Tamil Typing - A Step-by-Step Guide to Mastering the Keyboard PART 1: Understanding the Tamil Script and Keyboard Layouts

The Tamil script is one of the oldest writing systems in the world, known for its phonetic precision and graceful structure. It is primarily used to write the Tamil language, spoken by millions across Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka, and the global Tamil diaspora. The script is syllabic, meaning each character represents a combination of a consonant and a vowel sound.

Core Components of Tamil Script

Tamil letters are categorized into three main groups:

  • Vowels (உயிரெழுத்துகள் – Uyir Ezhuthukkal) [12]:
    அ, ஆ, இ, ஈ, உ, ஊ, எ, ஏ, ஐ, ஒ, ஓ, ஔ
    These represent pure vowel sounds.

  • Consonants (மெய்யெழுத்துகள் – Mei Ezhuthukkal) [18]:
    க, ங, ச, ஞ, ட, ண, த, ந, ப, ம, ய, ர, ல, வ, ழ, ள, ற, ன
    Each consonant has an inherent “a” sound unless modified by a vowel marker.

  • Grantha Letters (Additional Characters):
    ஜ, ஷ, ஸ, ஹ, க்ஷ
    These were adapted from the Grantha script and are primarily used to write Sanskrit-origin words in Tamil.

Compound Characters (Uyirmei Ezhuthukkal)

When vowels (Uyir) combine with consonants (Mei), they form compound letters or Uyirmei Ezhuthukkal. These represent the majority of syllables in Tamil writing and speech.

Tamil Keyboard Layouts

Tamil typing can be done using different keyboard layouts, depending on personal preference and familiarity:

  1. Tamil99 Keyboard:

    • The official and standardized Tamil keyboard layout.

    • Designed for fast and efficient native Tamil typing.

  2. Inscript Keyboard:

    • Follows the Indian Government’s standard layout for Indic scripts.

    • Suitable for those familiar with typing in other Indian languages.

  3. Phonetic Typing:

    • Allows users to type Tamil words using English letters (e.g., typing vanakkam produces வணக்கம்).

    • Ideal for beginners who know Tamil pronunciation but not the keyboard layout.

  4. Google Input Tools:

    • A convenient online and offline tool that converts English transliteration into Tamil.

    • Useful for casual typing or quick Tamil text generation without specialized software.

Conclusion

By understanding the structure of the Tamil script and exploring various keyboard layouts, learners can choose the most comfortable method for their needs. Mastery of these basics ensures accurate, fluent, and confident Tamil typing across any digital platform.