Le commentaire de Cenavaraiyar sur le Collatikaram du Tolkappiyam. Sur la métalangue grammaticale des maîtres commentateurs tamouls médiévaux. Volume 1

by Jean-Luc Chevillard

This is a French translation of a commentary on the second part of the Tolkappiyam, the oldest preserved Tamil grammar. It deals mostly with the word (col) as a part of speech. The seven central chapters deal with the cases and the four types of words (nouns, verbs, particles and “proper words”). The commentary, probably composed around 1300 A.D., contains a word-for-word paraphrase of the sutra-s, examples drawn from classical literature and from ordinary language, and elaborate discussions. It constantly claims faithfulness to the Tolkappiyam, but is largely autonomous, drawing from several linguistic, metaphysical and logical doctrines. Although several translations of the Tolkappiyam are available, this is the first time that one of its commentaries has been translated. A second volume will contain studies and glossaries.