Tamil Ilakkaṇam (‘Grammar’) and the Interplay between Syllabi, Corpora and Manuscripts

Abstract

: The field of traditional Tamil grammar ( ilakkaṇam ) offers an ideal case for studying the interplay between syllabi, corpora and manuscripts. The former two categories are reflected in the internal organisation of certain Tamil gram- matical texts or listed in a number of Tamil (and Latin) literary sources as sub- jects of learning and teaching. In turn, manuscripts, in particular multiple-text manuscripts the content of which is pertinent to the field in question, are not just the mere material instantiation of syllabi and corpora, but represent their concrete realisation in educational settings, where abstract lists may be actual- ised or, quite often, rather approximated. Then said Ægir: ‘In how many ways are the terms of skaldship variously phrased, or how many are the essential elements of the skaldic art?’ Then Bragi answered: ‘The elements into which all poesy is divided are two.’ two?’ said: and Skáldskaparmál