An essay on the relationship between Modern Japanese, Korean and Tamil

Eric Selwako

஋ம்ம஠ஆக்க஬஡஋ம்ஜ஫ய்ஜ஠஬஦ண்ம஛க்埁ம்

஝஫ன்அம்஠஫வ஧ன்쟁அம஦த்ஜ஋ன்ட஫ட்羿க்埁ம்

஋ன்மஞவடற்ண஋ன்ஜ஫஡஫쏁க்埁ம்

ꯁகழ்ச஗஢ச஧.

I must also thank and credit fully President Jung Nam Kim for his enormous contribution by founding the Korean Society of Tamil Studies. His work, as noted by the following link, has been a huge boost to my thesis. Kindly find his interview by following this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGSrEAW0c_A&feature=related

Introduction

Conventions of Roman Transliteration

Romaji and Hangul are used for Japanese and Korean respectively.

For Tamil, I am using the Weulhlhuweun system of Tamil Romanisation (WSTR) which I had previously developed for a website: learn-tamil.org. It gets rid of the necessity to use diacritics, and it is as follows:

அ ஆ இ ஈ உ ஊ ஋ ஌ ஍ எ Eu A I Ee/ii U Oo/uu E Ae Eui O ஔ க ஖ ஗ ங ச ஛ ஜ ஝ ட Au K/g Ng C/cha Ny Th/dh Nh Ta Kn P/b ஠ ஡ ஢ த ஧ ஦ ஥ ண ஞ ஘ M Y R L W/v Zh Lh Rh N J ன ந க்ஷ ப ஸ்ரீ ற்ண ஋ய் ன்ண S Sh Ksh H Sri Ttr Ei Ndr

Phonetic equivalence chart of Modern Japanese, Korean and Tamil

A

I. Overview

Among many exciting scholarly acts, discovering the complex links between different cultures is certainly at the zenith. This is because it teaches us the complexity of the human being, and makes us to stand in awe in how the world both ancient and modern is so very different yet so very alike.

While the relationship between cultures has always been a complex and controversial premise, the notion of obviousness encountered by native speakers to identify their tongue with that of others cannot be disproved by any other logic that may arise from academic study, because neither culture nor the behaviour of humans is predictable or quantifiable.

So too is language.

When learning a language that is of a different family, the student can often find it difficult to shift away from the structure of their own language as they move onto the others, or at the very least feel that it is noticeably different. If that is held to be true to the slightest degree, then the relationship between Japanese, Korean and Tamil can be happily established.

While proof is admittedly limited, the relationship between the three languages could be better understood if the influences on them by other classical languages giants can be stripped off, hopefully revealing the real language hidden under.

II. Comparison of Modern personal pronouns

Pronoun Korean Tamil (WRST) Japanese (Romaji) (Hangul) Informal I Na Kna Atashi/Jibun/Boku/Ore I (object) Naneun Knanae - I (subject) Naega Yeuneukku JIbun-ni You Neo Knee Kimi You (plural) Neohuideul Kneengeu Kimitachi Us Uri Kneum/Knangeu* Atashitashi/Bokutachi/Oret achi Standard I Knan I (possessive) Eneukku I (am) Knanae You Kneer You (plural) Kneengeulh Us Kneum/Knangeu*

*Tamil also differentiates between exclusive and inclusive forms.

III. Comparison of Korean and Tamil phonology

There are very few incidences of the strong L in world languages. For example, the

날) Korean for day is nal ( pronounced exactly as the Tamil for day (஝஫ள்). The phonological equivalence between the L is certainly a huge find, as there are not that many languages with the strong L. This is different from the Korean r or l, which like

Japanese, remains indifferent. Tamil, however, generally distinguishes between r, l, lh and rh with the addition of zh sound as well.

Cognates

Tamil (WRST) Semantic field Korean (Hangul) Semantic field

Dad inf. 아빠 (appa) Dad inf. அப்ட஫ (euppa) Mother; can be 아줌마 (ajumma) Polite address of அம்஠஫ (eumma) used as a honorific women suffix to addressed old ladies An exclamation of  아이구 (aigu) An exclamation of அய்ச஡஫ displeasure/surprise  아이고 (aigo) displeasure/surprise (euiyou)  Prefix: beauty,  아름 (arum-)  Prefix: beauty  அ쏁ம் elegance  아름다움  Beauty (eurum-)  beauty (arumdaum)  அ쏁ம஠ (eurumeui) Love, kindness 안부 (anbu) Kindness, concern அன்ꯁ (eunbu) Certainly 아마 (ama) Probably ஆ஠஫ (ama) (agreement) An exclamation of 아프다 to pain அப்ட஫ச஫ pain or relief (appeuda) (euppada) Onamatoepia for 가마 (gama) Oven, hotpot. க஠-க஠ hot (geumeu-geumeu) Occurs with 낮다 ( Be short ஝ட்மச natda) (Kneutteui) Come 와 (wa) Come ஧஫ (wa) Our 남 (nam) Some other ஝ம் (Kneum) [something] to be 이다 (aida) [something] to be ஆ஡ிச (ayideu) Grass 풀 (pul) Grass ꯁல் (pul) In 올라 (olla) up உள்஥ (ulhlheu) After, ahead 앞으로 Future, forward அப்ꯁணம் (appeuro) (euppureum) Exploring 타달타달 (tadal- trudging ஜசல் (teudeul) tadal) To push 틀다 (teulda) To turn strongly ஜள்஥ (teulhlheu) To leave 보다 (boda) To leave சட஫க (pougeu) Eu in WRST is the same as a in Hangul.

