least favorite time

"What is your favourite time of the year?"
Winter season= Kuḷirkālam
"What are the year activities, what happens in a typical year"?

You should now have an idea of the terminology of 'units of time'. Additionally, you might ask what
the closest equivalents of our January - December are. Ask also for the use of these names in time
reference, i.e.:

January - Cittirai

In January -Cittiraiyil

February - Vaikāci

In February - Vaikāciyil

Etc.

December - Paṅkuṉi

In December - Paṅkuṉiyil

2. NAMES FOR FESTIVALS:

Ask your informant to explaining their annual 'cycle': the seasons and

Festivals
Ask your informant to make a drawing of the year and the sequence of

the main events.

If possible, videotape these explanations. Analyses of gesture here might address the following
question: is the idea of the 'cyclicity' of time ("Christmas comes around each year") really an idea
shared by indigenous populations (much anthropological research suggests that 'exotic' times are
somehow more cyclical than ours and less linear), or is this idea of cyclicity imposed onto periodic
times from the Western point of view, e.g., motivated by artifacts such as clocks?

Additionally, you might ask for festivals of this type:

Harvest festival - Poṅkal

during the harvest festival - Poṅkal appō

sowing festival - Āṭi paṭṭam

longest day festival - Poṅkal

shortest day festival - Taippūcam

Try to find out more names for festivals and what they are about/what

is done during these festivals

Tamiḻ puttāṇṭu – Tamil New Year

Kārttikai tīpam – festival of lights

Paṅkuṉi uttiram - commemoration of the wedding of Kartikeya and Devasena it happens on full
moon day of the month of Panguni

Māci makam
3. PARTS OF THE DAY

The complexity of subdividing the day into parts evidently varies across languages. Do not just ask
for translations of English/Portuguese terms, but also ask your informant:

"Please explain the different parts of the day to me"

"What are the parts of the day?"

Morning = Kālai, Afternoon = Matiyam, Evening = Cāyaṅkālam, Night = Irāttiri

"What are the day's activities; what happens on a typical day?"

Kālai = wake up and have food,

Matiyam = have lunch,

Cāyaṅkālam = playing and relaxing,

Irāttiri = have dinner and sleep.

Once you have an idea of the segmentation of the day, and there are unexpected gaps (e.g., your
informant hasn't mentioned a name for 'morning'), you can ask for translations for the Portuguese
terms:

Morning = Kālai

Early morning = Viṭiyaṟkālai

Late morning

Noon = Naṇpakal

Afternoon = Matiyam

Early evening

Evening = Cāyaṅkālam

Late evening

Night = Irāttiri

Midnight = Naṭu rāttiri

Dusk = Anti mālai

Dawn = Viṭiyaṟkālai

Ask when the day's activities begin. Ask further clarifying questions. For example, if your informant
says that the day's activities begin 'at sunrise", you can ask: "Exactly at sunrise?" This might give us
an initial
idea of terms for temporal sequencing, possibly derived from locational markers, as in the case of
"shortly after sunrise" and "just before sunrise", "at sunrise", "in the morning"

shortly after sunrise = Cūriyaṉ uticcatukku appōrō

at sunrise = Cūriyaṉ utikkapōtu

in the morning = Kālaila

4. DEICTIC TIME ADVERBIALS

If possible, find out the basic vocabulary for deictic time reference:

Ask about plans for the day, the close future: tomorrow, next week; and activities in the close past:
yesterday, last week. If possible, videotape these interactions.

You should find out the vocabulary to express the following ideas:

Today = Iṉṉaikku

this day (=today) = Iṉṉaikku

this morning (=today morning or tomorrow morning?) = Iṉṉaikku kālaiyila

Now = Ippō

Yesterday = Nēttu
that day = Aṉṉaikku

Tomorrow = Nāḷaikku

the day before yesterday = Muntā nēttu

day after tomorrow = Nāḷāṉaikku

3 days ago = Mūṇu nāḷaikku muṉṉāṭi

in 3 days' time = Mūṉu nāḷaikkuḷḷē

many days ago = Pala nāḷaikku muṉṉāṭi

in a couple of days = Iṉṉo koñca nāḷukkuḷḷa

a moment ago = Koñca nēra muṉṉāṭi

in a moment/soon = Koñca nērattala

5. OTHER

If

you have a hunch that some temporal terminology is derived from

other vocabulary, try to follow up on this hunch. It could be that times of

the day (such as noon) have the same name as cardinal directions, as is the case in some languages
(e.g., Polish: poludnie = south & noon) or are based on the word for the sun (as in Bororo). Try to
find out the normal expressions for the following meanings:

