How is Tamil language free from Sanskrit influence?

Tamil is considered free from Sanskrit influence because it is a Dravidian language with its own ancient grammatical structure, vocabulary, and literary tradition, independent of Indo-Aryan languages. While some Sanskrit words entered Tamil over time, Tamil’s core linguistic and grammatical foundation remains purely Dravidian, as seen in classical works like Tolkappiyam which predates significant Sanskrit influence.

A question that highlights the unique characteristics of the Tamil language!

While Tamil has borrowed words and concepts from Sanskrit, it has maintained a distinct grammatical and phonological structure, setting it apart from other Indian languages. Here are some reasons why Tamil is considered relatively free from Sanskrit influence:

Grammatical Structure

1. _Non-Indo-Aryan grammar_: Tamil's grammatical structure is different from Sanskrit and other Indo-Aryan languages.

2. _No verb conjugation_: Unlike Sanskrit, Tamil verbs do not change form based on person, number, or tense.

Phonology

1. _Unique sound system_: Tamil has a distinct sound system, with sounds like ழ (ḻ), ள (ḷ), and ற (ṟ) not found in Sanskrit.

2. _No aspirated consonants_: Unlike Sanskrit, Tamil does not have aspirated consonants like kh, gh, or chh.

Vocabulary

1. _Native vocabulary_: Tamil has a significant number of native words, especially in everyday usage.

2. _Limited Sanskrit loanwords_: Compared to other Indian languages, Tamil has relatively few Sanskrit loanwords.

Historical Factors

1. _Early literary tradition_: Tamil has a rich literary tradition dating back to the Sangam period (300 BCE - 300 CE), which predates the widespread influence of Sanskrit.

2. _Geographical isolation_: Tamil Nadu's geographical location, separated from the Indo-Aryan speaking regions by the Deccan Plateau, may have contributed to the language's relative isolation from Sanskrit influence.

While Tamil has not been completely immune to Sanskrit influence, its unique grammatical structure, phonology, and vocabulary have helped maintain its distinct identity.

Tamil is largely free from Sanskrit influence because it developed independently as part of the Dravidian language family. Unlike many Indian languages, Tamil:

Has a pure Dravidian grammar structure.

Uses minimal Sanskrit loanwords in classical texts.

Resisted Sanskrit influence through movements like the Tamil purist movement (Tanittamil Iyakkam).

However, in modern usage, some Sanskrit words have entered spoken Tamil, but classical Tamil remains largely independent.