Concept
The Tamil script (தமிழ் அரிச்சுவடி tamiɻ ˈaɾitːɕuʋaɽi, ) is an abugida script that is used by Tamils and Tamil speakers in India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and elsewhere to write the Tamil language. It is one of the official scripts of the Indian Republic. Certain minority languages such as Saurashtra, Badaga, Irula and Paniya are also written in the Tamil script. The Tamil script has 12 vowels (உயிரெழுத்து, , "soul-letters"), 18 consonants (மெய்யெழுத்து, , "body-letters") and one special character, the ஃ (ஆய்த எழுத்து, ). ஃ is called "அக்கு", akku and is classified in Tamil orthography as being neither a consonant nor a vowel. However, it is listed at the end of the vowel set. The script is syllabic, not alphabetic. The complete script, therefore, consists of the 31 letters in their independent forms and an additional 216 combinatory letters, for a total of 247 (12+18+216+1) combinations (உயிர்மெய்யெழுத்து, , "soul-body-letters") of a consonant and a vowel, a mute consonant or a vowel alone. The combinatory letters are formed by adding a vowel marker to the consonant. Some vowels require the basic shape of the consonant to be altered in a way that is specific to that vowel. Others are written by adding a vowel-specific suffix to the consonant, yet others a prefix and still other vowels require adding both a prefix and a suffix to the consonant. In every case, the vowel marker is different from the standalone character for the vowel. The Tamil script is written from left to right. Tamil-BrahmiVatteluttu alphabetGrantha scriptPallava scriptKolezhuthuArwi and The Tamil script, like the other Brahmic scripts, is thought to have evolved from the original Brahmi script. The earliest inscriptions which are accepted examples of Tamil writing date to the Ashokan period. The script used by such inscriptions is commonly known as the Tamil-Brahmi or "Tamili script" and differs in many ways from standard Ashokan Brahmi.