Sun = Cūriyaṉ

Moon = Nilā

Morning star = Kālai naṭcattiram

Evening star = Mālai naṭcattiram

Absolute directions, e.g.:

North = Vaṭakku

South = Teṟku

West = Mēṟku

East = Kiḻakku

Time = Nēram
To see = Pāru

Fire = Neruppu

Light = Oḷi

Dark = Iruṭṭu

White = Veḷḷa

Black = Karuppu

Red = Cevappu

Blue = Nīlam

Green = Paccai
I. General Information

1.1 Name: Krishna veni

1.3. Gender: F

1.5 Occupation: Teacher

1.6 Contact Address:

Questionnaire

Participant Code:

Date :

1.2 Age/D.O.B: 40

1.4 Marital Status: Married

1.7 E-mail ID:

II Language Profile

2.1 State your Native Language (if you grew up with more than one, then please specify)

TAMIL

2.2 List all the other languages you can communicate in.

Tamil
Informed consent form

I hereby consent to participating in a linguistic study related to calendric system and measurements
in my native language.

I am aware that my participation is voluntary and I have the right to terminate the elicitation task any
time without having to give an explanation. I am informed that the collected data is solely for
academic purposes. I am also informed that the research results derived from the data collected will
be completely anonymous.

Place and Date: Namakkal , 02/03/2024

Signature: Krishna Veni

Time season and weather

This domain is for time and related words, for example, seasons of sowing, planting, harvesting,
hunting, snowing, etc.

• The names of week/days and months should be elicited as well.

Each culture has different terms for timing. For instance, certain community has a term for the time
of going to field, time of returning from the field and so on.

• Include words of the movement of sun, moon, star etc. that determine time calculation for the
community.

Time = Nēram

Season = Kālam

weather = Pōṉa varuṣam

today = Iṉṉaikku

yesterday = Nēttu

day before yesterday = Muntā nēttu

two days before yesterday = Nēttukku reṇṭu nāḷaikku muṉṉāṭi

last week = Pōṉa vāram

last year = Pōṉa varuṣam

last month = Pōṉa Mācam

last two years = Pōṉa reṇṭu Aṭutta

tomorrow = Nāḷaikku

day after tomorrow = Nāḷāṉaikku

two days after tomorrow = Nāḷaikku reṇṭu nāḷukku appuṟam

next week = Aṭutta vāram

next month = Aṭutta Mācam

next year = Aṭutta varuṣam

next two years = Aṭutta reṇṭu Aṭutta

morning = Kālai

noon = Naṇpakal

afternoon = Matiyam

Evening = Cāyaṅkālam

Night = Irāttiri

Midnight = Naṭu rāttiri

Dawn = Viṭiyaṟkālai

sunrise = Cūriya utayam

sunset = Cūriya astamaṉam

day = Nāḷ

Sunday = Ñāyittu kiḻama

Monday = Tiṅka kiḻama

Tuesday = Cevvā kiḻama

Wednesday = Putaṉ kiḻama

Thursday = Vyaḻa kiḻama

Friday = Velli kiḻama

Saturday = Sani kiḻama

Week = vāram

Fifteen days = Patiṉaintu nāṭkaḷ

Month = Mācam
January = Chittirai

February = Vaikāsi

March = Āni

April = Ādi

May = Āvaṇi

June = Puraṭṭāsi

July = Aippasi

August = Kārtikai

September = Mārgaḻi

October = Tai

November = Māsi

December = Panguni

Month = Mācam

Year = varuṣam

Century = Nūṟṟāṇṭu
Summer = Veyil Kālam
Winter = Paṉi kālam
spring/fall = Vacanta kālam
autumn = Ilaiyutir kālam
rainy = Maḻai peyyutu
sunny = Veḷiccamāṉa nāḷ
Cloudy = Mēka mūṭṭam nāḷ
Hot = Cūṭāṉa
humid/moist = Īramāṉa
cold = Kuḷir
hour = Maṇi Nēram
minute (look for local terms) = Nimiṣam
Second (look for local terms) = Noṭi
Moment = Kaṇam

