namaste TTA and others.
I am not a linguist either. Although it is only my opinion that Sanskrit is the mother of the Tamizh language, like it is with all other languages, I think that there are ample pointers to this truth, if one investigates it all without any bias or emotional attachment to either language.
Here is a quote as to the classical status of Tamizh:
A provision to confer status of classical languages in India was made by constitutional decree in the 2004. There are few criterias which should be met in order to receive this status. These generally constitute antiquity in leadership, qualities as a base for other languages, rich literature, a language theory and so on. In this context among the classical languages of India we include Tamil and Sanskrit. Classical Tamil is the language of the Sangam the Sangam literature.
(
http://www.indianetzone.com/4/classical_languages.htm)
As for the words arimA and siMha which mean a lion:
Х Let us note that hariH in Sanskrit also means a lion. I don't deny that arimA may be a unique Tamizh word, but the connotation between these two words is obvious.
Х The word siMham has its derivative singgam in Tamizh, which means a lion. The country name Singapore (pronounced singapUr) is derived from the Tamizh word singgam.
There are several popular words in Tamizh that have their origins in Sanskrit:
Х The word 'kasmAlam' is a derogatory reference meaning an impure or cowardly person. This word is often used in scolding among slum dwellers in TamizhnADu. The original word 'kashmalam' in Sanskrit has the same meaning.
Х The DK and DMK people taunt the brahmins in TamizhnADu for using the Sanskrit word 'aham' to refer to a person's home. (Thus, 'ahatthukkArar' in brahminical Tamizh means a husband as the master of the house.) Yet, these people have no qualms in using the term 'aham' as 'agam' with the same meanings in daily usage: uNavagam--eating house/eatery; kuRaLagam--Chennai branch of the KhAdi Krafts cottage enterprise; muDi-tirutthagam--saloon, where your muDi--hair is corrected; ezhilagam--name of a Government office complex in Chennai, and so on.
Х The name of the beverage coffee, which is a must for most Tamizhs in the morning, has its equvalent 'kAppi' in Tamizh, which is thought to be derived from the English word; yet the word is derived from the Sanskrit word 'kapizha' meaning brown or reddish color.
Х As far as I know, there is no equivalent Tamizh word for the Sanskrit kAraNam--reason, which is used as such in Tamizh. Some Tamizh pandits are fond of saying that the equivalent Tamizh word is 'Ethu', but then Ethu is derived from the Sanskrit hetu--cause/motive/impulse.
Any language has its own words and sounds but do not function by them alone, even in its pristine/classical stage, because as the famous English poet of the 16th century said, "man is not an island". As I pointed out in my post no.9, the very first verse of TirukkuRaL has four Sanskrit words out of its seven or eight words: akara, Adi, bhagavan, and ulaku (from lokam). No language can grow if does not use and assimilate words from other languages.
I shall post my impressions about the possibility of Sanskrit being the mother language of Tamizh in another post.
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