சங்க காலத் தமிழ்ச் சமூகத்தில் வாய்மொழி மரபும் எழுத்து மரபும்

Oral and Written Traditions in Sangam Tamil Society

Abstract

When investigating the establishment of knowledge structures, cultural values, and social organization within Sangam Tamil society, the nexus between oral and written traditions emerges as a pivotal factor. The nascent intellectual apparatus of Tamil society was predominantly oral-centric; collective social memories, historiographic events, and ethico-social norms were disseminated across generations through performative poetry and oral narratives. Over time, the subsequent emergence of writing—specifically the Tamili or Tamil-Brahmi script—facilitated by burgeoning mercantile networks and socio-political shifts, provided a mechanism to codify and institutionalize this oral knowledge as verifiable historical records. Utilizing the conceptual frameworks of K. Kailasapathy’s 'Oral-Formulaic Theory' and Walter Ong’s 'Psychodynamics of Orality,' this research explores the oral-derived characteristics of Sangam prosody and synthesizes these findings with archaeological data from sites like Keeladi and Kodumanal, which attest to widespread literacy among the common populace. Ultimately, this study posits that oral and written traditions were not diametrically opposed but rather functioned as a collaborative continuum, ensuring the enduring preservation and transmission of Sangam literature.