Learn to speak Tamil  

Tamil Language

Tamil CD-ROM
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Where does Tamil come from?
Tamil is a member of the Dravidian family of languages. It is thought these languages are derived from a language spoken in India prior to the invasion of the Aryans c.1500 B.C.

The Dravidian languages have their own alphabets, which go back to a common source that is related to the Devanagari alphabet used for Sanskrit. Tamil is the oldest language of the Dravidian languages and is considered by some to be amongst the oldest surviving languages in the world.

Tamil literature is among the most ancient in Asia, dating from some 2,000 years ago. There are two literary languages: Classical and Modern Standard Tamil. The spoken language has numerous dialects, with caste differences also being reflected in speech.

How many people speak Tamil?
There are about 70 million people who speak Tamil.

In how many countries?
Tamil is the state language of the India State of Tamil Nadu (formerly Madras) where there are 65 Million speakers, but it is also spoken in Sri Lanka (3 million), Malaysia (1 million) Fiji, Guyana, Mauritius, Singapore, Trinidad and Tobago, and some parts of East Africa.

Tamil Culture

Tamil Music and Dance
Bharata-natya, one of India's major classical dance forms, and Carnatic music are both widely practised. Carnatic music, referred to as "classical music" in South India, is a very old tradition.

Tamil Nadu has a rich tradition of folk music. Tamil folk music tends to be vivacious and is best experienced at a live performance, although folk music also remains a major source of inspiration for the more popular film music.

Tamil Food and Drink
Rice plays an essential role in the Tamil diet. Lentils, too, are consumed extensively, as accompaniment to the rice preparations. Coconut is also used a lot in Tamil kitchens, as are fish and other seafood.

Though several communities in the state are strictly vegetarian, there is a whole range of non-vegetarian dishes - exotic, succulent, and full of fire. Fish and other seafood like crab are also cooked in the traditional Tamil kitchen, with spices and traditional seasoning.

Known for its spicy, hot fare, Chettinad cuisine hails from the deep southern region of Tamil Nadu. Chettinad cuisine is far cry from the bland cuisine of traditional Tamilian Brahmins - it is one of the spiciest, oiliest and most aromatic in India.

About Talk Now! Language CD-ROMs
This is an excitingly different language learning series. Talk Now! uses games and quizzes as a basis for making the learning process fun, easy and relaxing. There is no better way to teach an old dog new tricks and this fun element of the program means that your fears are forgotten as you absorb words and phrases without even realising you are learning them.

Talk Now! is the world's best selling language learning CD-ROM series for beginners, used by more than three million people to date. It's ideal for travellers, holidaymakers, business people, schoolchildren, students and families.

Anyone over 10 years of age will find the disc indispensable for improving listening, understanding and spoken language skills. There are nine topics: first words, food, colours, phrases, parts of the body, numbers, time, shopping and countries.

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