IV. Potential cognates

Tamil (WRST) Semantic field Korean (Hangul) Semantic field Front 문 (mun) Door 믁ன் (mun) cave 고개 (kogae) Mountain pass 埁மக (kugeui) Buttocks 궁둥이 Buttocks 埁ண்羿 (Kunhdi) (kungdungi)  나다 (nada) To occur, to emerge  ஝ச (neudeu) to walk, to occur  나타나다 To appear  ஝சஞம் to dance (natanada) (neuteuneum) Teeth 빨다 (palda) To put to mouth டள் (peulh)

To touch 닿다 (tata) To touch வஜ஫ச (todeu) To press, to oppress ஜட்ச (taththeu) 머리 (mari) Hair

To know (prefix) 알다 (al) To know அரி஡ (ariyeu) Snake 뱀 (baem) snake ட஫ம்ꯁ (pambu) To tie, to confine 가두 (gadu) To shut, to confine கட்ச (keuththeu) To do 뿌리다 (ppurida) To disperse ꯁரி஡ (puriyeu)

Possible Phonetic change bk

Leg 발 (bal) Foot க஫ல் (kal) Wind 바람 (baram) Wind க஫ற்쟁 (karhrhu)

Sea 바다 (bada) Sea கசல் (keudeul) Possible Phonetic change from w (o)h

One 하나 (hana) One என்쟁 (ondru) 어느 (eoneu) என்ꟁ (onnu) Sky, heaven 하늘 (haneul) Sky, heaven ஧஫ன் (wan) White 하얀 (hayan) White  வ஧ண் (wenh)  வ஧ள்ம஥ (welhlheui) Sun 해 (hae) Sun வ஧஡ில் (weyil) Stomach 허리 (heori) Waist ஧஡ி쏁 (weuyiru) Being alone 혼자 (honja) Being alone எண்羿஡஫ (onhdiya) To flow, to come by 흐르- (heureu) To flow, to come by ஧஢ (weureu) Flood 흘리다 (heullida) To splash, spill வ஧ள்஥ம் (welhlheum)

V. Tamil, Japanese and Korean grammar

Infinitives for all these languages are given or conjugated through their gerund forms

Japanese te

Korean da

Tamil ida

Japanese Semantic Korean Semantic Tamil Semantic (Romaji) field (Hangul) field (WRST) field いる 있다 (iru) To be To be இ쏁க்க To be (itda)

(irukka) ここ 이리 (iri) Here Here இங்சக Here (koko) (ingae) あそこ 저기 There There அங்சக There (jeogi) (asoko) (eungae)

Japanese Semantic Korean Semantic Tamil Semantic (Romaji) field (Hangul) field (WRST) field もっと 모두 More Fully வ஠஫த்ஜ Fully (modu)

(motto) ஠஫ (mottama) (mottomo)

VI. Tamil honorifics

Titles: Tiru and Tirumati are standard equivalents of Mr and Mrs respectively. Celwi is used instead of Miss. These are all prefixes and act just like their western equivalents as mentioned. The higher forms of these are Euiya, Eumma, and Eumuni as explained below.

Suffixes:

Tamil has the distinction of having an elaborate range of honorifics among Indian languages in general, even among the Dravidian languages.

Addressing honorifics: Among the Indic languages, presence of addressing honorifics is unique to Tamil.

Title Use Notes

Low Used among friends, Informal; could be impolite depending on  -[v]ச஫ (da) and siblings of equivalent intonation; just like the Japanese equivalent of – (m) age, or used by older kun, -da can be used occasionally to refer to  -[v]羿 (di) (f) people to refer to youth girls and is considered more polite or endearing or children. Little that way. An informal way to address your male acquaintance. friends if you are a male, especially among teens, is to use the –di suffix, while its use like this can suggest effeminateness – it is very rarely used derogatorily. Can be endearing or offensive.

Middle Derived from the Polite; it is used to refer to a younger  -[n][v]ட஫ (pa) words for Mum and Dad, person with little or no (m) it is used by older people  -[n][v]஠஫ (ma) for younger people. Little acquaintance. (f) Literally means ‘elder Potential cognate of Japanese –aniki.  - brother’ used to refer to அண்஛஫ச் mob bosses. ஗஬/ (eunKnhacci)  - அண்஛஫த் ஜ (eunKnhateui) Literally means Potentially gave the –muni suffix to Korean  -அ믁ஞி milady. Used to young nouns like Omuni, Halmuni, Ahjumoni. (eumuni) ladies of high social standing. Literally means ‘mom’ Cognate of Korean ‘Omma’, ‘Amma’.  -அம்஠஫ but can be used as ‘her (eumma) ladyship’. Used to aged women of higher social standing. Tamil equivalent of  -அய்஡஫ the English, ‘sir’. Used to (euiya) refer to aged men of higher social standing or learned people. Literally means ‘elder Cognate of the Korean Unni. Possible cognate of  -அண்஛ி sister’ but is restricted to the Japanese Ani(ki)(ue) or Ane(ki)(ue) (eunKnhi) use to an elder sister-in- law.

