Etymological Study of Bird Names in Ettuthogai Anthology

Abstract

Etymology means the study of the sources and development of words or a history of a word. It tells about how a word developed and gradually about the current situation of that particular word. Thus, if we study the etymological aspects of the names of some birds revealed in the Sangam literary texts, we will be amazed at their sophisticated knowledge. Apart from that, the fact is that many changes have taken place when comparing the technique of naming the birds with the current state.  Innumerable literatures have appeared in Tamil language and the excellence found in them is immense. By examining them one by one, we can learn about the clarity of knowledge, poetry and scientific facts of our ancestors. While the Tamil experts are examining it in many levels like grammar, linguistics, analysis and writing. This article is an etymological study of bird names found in Sangam literature.