Tamil: A Hypothesis on the Origin of Language and Civilization

Author: Dr.M.G.K.Manikandan

Language is not merely a tool for communication it is the soul of civilization. Among the multitude of tongues spoken around the world, I hypothesize that Tamil stands as the earliest, most primordial language known to humanity. This belief stems not just from cultural pride, but from a convergence of archaeological, emotional, linguistic, and anthropological insights.

The classical verse “Kal thonra kaalathey mun thonriya mootha kudi Tamil kudi” (“The Tamil race is ancient, born before even the formation of stone”) strongly resonates with this thought. It reflects the belief that Tamil predates much of what we define as history today reaching far back, even before the commonly referred BC (Before Christ) timeline. I reference BC not as a religious marker, but because it remains a universally recognized chronological point.

Language as Emotion

I believe the origin of Tamil is intrinsically linked to the origin of life itself from the transition of simple molecules (like pentose sugars) to complex beings. Language began not with words, but with feelings. Early living beings expressed their internal emotional states joy, sorrow, pain, and fear through sounds. These primal, instinctive vocalizations evolved over millennia into what we now call vowels the core of Tamil phonetics. Tamil, in this sense, was not constructed; it was felt.

Linguistic Roots: A Global Connection

During my research, I explored the proceedings of the 1984 Tamil Research Conference held at the University of Madras, where several scholars noted that the current Tamil script is not the original one. Instead, it appears to be a fusion of ancient Northern Indian scripts and Ethiopian linguistic forms.

This correlation becomes even more fascinating when we consider the continental drift theory and the migration patterns of early humans. It is now well-established that Homo sapiens originated in Africa, particularly in present-day Ethiopia. (Indeed, I spent four years working in Ethiopia and became familiar with the history and the famous fossil "Lucy", a key link in human evolution.)

As early humans migrated, carrying their tools, culture, and language, the world changed continents drifted apart due to natural calamities like tsunamis, earthquakes, and climate shifts. These evolving landmasses gave birth to countries, regions, and diverse dialects. But at the root of it all, I hypothesize, was Tamil: the primal sound, the mother of languages.

Tamil: Not Just a Language, But a Shared Heritage

This view is not about linguistic supremacy, but linguistic unity. Tamil, in this perspective, belongs to everyone a universal origin language rooted in emotion and human experience. It is not just a treasure of Tamil people; it is the shared legacy of all humankind.