 அக்க஫ (eukka)

 அண்஛஫ (eunhnha)

Deictic or Referral honorifics:

In polite contexts where the speakers are not well acquainted or in formal contexts, honorifics are imperative. Among more familiar situations, rules may be forgone. The honorifics are often

Used to address Polite/Formal.Equivalent of Japanese –sama.  [n]அ஧ங்க someone of equal or It is commonly more polite to use this than – (euweungeu) (n) higher social standing. euweur. This is usually what females are  [v]ங்க (ngeu) referred to with. (n) Used to address Usually used to refer males, but  [n]அ஧ர் someone of equal or occasionally is used for females also. (euweur) (n) lower social standing. Equivalent of Japanese –san. It is used less  [n] அ஧쏁 Commonly used by frequently than -euweur, as the –euweungeu is considered more polite, and people tend to use (euweru) (n) wives to address their  that anyway even if it is not necessary to be as [v]ஆர் (ar) (n) husbands. polite.

Very High* Used to address Very formal like official meetings or media  [n]அ஧ர்கள் someone of equal or presentations. Hardly used in daily contexts. (euweurgeulh) higher social standing. Equivalent of Japanese –shi. (n)







 * These honorifics are also third person pronouns, and would be changed to their second person equivalent when directly addressed. Independently, they are used in reference of someone to someone else.

Occupational honorifics

All honorifics below of pure Tamil origin are suffixes. Sanskrit based honorifics change into prefixes in Tamil, as per the western convention of assigning titles as opposed to honorifics.

Title Use Notes Used to refer to Informal; could be impolite depending on  -ꯁத஧ர் poets, kavinyeur- is intonation; just like the Japanese equivalent of – (puleuweur) used nowadays, but – kun, -da can be used occasionally to refer to  க஧ிஙர்- puleuweur is pure girls and is considered more polite that way. Tamil. (kavinyeur) Can be endearing or offensive. Used to refer to  கமதஙர்- artists. (kaleuinyeur) Refers to Kings Polite  -சக஫/ சக஫஧தர் (Kou/Kouwaleur)  -஠ன்ஞர் (Meunneur)  அ஢஗ர்- (eureuceur) Refers to Lords and Informal  -ச஧ந்ஜர்/ nobles – can also refer (waentheur) to kings  -ஜ஬쏁஝ல் (tiruneul)  -டிள்ம஥ (pilhlheui) Refer to Emperors  சட஢஢஗ர் (paereureuceur)  - சக஫ப்வட쏁ன் சக஫ (kouperunkou)







 Literally means  -கத஫஝஬ஜ஬ ‘doctor’ as a title. (keulaniti) Endearing honorifics

஋ஞங்க (eneungeu) – used by wives to address their husbands, but can also be used for its literal meaning which is a formal form of “What is it?”

஋ஞ஠஫ (eneuma) – can be used by related older male like elder brothers, fathers or husbands to a female person; but can also be used for its literal meaning which is a formal form of “What is it (dear)?” (f) வ஗ல்தம் (celleum) – means honey or dear.

-埁ட்羿 (-kuththy) – used as a suffix for anyone younger, especially children. It is equivalent to the Japanese –chan.

Exclamatories

அய்ச஡஫ (euiyou) – It is the foremost of Tamil exclamations and cognate of the

Korean Aigoo. It is also used in other Dravidian languages. It can be used for surprise, shock or even disappointment. Its use is considered impolite and ominous as it is the name given to the wife of the God of Death and Justice, Yama, and uttering it would mean that she would tell her husband, hence, Yama could just pay someone a visit. It is by far my favourite cognate and also the first I heard from Korean which lead me into this study. It is a very intimate and identifying word that is common among Dravidian languages and a true treasure and identity of Tamil people, as it is so often parodied in northern films to represent any stereotypical Southerner.

அச (eudeu) – This is another Tamil exclamatory and is used mostly to express surprise. Its variants include அச஫ (euda) and அசசச (eudeudae).

அய்஡ச஫ (euiyeuda) – A portmanteau of euiyou and euda, it is used as an exclamatory or for implying sarcasm. Largely used in the western Tamil regions. அப்ட஫ச஫ (euppada) -

அம்஠஫

VII. Nature of language

Double consonants: Korean, Japanese and Tamil have these.

Null subject languages: Both Korean and Tamil are null subject languages.

Honorifics: All three languages employ various degrees of honorifics.

Verb: is present Japanese Korean Tamil Front 문 (mun) Door

Cultural similarities