Volume 7, Issue 7

ஒரு சொல் பல பொருள் - வேர்ச்சொல் வழி விளக்கம் அறிதல் | Polysemy in Tamil: Elucidating Meanings Through Etymological Roots

Author

Dr. A. Senthamil Kothai, Assistant Professor, Department of Tamil, MNM Jain Engineering College, Thuraipakkam, Chennai, India.

Abstract

Tamil lexemes often exhibit polysemy, where a single word encompasses multiple, and occasionally contradictory, semantic interpretations. This presents a significant interpretive challenge for language learners, particularly when consulting dictionaries that list a wide range of meanings without contextual hierarchy or etymological guidance. This study proposes an etymology-based framework to resolve such semantic ambiguities. By analyzing the root morphemes of polysemous Tamil words, the research elucidates how divergent meanings have historically branched out. The central thesis asserts that root-based interpretation provides a reliable pathway to disambiguate word meanings with greater precision and contextual accuracy.

Key words: Root word, Word meaning, Dictionary, Polysemy, Etymology

DOI

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