‘Puniru’ in the Tamil Grammatical and Literary Tradition

தமிழ் இலக்கண மற்றும் இலக்கிய மரபில் ‘புனிறு’

Abstract

Every word in a language embodies the records of the life, culture, and thought of a particular period. In this context, the word Puniru found in ancient Tamil stands as a significant lexical element. This word occurs in grammatical works, lexicons, and Sangam literature in various contexts. In the grammatical tradition, the grammatical category and usage of this word are worthy of examination. Lexicons record the meanings associated with Puniru and thereby expand its semantic field. The contexts in which this word occurs in Sangam literature help clarify its contextual meaning. Furthermore, the usages associated with Puniru reveal aspects of the life and culture of the ancient Tamils. The changes and expansions that have occurred in the semantic field of this word over time reflect the development of the Tamil language. Therefore, this article examines the origin, semantic field, and usage patterns of the word Puniru . Through this study, the linguistic and cultural significance of the word Puniru is brought to light.