{"document_url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tolkappiyam_chapter_1%E2%80%933"}
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Translation:Tolkappiyam/Phoneme, articulation
Articulations of Tamil-phonemes are discussed here based on Tolkappiyam.

Propelling air in mouth makes sound if articulated. The least part of human language is phoneme. It varies in languages. Generally some points in the mouth and nose help to propel phoneme.
Tamil phonemes are thirty. They are 12 vowels and 18 consonants. Tolkappiyam, the earliest Tamil classical work defines scientifically the positions and functions of the speech organs, which produce phonemes.

Speech organs and their functions

Raising wind starts from diaphragm. On the way it touches 8 vocal organs. Head the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx are the three places where they touch. Teeth, lip, tongue, nose and palate are the five places where they play before producing voice. According to modern science the larynx or voice box is the anchor of vocal folds. It impedes the airflow from the lungs to create vocal folds. A periodic cycle in speech organs produces phonemes.

Vowels in Tamil

Consonants in Tamil

Dependant phonemes in Tamil

Conclusion

Footnotes