Directions
This domain is for names of directions natively used by the community.
Direction = Ticai
East = Kiḻakku
West = Mēṟku
North = Vaṭakku
South = Teṟku
Northeast = Vaṭakiḻakku
Southeast = Teṉ kiḻakku
Southwest = Teṉ mēṟku
Northwest = Vaṭamēṟku
left side = Iṭatu pakkam

right side = Valatu pakkam

front = Muṉ
back = Piṉ pakkam
up = Mēla
down = Kīḻa
Measurements
•
This domain is used for terms related to measurement words of the native system that indicate
distance, time, quantity, liquid, volume, grain, powder etc.
The investigator may ask as to how the concepts such as length, width, height, volume, quantity, time
etc., are expressed. The process of measurement may also be inquired from here itself as per the
investigator's convenience even though this would be dealt in ethno-linguistic section.
It should be noted that a particular culture will have different ways of measuring distance. For
example, it may not use a system such as feet, metre, or kilometre but simply use finger length, hand
length or 'distance of a field'.
Include other local measure words in the empty slots provided.

Measurement = Aḷavīṭu
Feet = Aṭi
Width = Akalam
Metre = Mīṭṭar
Quantity = Aḷavu
Finger-length = Viral nīḷam

Distance = Tūram
Length = nīḷam
Height = Uyaram
Area = Parappaḷavu
Volume = Koḷḷaḷavu
Depth = Āḻam
level (of water) = Nīr maṭṭam
time = Nēram
half = Pāti
quarter = Kāl
three-fourth = Mukkāl
fraction = Piṉṉam
CONCLUSION

The Tamil language is spoken mostly in India and is a member of the Dravidian language family.
Tamil Nadu, a state in India, and Puducherry, a union territory, both have it as their official language.
It is also widely spoken in Malaysia, Mauritius, Fiji, and South Africa, and it is an official language
in Singapore and Sri Lanka. Tamil was designated as an Indian classical language in 2004 because it
satisfied three requirements: it has a long history, its distinct tradition, and an extensive library of
classical literature.
1)There is a long history of calendars and timekeeping systems in Tamil culture. The following
books and sources go over Tamil calendric systems:

• The Tirukkanda Panchangam is a traditional Tamil almanac that offers comprehensive

details on festivals, astrological events, and auspicious times. Tamil-speaking communities
use it extensively for organizing social and religious events.

• Though not directly related to calendric systems, the ancient Tamil philosopher Tiruvalluvar's
"Tirukkural" includes verses discussing time, seasons, and the value of managing one's time
well. It is a subliminal reflection of the Tamil people's cultural conception of timekeeping.

• The Sangam literature, which originates in ancient Tamil Nadu, alludes to several Tamil
cultural practices, including keeping time. These texts provide insights into the perception
and organization of time in ancient Tamil society, even though they do not exclusively
concentrate on calendric systems.

2)Measurement systems in ancient Tamil Nadu are a common topic of discussion in Tamil literature
and historical texts. The following resources discuss the use of measurement systems in Tamil texts:

• One of the Five Great Epics of Tamil literature is Silappatikaram, penned by Ilango Adigal.
It sheds light on several facets of ancient Tamil society, such as trade and commerce, which
involved weight and distance measurement systems.

• Manimekalai, one of the Five Great Epics, too, provides insights into the measurement
systems that were common in the past. It provides insight into the units of measurement
utilized in daily life and trade while describing the social and economic life of ancient Tamil
Nadu.

• One of the earliest existing Tamil grammars, Tolkāppiyam offers important insights into the
customs and culture of the ancient Tamil people. Although it is mostly grammar-focused,
there are references to measurement units that are used in different contexts.

• Tirukkural is a poem attributed to the Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar that discusses a variety of
topics, including commerce and ethics, though it is not solely about measurement systems. In
its verses about trade and economy, it subtly refers to units of measurement.